Fr Mathias_Gathering 2017

Fr. Mathias Thelen received prayer before his talk and time of prayer and empowerment at Renewal Ministries’ recent Gathering.

At Renewal Ministries’ annual Gathering earlier this month, Fr. Mathias Thelen spoke about asking God for more of Himself.

Fr. Mathias shared part of his own story of conversion into a deeper life with the Lord.

“No matter what Jesus is doing in your life, He wants to give you more of His Spirit,” said Fr. Mathias. “The key is learning there is more, asking for it, and receiving it. There is more—and it’s for those who believe and those who ask.”

He added, “You fan into flame that little light you have, if you are hungry and desperate for more.”

“We have a divine task ahead of us,” Fr. Mathias continued. “We have a charge to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the world and to make disciples of all nations.”

In order to do that, Fr. Mathias said we need to be desperate to receive the Lord. We need to pray, “God, I need more of Your Spirit. I need more of You, because I see how little I have.”

He explained, “Desperation comes from a place of humility and from a place of union with God. It’s our task to make that happen. I have to become desperate, for the sake of others. Are you desperate? Are you hungry?”

We need to ask God for more of Himself, said Fr. Mathias: “The Lord said, ‘He who believes in me, out of his heart will come rivers of living water’ (Jn 7:38). Some of us have a little trickle. We have to believe God wants the salvation of the world more than we want it. If we ask for bread, He will not give us a stone.’ (Mt 7:9). So we can have confidence that when we ask the Father for a deeper share of His anointing, He’s not going to give us a serpent.”

“We are a people hungry to make Jesus known and loved,” he said. “Ask for more.”

Fr. Mathias Thelen serves on the faculty at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan, as a spiritual director and instructor of theology. He will be the pastor of St. Patrick Church in Brighton, Michigan, beginning June 28.