Draw Near to God

Leading retreats fills much of my ministry life.  I do this with a congregation of priests known as the Passionists - working with them at their Spiritual Center in Florida.

The retreats we offer bring women and men from particular parishes each weekend for most of the year.  Our hope is that we are sending people back to their parishes nourished spiritually.

Around this time each year, we – the retreat team – need to make a decision about the theme for the next season (which starts in September.)  While we bring ideas to the table, we also let them settle into our spirits – listening to the Holy Spirit for guidance.

This year it seemed to come a little easier.  Together we heard a passage from the Letter of James read at Mass and afterward discovered several of us were thinking the same thing:  There’s our theme:

“Draw near to God and God will draw near to you.”  (James 4:8)

We also develop an image for the theme.  This year I asked a few retreatants whom I knew had taken pictures of sunrises at the Center to send me selections.  With this blog offering, you see what we have chosen.

I invite you to pray with the verse from the Letter of James and with the sunrise image.  God is near to you and invites you to come even closer. 

Roberta A. Popara, O.P.

North Palm Beach   FL