A word from us...
The Living Spirit - April 14th
[T]here has to be a distinction between prayer as a petition and prayer as an entry into the reality of a situation: into Reality itself. What we are doing when we meditate is accepting the gift of our own being, and if our being happens to be full of joy and light at that moment we accept that. If our being happens to be facing fear or the trauma of death we accept that. It is the acceptance of our own being, as we are, at this moment in our life’s journey. That is what meditation is about. It is not trying to regain control over life, not trying to change God’s mind, not trying to change our fate or destiny, not trying to reinstate the threatened ego as managing director of our personality. Meditation leads to an acceptance of the reality of the human situation, as it is here and now.
Laurence Freeman OSB
From Matthew 26:
"Then he (Jesus) said to them "my soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." And going a little further he fell on his face and prayed, saying" My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; never the less not as I will, but as you will" And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again for a second time, he went away and prayed" My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done" and he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy, so leaving them again he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again."
[T]here has to be a distinction between prayer as a petition and prayer as an entry into the reality of a situation: into Reality itself. What we are doing when we meditate is accepting the gift of our own being, and if our being happens to be full of joy and light at that moment we accept that. If our being happens to be facing fear or the trauma of death we accept that. It is the acceptance of our own being, as we are, at this moment in our life’s journey. That is what meditation is about. It is not trying to regain control over life, not trying to change God’s mind, not trying to change our fate or destiny, not trying to reinstate the threatened ego as managing director of our personality. Meditation leads to an acceptance of the reality of the human situation, as it is here and now.
Laurence Freeman OSB
From Matthew 26:
"Then he (Jesus) said to them "my soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." And going a little further he fell on his face and prayed, saying" My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; never the less not as I will, but as you will" And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again for a second time, he went away and prayed" My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done" and he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy, so leaving them again he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again."
The Living Spirit - April 7th
We must in all things seek God. But we do not seek God in the way we seek a lost object, a “thing”. God is present to us in our heart…and to seek God is to recognise this fact. Yet we cannot be aware of it as a reality unless God reveals God’s presence to us. God does not reveal Godself simply in our own heart. God reveals Godself to us in the Church, in the community of believers, in the koinonia of those who trust and love God.
Thomas Merton
From Hebrews 6:
"Now before he (Enoch) was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."
We must in all things seek God. But we do not seek God in the way we seek a lost object, a “thing”. God is present to us in our heart…and to seek God is to recognise this fact. Yet we cannot be aware of it as a reality unless God reveals God’s presence to us. God does not reveal Godself simply in our own heart. God reveals Godself to us in the Church, in the community of believers, in the koinonia of those who trust and love God.
Thomas Merton
From Hebrews 6:
"Now before he (Enoch) was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."