We continue on the first chapter " Readiness to
Change " by Von Hildebrand.
Natural readiness to change diminishes with age. "Only a love of change for its own sake, but as aspiration towards higher values: an eagerness for education, for enriching and ennobling oneself. Person enlivened by the virtual rhythm of youth, and you will find in him a certain forcefulness and daring which facilitate that aspiration towards higher things. When men become older and, within the framework of natural tendencies their characters and peculiarities undergo a process of solidification , the natural mobility. We can no longer expect them to revise their mentality and to re-educate themselves, for they are already cast in a rigid mold. The natural readiness to change is gone, its place is taken by the attitude of a person conscious of his maturity. The readiness to change, the qa like receptiveness towards Christ will tend not to vanish but to increase as man grows into a state of maturity. This progress towards simplicity, which is part of the spirituals significance of advantage in age, I slimmed to a consolidation in Christ. Attainment of full maturity also implies eternal youth in a supernatural sense. It implies that the readiness to change, the determination to become a new man and the unconditional willingness to crucify the old self should increase. "
I believe here, VH is pointing out that the hungriness or drive to change is generally when we are younger where through our quest for knowledge and more importantly the truth. However, as for an older person, who is more settled in doesn't have the drive for change. In other words you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
"Enhance our alert readiness to change towards greater proximity to God, so that His features may be engraved upon our souls. And this is equivalent to becoming more and more free from ourselves: ridding ourselves of everything which, though it be rooted in our nature. Our readiness to put off our nature in order to put on Christ, constitutes the standard criterion of our religious progress. When being privileged by God and drawn nearer to Him, we must ask ourselves: do we possess this readiness to change? And how far do we posses it? Unless we can answer that question favorably, we are not in the right religious condition. If I am really intent on becoming another man I will not claim the right to determine the limits between what can, and what cannot. The readiness must be present, on our part, to be changed and shaped to an indefinite degree at the hands of God , wherever he chooses to intervene by the agency of our spiritual director or of religious superior."
Here VH goes further that it's a tall task to want to change as a new person , especially to be Christ like if we are not already. It's because as a younger person can challenge themselves to improve knowing we have time to grow, however time is not something we control. However, as stated above, we need to progress, to be more committed to being close to God not by our word (prayer, attending mass), but also by action (being a good example to other, serving, charitable, etc). The only real way we can try to do this, is to be coached by someone who is spirituality strong.
Spiritual continuity is consistent with readiness to change. "There is no contradiction between the Christians readiness to change and the principle of moral continuity. We remain aware of the ultimate unity of all truth and all values in God. We must keep in view and continue to recognize whatever valid truth we have seized. The man who is prey to discontinuity accords an illegitimate priority to what happens to be present in his consciousness. He neglects more important and more valid impressions for the sake of present ones. He fails to preserve his contract with basic general truths and values beyond the range of mere present interest. Continuity,then, consists in the twofold capacity to maintain our comprehension of basic truths, experience all things against a background of these truths, and to maintain particular aspects of great validity as against new ones which happen to be less substantial. The selfsame motive which impels which impels the person with continuity to cling imperturbably to truth will equally commit him to be ready accept every new truth. It implies, therefore, that the higher value should take precedence of the lower one. In granting priority to a higher value, once it presents itself, we give proof of continuity."
I believe here that VH is noting that in order to make that extra step, to truly follow our Lord and transform, there has to be some kind of base in our spirituality, and so what we have absorbed from how we were raised or learned in the past, must be kept and continued.
Continuity actually presupposes readiness to change. "Continuity is a prime condition of spiritual growth, and even more of a transformation in Christ. Only we must always remain changeable in the sense of remaining, upon each level securely attained, susceptible of ascent towards yet higher levels along the path of transformation in Christ. This requires our capacity to discern whether the new impression is really a more valid and relevant one. On the basis of continuity alone shall we able wisely and fruitfully to confront the new thing with the old so as to avoid falling back from a higher level to a lower one."
We must not at any time feel conformable at the state we are in our relationship with God or spirituality, we must always look to improve, or even at time get back if we have fallen down.
Readiness to change preserves true individuality. "Now the readiness to change, as discussed here, refers in the first place to all the negative and ultimately spurious tendencies in our nature which oppose a barrier to our control by Christ. No denial of the person's particular nature as willed by God is implied in this transformation. Best illustrated by the example of the saints. He no longer lives but Christ lives in him."
