Albert Haase, OFM

Don’t confuse pride with healthy self-esteem and gratitude for God-given talents, gifts, and accomplishments. Pride takes credit for everything and denies God’s grace working in my life. Its antidote is humility—the virtue that keeps my feet on the ground.

Our eucharistic adoration should lead to eucharistic action—a life of service, surrender, and sacrifice. Follow time spent in eucharistic adoration with a commitment to doing a specific act of charity.

The goal of prayer is not some thoughtless state of consciousness. Prayer’s real goal is a surrendered heart of love. And we attain that surrender by having a heart-to-heart conversation—including sharing our distractions and mental diversions—with a God who loves us unconditionally.

God’s presence surrounds us and is always reaching out to us in the nitty-gritty experiences of our daily life. Unfortunately, most of us go through life as sleepwalkers, unaware of these “glimpses of God.”

Each one of us is called to discover and do God’s will. We live with open hands knowing that God will provide for our daily needs. We pray to be forgiven to the degree that we forgive.

I’m weary, and I have nothing to show for my spiritual progress. It can be overcome through persistence, fidelity, and spiritual practice.