“For my house shall be called a house of prayer
for all peoples” Isaiah 56:7
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Food For Thought
We usually associate the house of the Lord with church, and this is true as churches are consecrated places of worship for the Lord alone. However, through the gift of Baptism, our souls become the house of the Lord too. St. Teresa of Avila described the Christian soul as an Interior Castle wherein our Divine King dwells.
From this perspective, consider again the Lord’s words through the prophet Isaiah: “my house shall be a house of prayer.” The Lord invites and challenges us to make our souls a prayerful place. One in which St. Paul exhorts that we can “pray constantly” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
How can we do this? First, as always, ask the Holy Spirit. Next, build a habit of being recollected. From the earliest times in the Christian church through the present day you will find spiritual authors and saints who have sought the same thing and written about how to pursue it. (Below I have listed and linked a handful of classics.)
Essentially, it means quieting our inner self, and being attentive to the Lord within. Just as close friends or couples can feel connected through a simple glance amidst a crowd, so too recollection could be described as an attentive glance at the Lord.
Building this intimacy resembles that of all relationships. Initially it requires getting to know the Lord more through extended and intentional time set aside to list
en to Him (remember He speaks to us through Scripture, His Church, His saints, and His creation, so listening can be as simple as opening the bible, attending mass, going for a nature walk, reading a spiritual book or life of a saint).
To listen we must make room for silence: physically as well as mentally and spiritually. Don’t be discouraged if you find yourself distracted by a clamor of thoughts when attempting to recollect yourself for prayer. Simply ask the Holy Spirit for help. Since our soul is the house of the Lord, I also like to ask Mary to help me prepare my home for Christ as she so lovingly did every day when He was on earth.
As with any practice or habit, it may feel awkward at first or you may struggle with consistency. Nevertheless, persevere. God can do so much with so little! Every bit counts. In time, your efforts and His grace can result in a relationship of continual interior unity and love.
The Lord promises in Isaiah 56 verse 7, that he will “make them joyful in my house of prayer“. Recollection leads to peace in the presence of the Beloved Lord, and an abundance of joy. With this within, you can travel through your da
y “giv[ing] thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and offering all things as a prayer pleasing to the Lord.
May the Lord make our hearts, a house of ardent, loving, joyful, intimate, prayer.
A few Spiritual Classics on Recollection and Interior union with the Lord:
- The Way of the Pilgrim
- Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila
- The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
- Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales
A couple of modern books on the subject:
- Time for God by Father Jacques Phillipe
- Keeping Silence: Christian Practices for Entering Silence by C.W. McPherson
*Pray and Reflect with full guided prayer meditations on the Sunday Gospel reading in my book Take Time For Him and its series on Amazon and Kindle!

© 2023 Angela M Jendro
*Scriptural texts, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004)




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