Lets face it , one way or another, we are not willing to let it be in "God's hands", we don't want to loose our personal control. As noted, the saints let God in themselves, we all have to do the same also.
True vs. false individuality. "We have already seen, the uniqueness of every person is something to be carefully distinguished from what is commonly subsumed under the term individuality. This so- called individuality originates from various factors, such as the experiences a man has undergone, the wounds that have been inflicted upon him; the environment in which he has lived, the education he has received. The postulate of a readiness to change does not refer to individuality. The essence of every human person supposes a unique and incommensurable task; it is destined to unfold and to operate in a direction inalienably proper to it."
This term "individuality" is used in other area's, such as for married people living so called married live, because they struggle to choose to love each other fully, it's a hard "task". Same is our relationship with God because we were at times exposed to being #1, have our rights, everything should be about us, especially now the culture we live in.
False self-appraisers hinder readiness to change. "Two dangers which are naturally apt to arise. People of certain type characterized by a proclivity towards spiritual depression. Such a person leaves unused the talents committed by Gods call. People of this kind, when speaking of themselves, even are wont to deny the virtues they naturally posses; such is their lack of confidence. They are bent on lowering their stature as much as possible. The inverse type of deviation is exemplified by the man who, while not lacking a certain Elam, refuses to take account of his limitations and is thus driven to magnify his stature artificially. Zeal is nourished at heart by pride. He misjudges the limitations of the natural talents which God has lent him. These attitudes, that of undue depression, and that of forced zeal, to put it briefly, are reprehensible. The supernatural readiness to change steers clear of both these dangers. While he is conscious of his wretchedness, he will not sink into resignation; for he possess a supernatural zeal for perfection. The state of fluidity in relation to Christ, and readiness to leave behind everything, particularly one's own self."
It's clear that at times, we don't feel worthy being as Christians, then we don't feel we can be more active in our spirituality, thus believing we can't bring others closer to Christ, or even our selves. St Paul has made this clear, through our weaknesses, God grace is sufficient. Also, look who Jesus choose to be his Apostles, fishermen, tax collector and a traitor. No matter what our status is, God can see in our hearts and use it for his will.
Fidelity to error in not a virtue. "Adherence to errors is a bad thing. Fidelity is but a manifestation of that continuity by virtue of which we pay consideration to the immutability and the eternal significance of truth and of the world of values. There is only one fidelity to which we are absolutely committed: that is, fidelity towards God."
Again, we must be committed to God , no matter how much we sin.
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Sunday, September 4, 2016
Transformation In Christ - Readiness to Change Part 1
Welcome, starting first chapter review of Transformation in Christ, but Von Hildebrand. I have quoted parts of key area's that struck me and group them together, then done my narrative reflection, I will refer the author as VH.
It starts with that all Christians "yearning to become a new man in Christ, and in inner readiness to put off the old man". Keep in mind book is written in the 1940's so there is no political correctness, just simply Von Hildebrand that all of us is one way or another looking to deepen our spirituality and relationship with God. He goes further "morally aspiring men are conscious of the necessity of purposeful self-education" and "revelation of the Old Testament alone suffices to make believer aware of man's metaphysical situation". So we all need to study our faith closer and just reading the Old Testament, itself gives us the awareness of how we can improve our relationship with God. "Within him lives a deep yearning for the Redeemer, who by divine force will take the guilt of sin and bridge the gulf that separates the human race from God".
God calls us to change. "The New Testament, however, reveals to us a call which far transcends that yearning. Though we receive this new life in Baptism as a free gift of God, it may not flourish unless we cooperate. A strong desire must fill us to become different beings to mortify our old selves and re-arises as new men in Christ. Our surrender to Christ implies a readiness to let Him fully transform us, without setting any limit to the modification of our nature under His influence." These sentences gathered together from several paragraphs indicate that even though we have been given a gift of new life, we must retain it continuously and always looking to improve our faith.
