A word from us...
The Living Spirit - August 11th
To become aware of God’s loving presence in our lives, we have to accept that human culture is in a mass hypnotic trance. We’re sleepwalkers. All great religious teachers recognised that we human beings do not naturally see; we have to be taught how to see. Jesus says further, “If your eye is healthy, our whole body is full of light”
(Luke 11.34). Religion is meant to teach us how to see and be present to reality.
Richard Rohr(Last Monday was the Feast of the Transfiguration)
From Isaiah 35:
"Say to those who have an anxious heart, "be strong; fear not! Behold your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you." Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer and the song of the mute sing for joy."
To become aware of God’s loving presence in our lives, we have to accept that human culture is in a mass hypnotic trance. We’re sleepwalkers. All great religious teachers recognised that we human beings do not naturally see; we have to be taught how to see. Jesus says further, “If your eye is healthy, our whole body is full of light”
(Luke 11.34). Religion is meant to teach us how to see and be present to reality.
Richard Rohr(Last Monday was the Feast of the Transfiguration)
From Isaiah 35:
"Say to those who have an anxious heart, "be strong; fear not! Behold your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you." Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer and the song of the mute sing for joy."
The Living Spirit - August 5th
We cannot attain the presence of God because we are already in the presence of God. What is absent is awareness. Little do we realise that God’s love is maintaining us in existence with every breath we take. As we take another it means that God is choosing us now and now and now. We have nothing to attain or even learn. We do, however, need to unlearn some things. [To be continued]
Richard Rohr (August 6th is the Feast of the Transfiguration)
From Psalm 139:
"Oh Lord, you have searched me and know me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search put my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways, even before a word is on my tongue, behold, Oh Lord,
you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain to it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.”
We cannot attain the presence of God because we are already in the presence of God. What is absent is awareness. Little do we realise that God’s love is maintaining us in existence with every breath we take. As we take another it means that God is choosing us now and now and now. We have nothing to attain or even learn. We do, however, need to unlearn some things. [To be continued]
Richard Rohr (August 6th is the Feast of the Transfiguration)
From Psalm 139:
"Oh Lord, you have searched me and know me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search put my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways, even before a word is on my tongue, behold, Oh Lord,
you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain to it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? or where shall I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.”
The Living Spirit - July 29th
“Discipline means to prevent everything in your life from being filled up. Discipline means that somewhere you're not occupied, and certainly not preoccupied. In the spiritual life, discipline means to create that space in which something can happen that you hadn't planned or counted on."
Henri Nouwen
From The 12th chapter of Hebrews:
"And have you not forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, not be weary when reproved by him, for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son whom he receives" It is for discipline that you have to endure, God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
If you are left without discipline in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?"
“Discipline means to prevent everything in your life from being filled up. Discipline means that somewhere you're not occupied, and certainly not preoccupied. In the spiritual life, discipline means to create that space in which something can happen that you hadn't planned or counted on."
Henri Nouwen
From The 12th chapter of Hebrews:
"And have you not forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, not be weary when reproved by him, for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son whom he receives" It is for discipline that you have to endure, God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
If you are left without discipline in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?"
The Living Spirit - July 22nd
“It is a simple truth that comes to me now, in a time when I have to decide about my future. Deciding to do this, that, or the other for the next five, ten or twenty years is no great decision. Turning fully, unconditionally, and without fear to God is. Yet this awareness sets me free."
Henri Nouwen
From The 1st chapter of 1 Peter:
"Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that your faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
“It is a simple truth that comes to me now, in a time when I have to decide about my future. Deciding to do this, that, or the other for the next five, ten or twenty years is no great decision. Turning fully, unconditionally, and without fear to God is. Yet this awareness sets me free."
Henri Nouwen
From The 1st chapter of 1 Peter:
"Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that your faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
The Living Spirit - July 15th
“There is no such thing as the right place, the right job, the right calling or ministry. I can be happy or unhappy in all situations. I am sure if it, because I have been. I have felt distraught and joyful in situations of abundance as well as poverty, in situations of popularity and anonymity, in situations of success and failure. The difference was never based on the situation itself, but always on my state of mind and heart. When I knew I was walking with God, I always felt happy and at peace. When I was entangled in my own complaints and emotional needs, I always felt
restless and divided."
Henri Nouwen
From The 6th chapter of the prophesy of Micah
Hear now what the Lord is saying, "Arise, plead your case before the mountains, And let the hills hear your voice. "Listen, you mountains, to the indictment of the Lord, And, you enduring foundations of the earth, Because the Lord has a case against His people; Even with Israel He will dispute. "My people, what have I done to you, And how have I wearied you? Answer Me.
With what shall I come to the Lord And bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, With yearling calves? Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you,
O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?"
“There is no such thing as the right place, the right job, the right calling or ministry. I can be happy or unhappy in all situations. I am sure if it, because I have been. I have felt distraught and joyful in situations of abundance as well as poverty, in situations of popularity and anonymity, in situations of success and failure. The difference was never based on the situation itself, but always on my state of mind and heart. When I knew I was walking with God, I always felt happy and at peace. When I was entangled in my own complaints and emotional needs, I always felt
restless and divided."
Henri Nouwen
From The 6th chapter of the prophesy of Micah
Hear now what the Lord is saying, "Arise, plead your case before the mountains, And let the hills hear your voice. "Listen, you mountains, to the indictment of the Lord, And, you enduring foundations of the earth, Because the Lord has a case against His people; Even with Israel He will dispute. "My people, what have I done to you, And how have I wearied you? Answer Me.
With what shall I come to the Lord And bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, With yearling calves? Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you,
O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?"