November 14, 2005
I was waiting at the bus station in Newark about a month ago when an outgoing man from the area asked me the usual question, “What are you?” After a brief “Intro to Franciscan Identity 101” over the roar of bus engines, he happily replied that he was also a Christian. With a proud smile he pulled down the collar of his shirt and showed me a tattoo over his heart that simply said “JESUS” in big red letters. He told me the right bus to get on, I said I hoped to catch up with him again in Heaven, and he caught his bus.
This encounter was a vivid reminder for me of the importance of keeping Jesus on our hearts at all times, although I’m not advocating the tattoo method in particular! Many saints and spiritual writers tell us that the consistent awareness of the presence of God is the “secret” and surest way to avoid falling into sin and to keep a peaceful, joyful Christian attitude in the midst of whatever storms our day brings to us. It is a simple idea, but we realize that it is not so easy to practice in a day with many distractions and demands pressing upon us. Part of growth in the spiritual life is a greater awareness that the Lord is not removed from us in a galaxy far, far away, but that He is truly with us at all times.
Simple prayers called “aspirations” are a way of getting in the habit of a consistent awareness of God’s presence in every place and time. As the name implies, just as we need to breathe air constantly, we need to take in the Holy Spirit, the Breath of God, frequently to remain spiritually alive and conscious of what the Lord is trying to do in the present moment. An aspiration is a short prayer, expressed verbally or quietly in our hearts, even as short as simply calling out the name of Jesus. We can use all kinds of regular parts of our day as reminders or markers to take a breath of prayer, such as coffee breaks at work, every time we get in the car (which happens naturally if we’re not too certain about the driver!), before each new activity, in between sessions in school, or simply marking every hour of the day with a prayer. Take note of how much easier it is to resist temptation at its outset or to keep peace with that person who is particularly gifted at getting under our skin when we are in frequent conversation with the Lord. Some writers describe this as the “shortcut” to growth in virtue. Jesus is dwelling in our hearts. The tattoo was catchy, but not at all necessary.
Fr. Richard Roemer, CFR
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