Readiness to change vs natural optimism. "The difference between the Christians and the natural idealist is obvious . The idealist is suffused with optimism concerning human nature as such. He overlooks our impotence to erase a moral guilt. It prevents him from understanding even the necessity of basic renewal, let alone the full presence of such virtue - holiness." For today in our time , this is more noticeable, from education to media, idealism has taken a whole new outlook and has stepped up to put all our ideals above God's, from claiming a woman has a right to her own body to try to eliminate Gun violence by reducing gun control. I'm not a gun activist, but I can clearly see controlling or restricting is not going to eliminate violence, especially terrorism, but we first have to crush the evil we allow, like divorce, contraception, abortion to truly combat violence.
"He has in mind a relative change only; an evolution immanent to nature. The objective is not to be reborn : to become radically another man he merely want to perfect himself within the framework of his disposition. A second point if difference closely connected with this . The idealist readiness to change is aimed at certain details or aspects only, never at his character as a whole, the Christian, however, is intent on becoming another main in all things. We must submit to supernatural transformation, by the new principle of supernatural life conveyed to him by Baptism.. Thirdly, the man of natural moral endeavor will always stick to the firm ground of nature." VH is challenging Christians to be above what the secular world, in this case the media for most part so we can elevate ourselves closer to God's level, we cannot onlky depend on the nature around us, the immediate environment no matter how perfect it seems, it is really a mirage, kind of like the movie "Matrix"
"Not all posses the radical readiness of change. For a transformation in Christ, is not actually possessed by all Catholic believers. Its is, rather, a distinctive trait of those who have grasped the full import of the Call, and without reserve have decided upon an imitation of Christ. Many religious Catholics whose readiness to change is merely a conditional one. They lack the will and the readiness to become a new man all in all. They prefer to evade the act of metanoia; a true conversion of the heart. Their conscience permits them to remain entrenched in their self-assertion. For example, they do not feel obligation of loving their enemies. They maintain as self evident their claim to the world's respect, they dread being looked upon fools of Christ and anxious to stand justified in the eyes of the world." It is clear here that VH is pointing out to truly transform ourselves to follow God is not a selective process, there are no conditions we can choose to follow God, we are either all in or not. This is challenging, but God certainly gives us the opportunity and time to do this. It is not something all can do at a immediate pace,
Transformation in Christ requires unqualified readiness to change. "readiness to become another man and having heard the call ' Follow me', to do so , he is not required literally to relinquish everything in the sense of evangelical counsels: this would be in answer to another, more particular call. Readiness to change, taken in this sense, is the first prerequisite for the transformation in Christ. We must be determined not to entrench ourselves in our nature. We must fully experience the bliss of flying into Christs arms, who will transform us by His light beyond any measure we might ourselves intend." It's here VH gives us sense of relief in terms of a calling, as not everyone is called to be directly servants of God like the clergy, but we do need to be above what the World promotes today as how we should live, but more importantly , what kind of relationship we have with God.
Moral progress requires unqualified readiness to change. "Merely the condition for embarking on our journey towards our supernatural goal. It also constitutes the permanent basis for continual progress on our road. Until we have reached the safe harbor of the status finales, souls will rest unchangeably in the boundless bliss of communion with God. Discourses for Mixed Congregations, Cardinal Newman points out the danger inherent in believing oneself to have attained a satisfactory degree of spiritual progress-now matter how high a degree it actually is, example of the saints teaches us that spiritual progress implies no hardening of the fluidity. In his earthly life the Christians must never let the process of dying unto himself and rising again in Christ come to a standstill: he should always preserve that inner fluidity which is an ultimate expression of the situation implied in the status viae.
The necessity of what is here described as readiness to change applies by no means only to him who has gone through a conversion and even to such as have never definitely and gravely trespassed against God's commandments. They, too must be willing to rise above their nature and hold themselves ready for coinage by the spirit of Christ." It is here that VH is declaring our relationship with God cannot be static, it must always be evolve, even if there appears to be setbacks. We can never accept that our spirituality has reached a plateau, including being so called spiritual high. Until we reach heaven, as St. Paul stated, its until we finish the race.
Supernatural readiness to change vs malleability. "State if fluidity as such, general disposition to change in no matter what direction. The change implied in the continual process of dying unto ourselves, being reformed by Christ. Rather it involves a firm standing in the face of all mundane influences, a character of impermeability in regard to them. That fluidity in our relationship with Christ is anything but a state characterized by a continuous flow of change in the sense that the charge as such be credited wit a value of its own". I struggled with this part, malleability is defined as capable of being shaped, pressed and formed. So it appears VH is pointing out that with all the forming we have gone through in our life, that is things we experienced in life through repetitive tasks, we can't apply that same method in our relationship with God.
