A roaring lion, I center myself upon the presence of God. Disregarding surroundings, I close my eyes. Roaring through consciousness, interiorly warding away the exterior, silently screaming for all to back away, warning with all my might for disturbances, all things attempting to distract to stay away: stay away my neighbor, stay away my enemy, stay away my friend, stay away brother and sister. The adversary may roam about like a roaring lion, yet now I roar back before I place myself completely before my Lord, demanding that I do it to the best of my ability.

Lord let me prepare myself before adoring. Honest in woundedness, with open and absolute intent, I seek to place myself before my Lord. I am fearful of all, including my Lord, and most of all myself. Fear rules, yet the fear is healthy, acknowledging the seriousness of being alive, the accountability life demands, the aftermath of original sin, Triune mercy and love. I know my weaknesses. Intensely, I must concentrate to eliminate diversions. I roar myself into stillness.

Settling, most beneficially before the Blessed Sacrament, I envision an immense double edge sword of supernatural dimension. Controlled by my wielding, grasped firmly with two hands, I utilize the sword to cut away all interruptions, extinguishing thoughts. Slashing turbulences, I slice through psychological uprisings, decimating fantasies and feelings, imagination and emotion obliterated, cutting through sounds and sensual disturbances. The sword is used to establish distance from surroundings in order to diminish separation from God.

Imperfections availing, all effort subsists. The sword is grounded, point buried, pommel vertically aloft, cross-guard horizontally announcing a crucifix. Adoration an only reward, quietness quells the mind. Beating, the heart becomes the center, blood pumping. Shaping, forming; faith, hope, and charity concretize. A birth. A crucifixion. A resurrection. An ascension. Eternity.

Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’” The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”