Thursday, March 29, 2012
The Inner Glaze
To keep us from the sin of pride - Satan's sin - God, the Potter, often prevents us from seeing our own beauty with an inner glaze that becomes more and more beautiful as He applies the heat.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Nothing to gain? Hardly.
Cynthia Bourgeault The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind—a New Perspective on Christ and His Message, Boston: Shambhala, 2008, pg. 92
"I remember being struck many years ago by an insight from the contemporary mystic Bernadette Roberts that crucifixion wasn’t really the hard thing for Jesus; the hard thing was incarnation. Crucifixion and what followed from it—his death and resurrection—were simply the pathway along which infinite consciousness could return to its natural state. What was really hard for infinite consciousness was to come into the finite world in the first place. With nothing to gain from the human adventure—nothing to prove, nothing to achieve, and a dangerously unboundaried heart that left him defenseless against the hard edges of this world—Jesus came anyway: that, claims Bernadette Roberts, was the real crucifixion!"
I differ with Cynthia's statement that there was nothing to gain from the human adventure of Jesus'
incarnating. Perhaps she's viewing it as nothing to gain in human terms. As any parent with difficult children, God tried many methods, prophets, and approaches to establish a warm and loving relationship with His people. The incarnation of Jesus had much to gain: Love expressing Love to itself (Son to Father, Father to Son to mankind); courtship of a relationship beyond casual dating with each of us, or getting noticed at all by some of us; and of course, salvation for all mankind for all time.
"I remember being struck many years ago by an insight from the contemporary mystic Bernadette Roberts that crucifixion wasn’t really the hard thing for Jesus; the hard thing was incarnation. Crucifixion and what followed from it—his death and resurrection—were simply the pathway along which infinite consciousness could return to its natural state. What was really hard for infinite consciousness was to come into the finite world in the first place. With nothing to gain from the human adventure—nothing to prove, nothing to achieve, and a dangerously unboundaried heart that left him defenseless against the hard edges of this world—Jesus came anyway: that, claims Bernadette Roberts, was the real crucifixion!"
I differ with Cynthia's statement that there was nothing to gain from the human adventure of Jesus'
incarnating. Perhaps she's viewing it as nothing to gain in human terms. As any parent with difficult children, God tried many methods, prophets, and approaches to establish a warm and loving relationship with His people. The incarnation of Jesus had much to gain: Love expressing Love to itself (Son to Father, Father to Son to mankind); courtship of a relationship beyond casual dating with each of us, or getting noticed at all by some of us; and of course, salvation for all mankind for all time.
Used
I am most grateful for answered prayer.
Years ago, I prayed that God would use me in any way He saw fit. After molding and shaping me, the Potter finally had a vessel He could fill and pour out. I'm still pretty leaky, but I am learning to tip myself over and pour myself out like the Little Teapot when the Holy Spirit gives me a nudge to do so.
One recent morning as I was reading my morning devotional, (Diary of St. Faustina: Divine Mercy In My Soul), I had the distinct impression that the passage I just completed should be shared with a particular friend. I did not have this friend on my mind. Her name was simply pressed upon my consciousness in reference to the last passage. I tried to move ahead, yet this pressing of her name and that passage continued.
Since the Potter takes His time shaping his works, I knew from past experience this pressing upon my consciousness was His touch. I therefore wrote her name in the book at that passage to mark it, and finished my reading. I moved to the next book I needed to read that morning. A deadline within the hour was fast approaching to initiate my weekly Book Club discussion. As I began the reading assignment, I was aware that I had not acted on the Spirit's urging to share that one passage with my friend. I found no solace in rationalizing that I didn't have the time at the moment. So in my usual reluctant obedience, I placed the call. Thankfully, she did not answer and I was able to complete my reading in time.
When she returned the call later that day, I read her the passage. In tears, she acknowledged she'd been shut down to God, to the Church, even questioning her conversion, and that I was the only one at the moment she was letting "in."
"See how God is responding to you?" I reassured her. How very special she must be to Him and how easily He knew how to reach her through the vessel He crafted with His own hands for that very purpose.
Sometimes, it is very lovely being used.
Years ago, I prayed that God would use me in any way He saw fit. After molding and shaping me, the Potter finally had a vessel He could fill and pour out. I'm still pretty leaky, but I am learning to tip myself over and pour myself out like the Little Teapot when the Holy Spirit gives me a nudge to do so.
One recent morning as I was reading my morning devotional, (Diary of St. Faustina: Divine Mercy In My Soul), I had the distinct impression that the passage I just completed should be shared with a particular friend. I did not have this friend on my mind. Her name was simply pressed upon my consciousness in reference to the last passage. I tried to move ahead, yet this pressing of her name and that passage continued.
