All you peoples, clap your hands; shout to God with cries of gladness. For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth.

Today’s Gospel assures us of God’s presence and that he hears our prayers. We are also reminded of during our Prayers of Intercession as ‘we pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.’

When Jesus said, “I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you,” he assured us that we can pray directly to our Father because we love and believe in him and because God loves us. We are, therefore, empowered to present our needs to the Father in Jesus’ name.

Let us be inspired by Saint Peter Julian Eymard’s words in his letter to Mrs. Natalie Jordan (1867), “First be a disciple of prayer, I mean a prayer which is your own: affectionate, recollected, inward, which enjoys God, feeds on God and always aspires toward the mystery of the truth, of the goodness of the love of God.” A conversation with the Father – an intimate giving of ourselves and the intimate reception of God’s love and understanding of our hearts.

In our world of constant action, it’s not easy to turn it off – tune it out! When I ponder Father Eymard’s words, I fall short as scattered thoughts often interrupt my prayers. I have found my concentration to be most effective outdoors, surrounded by the night sky’s quiet. Perhaps you may find this solitude in a quiet room, in Church, or during Adoration of the Eucharist. Let us always remember that God knows what lies in our hearts.

During this joyful Easter Season, let us go to that special place reserved for just God and you!

Let Us Pray:

God, our Father, In the name of Jesus, our risen Savior, all glory and honor is yours. My heart rejoices in knowing that you are with me always, loving me, understanding me, and guiding my path throughout my life. Open my heart, my eyes, and my heart so that I may be aware of how you are calling me to give your message of love to others. Amen.