Man is called to the unchageableness of God. "As Christians we give our worship not to change to the Unchangeable God. Christians we direct our lives towards the moment in which there will be change no longer. We deny our love to the heaving rhythm of life. Nor can we be intoxicated by any communion with Nature in a pantheistic sense. For we do not believe ourselves to be part of Nature. The blissful message of the Gospel that we are called to participate in the eternal unchangeableness of God." It is here we must keep hold of the core values of our faith in God, they cannot be changed and be caught up some of the pleasures or materialistic things we experience, I guess good example is having my Starbuck coffee time and just sitting outside and enjoying the nature, feel all is alright and I'm not going to anyway interfere with my pleasant moment, even if someone else is in need of help. It's here we put ourselves above serving our neighbor to enjoy that moment, and thus not being good Christians.
It starts with that all Christians "yearning to become a new man in Christ, and in inner readiness to put off the old man". Keep in mind book is written in the 1940's so there is no political correctness, just simply Von Hildebrand that all of us is one way or another looking to deepen our spirituality and relationship with God. He goes further "morally aspiring men are conscious of the necessity of purposeful self-education" and "revelation of the Old Testament alone suffices to make believer aware of man's metaphysical situation". So we all need to study our faith closer and just reading the Old Testament, itself gives us the awareness of how we can improve our relationship with God. "Within him lives a deep yearning for the Redeemer, who by divine force will take the guilt of sin and bridge the gulf that separates the human race from God".
God calls us to change. "The New Testament, however, reveals to us a call which far transcends that yearning. Though we receive this new life in Baptism as a free gift of God, it may not flourish unless we cooperate. A strong desire must fill us to become different beings to mortify our old selves and re-arises as new men in Christ. Our surrender to Christ implies a readiness to let Him fully transform us, without setting any limit to the modification of our nature under His influence." These sentences gathered together from several paragraphs indicate that even though we have been given a gift of new life, we must retain it continuously and always looking to improve our faith.
Readiness to change vs natural optimism. "The difference between the Christians and the natural idealist is obvious . The idealist is suffused with optimism concerning human nature as such. He overlooks our impotence to erase a moral guilt. It prevents him from understanding even the necessity of basic renewal, let alone the full presence of such virtue - holiness." For today in our time , this is more noticeable, from education to media, idealism has taken a whole new outlook and has stepped up to put all our ideals above God's, from claiming a woman has a right to her own body to try to eliminate Gun violence by reducing gun control. I'm not a gun activist, but I can clearly see controlling or restricting is not going to eliminate violence, especially terrorism, but we first have to crush the evil we allow, like divorce, contraception, abortion to truly combat violence.
"He has in mind a relative change only; an evolution immanent to nature. The objective is not to be reborn : to become radically another man he merely want to perfect himself within the framework of his disposition. A second point if difference closely connected with this . The idealist readiness to change is aimed at certain details or aspects only, never at his character as a whole, the Christian, however, is intent on becoming another main in all things. We must submit to supernatural transformation, by the new principle of supernatural life conveyed to him by Baptism.. Thirdly, the man of natural moral endeavor will always stick to the firm ground of nature." VH is challenging Christians to be above what the secular world, in this case the media for most part so we can elevate ourselves closer to God's level, we cannot onlky depend on the nature around us, the immediate environment no matter how perfect it seems, it is really a mirage, kind of like the movie "Matrix"
"Not all posses the radical readiness of change. For a transformation in Christ, is not actually possessed by all Catholic believers. Its is, rather, a distinctive trait of those who have grasped the full import of the Call, and without reserve have decided upon an imitation of Christ. Many religious Catholics whose readiness to change is merely a conditional one. They lack the will and the readiness to become a new man all in all. They prefer to evade the act of metanoia; a true conversion of the heart. Their conscience permits them to remain entrenched in their self-assertion. For example, they do not feel obligation of loving their enemies. They maintain as self evident their claim to the world's respect, they dread being looked upon fools of Christ and anxious to stand justified in the eyes of the world." It is clear here that VH is pointing out to truly transform ourselves to follow God is not a selective process, there are no conditions we can choose to follow God, we are either all in or not. This is challenging, but God certainly gives us the opportunity and time to do this. It is not something all can do at a immediate pace,
Transformation in Christ requires unqualified readiness to change. "readiness to become another man and having heard the call ' Follow me', to do so , he is not required literally to relinquish everything in the sense of evangelical counsels: this would be in answer to another, more particular call. Readiness to change, taken in this sense, is the first prerequisite for the transformation in Christ. We must be determined not to entrench ourselves in our nature. We must fully experience the bliss of flying into Christs arms, who will transform us by His light beyond any measure we might ourselves intend." It's here VH gives us sense of relief in terms of a calling, as not everyone is called to be directly servants of God like the clergy, but we do need to be above what the World promotes today as how we should live, but more importantly , what kind of relationship we have with God.