Since the Potter takes His time shaping his works, I knew from past experience this pressing upon my consciousness was His touch. I therefore wrote her name in the book at that passage to mark it, and finished my reading. I moved to the next book I needed to read that morning. A deadline within the hour was fast approaching to initiate my weekly Book Club discussion. As I began the reading assignment, I was aware that I had not acted on the Spirit's urging to share that one passage with my friend. I found no solace in rationalizing that I didn't have the time at the moment. So in my usual reluctant obedience, I placed the call. Thankfully, she did not answer and I was able to complete my reading in time.
When she returned the call later that day, I read her the passage. In tears, she acknowledged she'd been shut down to God, to the Church, even questioning her conversion, and that I was the only one at the moment she was letting "in."
"See how God is responding to you?" I reassured her. How very special she must be to Him and how easily He knew how to reach her through the vessel He crafted with His own hands for that very purpose.
Sometimes, it is very lovely being used.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Tornadoes and Matthew 24
3-3-12 Journal entry:
Tornadoes are touching down all around us today. Sixty people have died in the past 24 hours from multiple tornadoes across six states. It seems to me, as I view media images of homes that are destroyed next to homes taht were untouched, that we are witnessing a precursor to Matthew 24... Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. ...
Tornadoes are touching down all around us today. Sixty people have died in the past 24 hours from multiple tornadoes across six states. It seems to me, as I view media images of homes that are destroyed next to homes taht were untouched, that we are witnessing a precursor to Matthew 24... Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. ...
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Hidden Greatness
From Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey
There is much emphasis on notoriety and fame in our society. Our newspapers and television keep giving us the message: What counts is to be known, praised, and admired, whether you are a writer, an actor, a musician, or a politician.
Still, real greatness is often hidden, humble, simple, and unobtrusive. It is not easy to trust ourselves and our actions without public affirmation. We must have strong self-confidence combined with deep humility. Some of the greatest works of art and the most important works of peace were created by people who had no need for the limelight. They knew that what they were doing was their call, and they did it with great patience, perseverance, and love.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Tax Forms and the Gloria
Journal entry Feb.1, 2012
I cannot find my Lectio journal so this will have to
do. Even my pen runs out as I write
this. Evil will not have its way… I will
not be held back from sharing the Word of God.
The more Evil fights against me, the stronger becomes my resolve.
He tried hard this past weekend. I received a complete rewrite of my speech
just minutes before an audio check rehearsal in Baltimore at Spring
Launch. With the help of a friend, I edited
the original speech after rejecting the proposed version from corporate
headquarters. The speech improved over
my original. God is always to be
trusted.
I’m reading through YOUCAT (Youth Catechism of the Catholic
Church). In John 14:10, Jesus says: “The
words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who
dwells in me does his works.”
I am often aware of the Trinity within me as the driving
force of my actions, thoughts, and words.
I awoke today and thought of the tax form 1099 I must
complete and mail – unsure of how to do so – and beneath those thoughts, I
became aware of singing. I think it was
the Gloria and Who was singing isn’t exactly clear to me (my soul? angels?
Jesus?) nor do I need to know. With God
dwelling within me, my spirit and all of heaven should (and possibly can’t
help) praise Him, three in One.
Imagine! Tax forms
and the Gloria sharing the same space within me!
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Foolish Thinking
You're a fool if you think God has no interest in you. He's crazy about you.
Just as too much rain can drown a budding seedling, God holds back from giving too much of Himself at first, treating us softly, tenderly at our first awakening. He is so close to us, closer than our breath, that we often don't even notice Him. He only prunes us when we shoot our leaves into another flower's sunlight or try to grow in the wrong direction. Most of the time, we don't even recognize Him pruning because He often uses those closest to us to do so. Again, the gentle lover, He doesn't want to come across too strong.
"God has placed in our hearts a longing to seek and find Him. St. Augustine says, 'You have made us for yourself and our heart is restless until it rests in You.' A person is not completely himself until he has found God." [YOUCAT 3 (Youth Catechesm of the Catholic Church)]
Just as too much rain can drown a budding seedling, God holds back from giving too much of Himself at first, treating us softly, tenderly at our first awakening. He is so close to us, closer than our breath, that we often don't even notice Him. He only prunes us when we shoot our leaves into another flower's sunlight or try to grow in the wrong direction. Most of the time, we don't even recognize Him pruning because He often uses those closest to us to do so. Again, the gentle lover, He doesn't want to come across too strong.
"God has placed in our hearts a longing to seek and find Him. St. Augustine says, 'You have made us for yourself and our heart is restless until it rests in You.' A person is not completely himself until he has found God." [YOUCAT 3 (Youth Catechesm of the Catholic Church)]
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