Cardinal Sarah talks about how we need to stop encountering ourselves to make God present, no longer hear ourselves, to hear God speak to us. We need to continuously empty ourselves. We are own worst enemy, our own obstacle to living a life of grace. As I prepare to help lead a retreat, I am thinking of how can we remove the obstacles that prevent us growing closer to Christ. I think we need to ask Him out loud in prayer, Jesus, what do you need to empty me of so I can grow closer to you. I think of Peter walking out to Jesus on the water. Peter is looking at Jesus, keeping his eyes on him and walking towards Jesus. But then the obstacle of fear comes, Peter looses focus and starts sinking and panicking. Fear is such a huge obstacle that prevents us from living out our faith fully. The noise of the world, through news, through chatter, through gossip are all obstacles. Keeping our eyes on Christ allows us to fill up our world with His Presence. What obstacles are keeping you from growing closer to Christ?