Moral progress requires unqualified readiness to change. "Merely the condition for embarking on our journey towards our supernatural goal. It also constitutes the permanent basis for continual progress on our road. Until we have reached the safe harbor of the status finales, souls will rest unchangeably in the boundless bliss of communion with God. Discourses for Mixed Congregations, Cardinal Newman points out the danger inherent in believing oneself to have attained a satisfactory degree of spiritual progress-now matter how high a degree it actually is, example of the saints teaches us that spiritual progress implies no hardening of the fluidity. In his earthly life the Christians must never let the process of dying unto himself and rising again in Christ come to a standstill: he should always preserve that inner fluidity which is an ultimate expression of the situation implied in the status viae.
The necessity of what is here described as readiness to change applies by no means only to him who has gone through a conversion and even to such as have never definitely and gravely trespassed against God's commandments. They, too must be willing to rise above their nature and hold themselves ready for coinage by the spirit of Christ." It is here that VH is declaring our relationship with God cannot be static, it must always be evolve, even if there appears to be setbacks. We can never accept that our spirituality has reached a plateau, including being so called spiritual high. Until we reach heaven, as St. Paul stated, its until we finish the race.
Supernatural readiness to change vs malleability. "State if fluidity as such, general disposition to change in no matter what direction. The change implied in the continual process of dying unto ourselves, being reformed by Christ. Rather it involves a firm standing in the face of all mundane influences, a character of impermeability in regard to them. That fluidity in our relationship with Christ is anything but a state characterized by a continuous flow of change in the sense that the charge as such be credited wit a value of its own". I struggled with this part, malleability is defined as capable of being shaped, pressed and formed. So it appears VH is pointing out that with all the forming we have gone through in our life, that is things we experienced in life through repetitive tasks, we can't apply that same method in our relationship with God.
Man is called to the unchageableness of God. "As Christians we give our worship not to change to the Unchangeable God. Christians we direct our lives towards the moment in which there will be change no longer. We deny our love to the heaving rhythm of life. Nor can we be intoxicated by any communion with Nature in a pantheistic sense. For we do not believe ourselves to be part of Nature. The blissful message of the Gospel that we are called to participate in the eternal unchangeableness of God." It is here we must keep hold of the core values of our faith in God, they cannot be changed and be caught up some of the pleasures or materialistic things we experience, I guess good example is having my Starbuck coffee time and just sitting outside and enjoying the nature, feel all is alright and I'm not going to anyway interfere with my pleasant moment, even if someone else is in need of help. It's here we put ourselves above serving our neighbor to enjoy that moment, and thus not being good Christians.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Transformation in Christ Series Recollection: Intro
I have been reading the book "Transformation in Christ" by Dietrich Von Hildebrand. Not sure how I had this book, don't recall purchasing it, and my wife doesn't recall getting it. So I assume I got it from my Father's place who passed away several years. I started to read it, it's a very rich and challenging book to read. The language is advanced for a person like me, but when catching some of the things that Von Hildebrand points out on how we need to transform in Christ, it's really moving and spiritual, It's intellectual, but in some of his writing, just plain simple and is clear in getting his message across.
