Collect taken from the Thursday of the Third Week of Easter.
Collect: Almighty ever-living God, let us feel your compassion more readily during these days when, by your gift, we have known it more fully, so that those you have freed from the darkness of error may cling more firmly to the teachings of your truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ…
“Almighty ever-living God, let us feel your compassion more readily during these days when, by your gift, we have known it more fully“
– During the Easter season, we emphasize the resurrection, which is also the ultimate expression of God’s compassion. We rely on God’s grace for everything, so we are asking for the grace to be aware of and grateful God’s grace.
“so that those you have freed from the darkness of error may cling more firmly to the teachings of your truth”
– God’s compassion does not stop at making us feel the joy of conquering death, but includes freedom from error. Error is a kind of death in the mind, so the fullness of resurrection includes the life-giving power of knowing the Truth. Thus, we ask God to help us feel his compassion so that we can hang on to the light of Truth. We can know that Truth because the Church hands it on to us.
Questions & Advice: Is your faith based on what you feel, what you think, or both? When your spiritual seems dry and empty, what do you do? Are you faithful to the Truth only when it is convenient and feels good, or does that fidelity extend into difficult moments as well?
Spend some of your daily prayer time asking God to help you recognize and experience his compassion. Though our religion is not entirely dependent on feelings, it still includes the whole human person, which includes feelings. There is nothing wrong with asking God to help us feel the faith in order to strengthen our practice of the faith. Find ways to grow in knowledge of the Truth through websites, books, and subscriptions.
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