Go deep

In today’s first reading (Gen. 15:1-12,17-18), a trance falls upon Abram and “a deep, terrifying darkness” envelops him. It is an encounter with God and the moment when God establishes a covenant with Abram.

Not every trance is of God, of course, nor is every darkness a beneficial “dark night of the soul,” yet fear of such things sometimes keeps us from a deeper prayer life and fuller experience of God.

If we remain focused on Christ and true to the faith, we should fear no darkness nor should we shy away from intensity in our private prayers.

We must pray constantly for the grace of a deeper life of prayer in Christ and the grace of discernment, remembering the criterion our Lord gives in today's Gospel:

By their fruits you will know them.