Von Hildebrand was a theologian of the Catholic Church, he is not canonized saint but one Saint for sure has read and admired his writing, which was St. John Paul II, in addition Pope Benedict XII and Pope Pius has pointed out some of his writings. He was also from Germany and was one of the Catholic writers who criticized Hitler before his time in power in Germany, because of that, he had to flee from Germany and temporary moved to different countries around Europe. However, when Germany was in process taking over each of the countries he had stayed in, he then eventually fled to United States and became a professor at Jesuit University in New York area. After he retired from teaching, he wrote some other books. This particular book was written after World War II. Von Hildebrand wife; Alice, is also has a PhD, and so you can image the discussions they had during dinner time.
The book covers the following topics: Readiness to Change, Contrition, Self-Knowledge, True Consciousness, True Simplicity, Recollection and Contemplation, Humility, Confidence in God, Striving for Perfection, True Freedom, Blessed are they who hunger for Justice, Holy Patience, Blessed are the peacemakers, Holy Meekness, Holy Mercy, Holy Sorrow, Holy Sobriety, and True Surrender of Self.
My goal is to go over each of these subjucts that are pointed out in this book in the simplist manner as possible.
Also, EWTN also have a summary of his book "Transformation in Christ"
Will start with "Readiness to Change" by next week
Von Hildebrand was a theologian of the Catholic Church, he is not canonized saint but one Saint for sure has read and admired his writing, which was St. John Paul II, in addition Pope Benedict XII and Pope Pius has pointed out some of his writings. He was also from Germany and was one of the Catholic writers who criticized Hitler before his time in power in Germany, because of that, he had to flee from Germany and temporary moved to different countries around Europe. However, when Germany was in process taking over each of the countries he had stayed in, he then eventually fled to United States and became a professor at Jesuit University in New York area. After he retired from teaching, he wrote some other books. This particular book was written after World War II. Von Hildebrand wife; Alice, is also has a PhD, and so you can image the discussions they had during dinner time.
The book covers the following topics: Readiness to Change, Contrition, Self-Knowledge, True Consciousness, True Simplicity, Recollection and Contemplation, Humility, Confidence in God, Striving for Perfection, True Freedom, Blessed are they who hunger for Justice, Holy Patience, Blessed are the peacemakers, Holy Meekness, Holy Mercy, Holy Sorrow, Holy Sobriety, and True Surrender of Self.
My goal is to go over each of these subjucts that are pointed out in this book in the simplist manner as possible.
Also, EWTN also have a summary of his book "Transformation in Christ"
Will start with "Readiness to Change" by next week
Thursday, January 21, 2016
So much for being of good cheer
For some reason today on my way to work while ofdaying the rosary and reflecting on one of the mysteries I had challenged myself to be patient and keep a smile to any coworker for what ever reason today at my job. Not sure why I thought I could do it of all days but looking back it must be after having a good workout in the gym and being relaxed after spending some time in the spa.
Maybe I figured with some materialistically concept I could improve spiritually. We are of course called to be charitable and patience with other's. Its one of the cardinal virtues, which is the virtue of Fortitude which is noted on the CC 1808:70
' In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.'
Also as noted a virtue is to do good and more specifically the theological virtue directly ties what I was trying to do today. CC 1822
'Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.'
Well it turned out that I was totally reversed in my behaviours of being charitable of my coworkers or neighbor and of being "good cheer". In fact I was rude for most part, simply I let my pride take over especially in a embarrassing argument of me complaining doing reduntant work on an issue which was resolved without my knowledge. I had completely missed that window of oppurtuniuty to be heroic.
What happened, well looking back, I didn't do much praying as I should and was more dependent on taking the challenge as doing something I could conquer for myself instead of just simply looking to improve my relationship with God through my neighbor. However I hope through this reflection I can just try again knowing God is for sure patient and charitable with me.
Maybe I figured with some materialistically concept I could improve spiritually. We are of course called to be charitable and patience with other's. Its one of the cardinal virtues, which is the virtue of Fortitude which is noted on the CC 1808:70
' In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.'
Also as noted a virtue is to do good and more specifically the theological virtue directly ties what I was trying to do today. CC 1822
'Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.'
Well it turned out that I was totally reversed in my behaviours of being charitable of my coworkers or neighbor and of being "good cheer". In fact I was rude for most part, simply I let my pride take over especially in a embarrassing argument of me complaining doing reduntant work on an issue which was resolved without my knowledge. I had completely missed that window of oppurtuniuty to be heroic.
What happened, well looking back, I didn't do much praying as I should and was more dependent on taking the challenge as doing something I could conquer for myself instead of just simply looking to improve my relationship with God through my neighbor. However I hope through this reflection I can just try again knowing God is for sure patient and charitable with me.
