In the 1980’s, Dan Rather interviewed Mother Teresa. The CBS anchor asked her, “When you pray, what do you say to God?”
“I don’t say anything,” she replied. “I listen.”
“Okay,” Rather said, taking another shot at it, “when God speaks to you, then, what does He say?”
“He doesn’t say anything. He listens.”
Rather didn’t know how to continue. He was baffled.
“And if you don’t understand that,” Mother Teresa added, “I can’t explain it to you.”
Her response recognizes the value of being present to God in prayer and His being present to us…even if words are never exchanged. The ministry of presence is powerful…an expression of love…the mark of deep relationship.
This week, we celebrate God’s immense love for us and His desire to be with us. As Matthew records, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”) (1:23).
My prayer is that we grow in our desire and focus on being with Him. He is not a means to another end; He is the end in Himself. He ought to be the focus of our desire as we intentionally commune with Him (and He with us). May we enjoy our time WITH Him this week!
