Pots Made of Clay

For God, who said,

“Light shall shine out of darkness,”

is the One who has shone in our hearts

to give the Light of the knowledge 

of the glory of God

in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,

so that the surpassing greatness of the power

 will be of God and not from ourselves;

we are afflicted in every way, 
but not crushed;

perplexed, but not despairing;

persecuted, but not forsaken;

struck down, but not destroyed;

always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus,

so that the life of Jesus also 
                                               may be manifested in our body. 2 Cor.4:7 

Those beginning the practice of prayer, or those who may be returning to prayer after having given it up for a time, often are met with an experience of uplifting peace and support. One is drawn to prayer, making time for prayer is a priority, scripture is alive and understandable, and each prayer time is rewarding. 

But this can change and all efforts to regain what seems to be fading, has little effect. St. Ignatius describes this as the movement of grace between consolation and desolation. The reasons for causing this movement are the subject for discernment. But we must never loose touch with the fact that consolation is not the cause/effect result of our doing. It is gift, grace. We are merely the humble vessel into  which has been place such royal blessings. We are clay pots, even cracked pots to be sure, but when the Lord takes hold of us and places his gifts of grace-filled prayer within us, we become vessels of treasure.

In the Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius explains this movement this way:

There are three principal reasons why we find ourselves desolate.

• The first is, because of our being tepid, lazy or negligent in our spiritual exercises; and so through our faults, spiritual consolation withdraws from us.

• The second, to try us and see how much we are and how much we let ourselves out in His service and praise without such great pay of consolation and great graces.

• The third, to give us true acquaintance and knowledge, that we may interiorly feel that it is not ours to get or keep great devotion, intense love, tears, or any other spiritual consolation, but that all is the gift and grace of God our Lord, and that we may not build a nest in a thing not ours, raising our intellect into some pride or vainglory, attributing to us devotion or the other things of the spiritual consolation.

Here are some points to consider as you reflect upon your own prayer experience, especially if that experience has been one of struggle and dryness.

• In times of struggle, put away any thought that God has forsaken you, or that your previous experience of prayer, rich in positive reward, was all illusion on your part. That is the voice of deception.

• Examine your approach to prayer of late. 

• Time for prayer is loosing out in the competition for space.
• Less attention to preparation, i.e. where to pray, when to pray, choosing passages for prayer.
• Noisy mind, with many distraction. 
• Decline in prayer review, discerning the voice and message of prayer.

• What is the quality of my trust and the sincerity of my devotion? What is my tolerance for challenge, do I give up easily?
• Remember, my part is generosity of heart, the Lord's generosity of grace.

• The waning of expectation, forgetting that prayer is gift.

• Impatience, taking control, micro managing prayer's direction.
• Prayer is surrender into the hands of the potter, we are the clay.
• Forgetting the first principle: "Speak Lord, your servant is listening".