During my recovery from colon cancer surgery, I have kept myself occupied with a lot more prayer and study. I am grateful for God’s grace in continuing to call me into a deeper relationship with Him. My slowness in responding through the years makes the call seem ever more urgent at this point in time.
Reading and praying with Sacred Scripture is such a tremendous blessing. It still astounds me how a passage I have heard or read many times suddenly comes to life in a new way. The circumstances of life and the movement of the Holy Spirit coincide for profound insights and serious promptings to action.
I am reading three different books at the same time, and the overlap has been amazing. The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, The Glories of Divine Grace, and Preparation for Death gel together nicely. The writings of St. Alphonsos Liguori have impacted my life for many years. My personal favorite, and most life-changing for me, is Preparation for Death. I have it read it multiple times over the last 30 years. I am especially excited about it now, because a couple of individuals at the parish have organized a summer book study on it after hearing me speak about it. God’s grace is going to overflow upon our community in a powerful way as we delve into the spiritual wisdom of St. Alphonsus Liguori.
Bottom line–let’s be diligent in our prayer, study, and action. Be battle ready!