On occasion, I try to pray the Liturgy of the Hours. I’m not good at it. In fact, I have great difficulty figuring out the sequence of things, and most days I either only make it through one part (or even one Psalm) and call it a day. I don’t think it’s an exceptionally difficult practice, but for whatever reason it hasn’t quite sunk in with me. At any rate, back in November I happened to looking at the Office of Readings for that day and was struck by a passage from St. Augustine that has followed me for the last few months:

“But how can we rejoice in the Lord if he is far from us? Pray God he may not be far. If he is, that is your doing. Love, and he will draw near; love, and he will dwell within you. The Lord is at hand; have no anxiety. Are you puzzled to know how it is that he will be with you if you love? God is love.”

(Taken from the readings on November 18, 2009 — The Heart of the Just Man Will Rejoice in the Lord)

I’m not in a position to explain in detail why this particular passage resonated with me. Perhaps that will come in a later posting. Suffice it to say that I need to remind myself of this simple truth on a daily basis.

Tags: Augustine, Liturgy of the Hours

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