Pope Francis Said it Best...

I wish I could quote Pope Francis exactly, but I can't, so I'm paraphrasing now.

"Take time in prayer to let Jesus love you.  Do nothing else, but allow Him to love you during prayer."

He went on to explain that there are many times when he goes to adoration and just sits there,

letting God love Him.

God loves us without condition.

Even though we are sinners and sinful,

He loves us.

We cannot earn His love.

There is nothing we can do to buy His love.

He paid our debt for sin.

The Father allowed His only Son to die a miserable death on a cross with all the sufferings, the abandonment, the rejection, the torture...then the Holy Spirit came down to guide us and console us,

because our God loves us.

Most of us have excuses.

 "I'm not worthy."

"That's not how you pray in adoration."

"I can't just sit there."

"God wants us to pray and praise Him." 

All of these excuses are true.

From experience, though, I have come to realize that God is there waiting and loving us, always.

I have also come to realize that He does want us to accept His love,

which requires humility and trust.

Of course, part of our salvation is active in that we must avoid the occasions of sin in our lives;

we must be kind and loving to others.

We must love God above all else.

These are active works of salvation,

but there is a passive side to salvation, too.

Letting God love us is both active and passive.

When we move out of the way (die to self) God can move into our souls to love and heal.

God wants to love us, and He does.

This act of humility, and trust, is an act of mercy to ourselves and from God.

Allowing Him to love us,

whether we are at adoration or getting through our day,

restores our souls.

How do we allow God to love us?

Easy Peasy.

Make the sign of the cross.

1. Sit or stand or kneel for a few minutes and begin to pray.

2. As you begin your prayer, ask God to love you.  Tell Him you simply need for Him to love you in these moments of prayer.

3. Let it happen.

4. When your prayer time is over, thank God for that gift of His love and the time to feel His love pouring into your soul.

End your prayer time with the sign of the cross.

Soon, you'll come to realize how much God loves you, even if you don't really believe it right now.

Soon, you will know.

Amen!