Seeking the Lord's Face

Recognize the importance of an art of celebrating that is at the service of the truth of the Paschal Mystery and of the participation of all of the baptized in it, each one according to his or her vocation

One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: To dwell in the LORD'S house all the days of my life, To gaze on the LORD'S beauty, to visit his temple. For God will hide me in his shelter in time of trouble, Will conceal me in the cover of his tent; and set me high upon a rock. Even now my head is heldhigh above my enemies on every side! I will offer in his tentsacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and chant praise to the LORD. I Hear my voice, LORD, when I call; have mercy on me and answer me. "Come," says my heart, "seekGod's face"; your face, LORD, do I seek! Do not hide your face from me; do not repel your servant in anger. You are my help; do not cast me off; do not forsake me, God my savior! Even if my father and motherforsake me, the LORD will take me in. LORD, show me your way; lead me on a levelpath because of my enemies. Do not abandon me to the will of my foes; malicious and lying witnesses have risen against me. But I believe I shall enjoy the LORD'S goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the LORD! (Psalm 27:4-14)

“The gospel definition of love goes something like this: a self-sacrificing, willed concern for and giving to another, even if attraction and feeling are diminished or absent, and even if little or nothing is received in return – and all with divine motivation” (Dubay, Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer, p. 71)

“Heroic love for God and neighbor is, of course, closely allied to profound intimacy with the indwelling Trinity” (Dubay, Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer, p. 73)

“The ars celebrandi cannot be reduced to only a rubrical mechanism, much less should it be thought of as imaginative – sometimes wild – creativity without rules” (Francis, Desiderio desideravi, 48)

“In an age of change, the Church needs to pay attention to the modes by which she carries on her graced battle to be sure she is not ‘fighting yesterday’s war,’ using strategies that for whatever reason are outmoded and have become ineffective” (From Christendom to Apostolic Mission: Pastoral Strategies for an Apostolic Age, loc. 78-79)

Preaching some points of reflection based on these texts:

https://anchor.fm/nicholas-sheehy/episodes/Seeking-His-Face-e1md98f