A word from us...
The Living Spirit - April 5th
LOCKDOWN MOZAMBICAN STYLE:
*L.O.C.K.D.O.W.N* is a time to...
*L*-isten to God's voice and reflect.
*O*-bey His word and His teachings.
*C*-all on Jesus name and be calmed.
*K*-now what is the purpose of all this.
*D*-well in His presence. Do not panic.
*O*-ffer a prayer for everyone's safety.
*W*-ait and be patient. This too shall passover.
*N*-uture our personal relationship with God.
From the Diocese of Niassa
“There is not a moment in which God does not present Himself under the cover of some pain to be endured, of some consolation to be enjoyed, or of some duty to be performed. All that takes place within us, around us, or through us, contains and conceals His divine action.”
Jean-Pierre de Caussade, Abandonment to Divine Providence
(One of Chris’ top spiritual reading choices)
From The Gospel of John Ch.14
"These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father."
LOCKDOWN MOZAMBICAN STYLE:
*L.O.C.K.D.O.W.N* is a time to...
*L*-isten to God's voice and reflect.
*O*-bey His word and His teachings.
*C*-all on Jesus name and be calmed.
*K*-now what is the purpose of all this.
*D*-well in His presence. Do not panic.
*O*-ffer a prayer for everyone's safety.
*W*-ait and be patient. This too shall passover.
*N*-uture our personal relationship with God.
From the Diocese of Niassa
“There is not a moment in which God does not present Himself under the cover of some pain to be endured, of some consolation to be enjoyed, or of some duty to be performed. All that takes place within us, around us, or through us, contains and conceals His divine action.”
Jean-Pierre de Caussade, Abandonment to Divine Providence
(One of Chris’ top spiritual reading choices)
From The Gospel of John Ch.14
"These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father."
The Living Spirit - March 29th
A constant Lenten theme, spelled out in collects and readings, is that of Christ’s suffering and vulnerability. Truths which pierce to the very heart of that redefinition of God which is what Christian belief is about. A God who does not give simple answers to Job in his anguish, for Job must learn that there are absolute limits to the extent of human understanding; a God who, by his awesome gift of human freedom, cannot prevent the cancer cell, [the virus] or the Holocaust; a God who but for one thing would seem an uncaring tyrant. But it is that one thing that changes everything: the claim that God does not give answers. There are no answers. Instead God gives himself.
Michael Mayne, "Pray, Love, Remember"
A constant Lenten theme, spelled out in collects and readings, is that of Christ’s suffering and vulnerability. Truths which pierce to the very heart of that redefinition of God which is what Christian belief is about. A God who does not give simple answers to Job in his anguish, for Job must learn that there are absolute limits to the extent of human understanding; a God who, by his awesome gift of human freedom, cannot prevent the cancer cell, [the virus] or the Holocaust; a God who but for one thing would seem an uncaring tyrant. But it is that one thing that changes everything: the claim that God does not give answers. There are no answers. Instead God gives himself.
Michael Mayne, "Pray, Love, Remember"
The Living Spirit - March 15th
“God teaches the soul by pains and obstacles, not by ideas.”
Jean-Pierre de Caussade “Abandonment to Divine Providence”
Proverbs 3:
" My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights."
Psalm 25:
The secret counsel of the Lord is for those who fear him and he makes known to them his covenant. My eyes are ever towards the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
“God teaches the soul by pains and obstacles, not by ideas.”
Jean-Pierre de Caussade “Abandonment to Divine Providence”
Proverbs 3:
" My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights."
Psalm 25:
The secret counsel of the Lord is for those who fear him and he makes known to them his covenant. My eyes are ever towards the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net. Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
The Living Spirit - March 8th
To know Christ entails accepting his will as norm. When we feel this we draw back, startled for it means the cross. Then it is better to say honestly: “I can’t yet,” than to mouth pious phrases. Slow there with the large words “self-surrender,” and “sacrifice.” It is better to admit our weakness and ask him to teach us strength.”
Romano Guardini, “The Lord”
Romans 6:
"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace. What then, shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?
May it never be!
To know Christ entails accepting his will as norm. When we feel this we draw back, startled for it means the cross. Then it is better to say honestly: “I can’t yet,” than to mouth pious phrases. Slow there with the large words “self-surrender,” and “sacrifice.” It is better to admit our weakness and ask him to teach us strength.”
Romano Guardini, “The Lord”
Romans 6:
"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace. What then, shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?
May it never be!
The Living Spirit - March 1st
What we love we shall grow to resemble. Bernard of Clairvaux
Romans 1:
"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment so that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and void of offence unto the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God."
What we love we shall grow to resemble. Bernard of Clairvaux
Romans 1:
"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment so that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and void of offence unto the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God."