ONE THAT WRESTLED WITH HIM

PRAYER MOMENT       

Tuesday 7 July  2015

ONE THAT WRESTLED WITH HIM

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “And there was one who wrestled with him until daybreak who, seeing that he could not master him, struck him in the socket of his hip.” (Genesis 32:23-33)

Reflection. What are we to make of this story of Jacob wrestling with God and the dialogue between them? Jacob says, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” We saw in yesterday’s reading that God had already blessed him. Yes, God has already blessed us in many ways but we still find ourselves “wrestling” with him. We have problems and questions that are not getting resolved. I always remember the account of Ignatius, truly blessed in his conversion at Loyola, but then struggling at Manreas for eleven months with himself and with God. At Loyola, for all his plans, he was still a Spanish noble in charge of his own life. At Manresa all that was peeled away and he became fully open and disposed to God’s plan. But this ‘letting go’ was a  painful business. And for top dressing he had a permanent limp, like Jacob!  

Prayer. Lord, may we not panic when we find ourselves wrestling with life and with you May we know that this is our way to salvation. Amen.

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