Abide Quotes

“O Tree of God—Tree of Life, In the gift of your shade, I stand, my heart raised to your Creator. Your branches call me to reach out in all directions to many people. Your branches remind me of the sheltering arms of God. Your roots call me to be rooted in all that is good and nourishing. Your roots ask me to spend time in the ground of my being. Teach me, like you, to praise God in the silence of my being. Help me to surrender unnecessary words. Draw me, like a magnet, into the abiding love of God. And when it is time for me to die, teach me to die gracefully and joyfully. Teach me to let go as you let go of your leaves each autumn. In living and in dying, teach me to praise God by living well and dying well. May it come to pass!”
― Macrina Wiederkehr, Abide: Keeping Vigil with the Word of God

“To live with untroubled hearts in these times is a tall order. Actually these words of Jesus are deeper than an order. They are an invitation—a summons to trust. Is it possible, in a world such as ours, to live without anxiety? To put away our anxiety, of course, does not mean to cast away our care. Rather, with the absence of anxiety we stand a greater chance of discerning ways to direct the care that is in our hearts. We become more aware of our potential to love and God’s desire for us to live in trust with one another.”
― Macrina Wiederkehr, Abide: Keeping Vigil with the Word of God

“Learn to listen! The voice inviting you is voiceless. Most ancient of all voices! Enticing voice without words! Listen from within the cells of your being. From the marrow of your bones, listen. From the deepest source of your life, listen. A holy vibration, a gentle movement, a persistent tugging—summons you into the deepening places. Learn to go deep! Like waves of the sea you are being pulled back into the depth. Embrace the depths! Deep calls unto Deep! There is a depth in you to which you must return. Most silent of all calls! A voice without words calls you to the deepening places. Learn to abide! Remain in Christ as Christ remains in you. Be like a sponge. Soak up the Word of God. Absorb it. Make the Word your home. Live in the Word! Abide! Dwell! Inhabit! Reside! Trust the deepening places. Learn to be silent! Silent as the leaves that fall, silent as the blossoming flowers, silent as the moment before dawn! You are being summoned into the temple of silence. Practice silence, for this voiceless voice can be heard only in the shrine of silence. You are being chosen for the deepening places.”
― Macrina Wiederkehr, Abide: Keeping Vigil with the Word of God