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Are we sleeping in our faith , are we alert to Gods presence
Today's reading is about Samuel sleeping and hearing God call to him. (1 SM 3:1-10).
How often we sleep with our actions or behaviours toward God in our relationship to him. Are we too tired to listen or pray to God? Instead of responding to God's will or going to him with our concerns, are we like Samuel and going to other people for consolation or affirmation; or worst yet going to materialistic vices such as being totally junked up with social networking, or leaning to media for relief or distraction from our problems? We know God is there for us in the Eucharist or present via adoration or in a chapel where he is in a tabernacle its here where we can say like Samuel when he realized God was reaching out to him; "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening".
Do we go to him for our needs like the apostles did in Mk 1:29. It makes me chuckle a little bit that Peter would ask Jesus to cure his mother-in-law, one could only imagine that Peter was respecting his wife or he had a really god relationship with her, but the point is he wasn't afraid to ask the Lord for help, it's during these moments that Peter and rest of the apostles that they are fully awake of the Lords relationship with them.
However what happens during the Garden of Gethsemane, the apostles fall a sleep (Mat 26:40) It's here the apostles decide their comfort is more important than our Lord, Jesus even points out that they would lead to temptations and qoutes "The spirit is willing , but the flesh is weak", and so we know from here because Peter is a asleep and not attentive, that he does everything wrong such as slashing the guards ear to denying Jesus in a matter of hours.
So let us reflect on how important we shouldn't be sleeping in our faith by lack of prayer, good works, doing our daily tasks well, going to mass , etc. Let's not only depend of the comforts of the world. Otherwise just like Peter in a short time we can sin and loose that relationship with God, but also knowing we can make that only temporary because God loves us and is willing to take us back no matter what.
Amen
How often we sleep with our actions or behaviours toward God in our relationship to him. Are we too tired to listen or pray to God? Instead of responding to God's will or going to him with our concerns, are we like Samuel and going to other people for consolation or affirmation; or worst yet going to materialistic vices such as being totally junked up with social networking, or leaning to media for relief or distraction from our problems? We know God is there for us in the Eucharist or present via adoration or in a chapel where he is in a tabernacle its here where we can say like Samuel when he realized God was reaching out to him; "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening".
Do we go to him for our needs like the apostles did in Mk 1:29. It makes me chuckle a little bit that Peter would ask Jesus to cure his mother-in-law, one could only imagine that Peter was respecting his wife or he had a really god relationship with her, but the point is he wasn't afraid to ask the Lord for help, it's during these moments that Peter and rest of the apostles that they are fully awake of the Lords relationship with them.
However what happens during the Garden of Gethsemane, the apostles fall a sleep (Mat 26:40) It's here the apostles decide their comfort is more important than our Lord, Jesus even points out that they would lead to temptations and qoutes "The spirit is willing , but the flesh is weak", and so we know from here because Peter is a asleep and not attentive, that he does everything wrong such as slashing the guards ear to denying Jesus in a matter of hours.
So let us reflect on how important we shouldn't be sleeping in our faith by lack of prayer, good works, doing our daily tasks well, going to mass , etc. Let's not only depend of the comforts of the world. Otherwise just like Peter in a short time we can sin and loose that relationship with God, but also knowing we can make that only temporary because God loves us and is willing to take us back no matter what.
Amen
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
How can we really love as Christians
How do we as Christians be truly Christians or even Legionaries. We do the following:
We must love God with our whole heart and
with our whole soul and with our whole mind; and our
neighbour as ourself (Mt 22:37-39),
However as the Legion handbook notes:
It has fallen on many ears that are determined to be deaf. It would be evidence of this gravely incorrect point of view to regard the legionary standards as a sort of sanctity, intended for chosen souls only. For these standards are only elementary Christian ones. It is not easy to see how one can descend much below them and at the same time claim to be rendering to our neighbour the active love which is enjoined by the Great Precept, and which is part of the very love of God; so much so, that if it be omitted, the Christian idea is mutilated. “We must be saved together. We must come to God together. What would God say to us if some of us came to Him without the others?” (Péguy)
That love must lavish itself on our fellow-men without distinction, individually and corporately, not as a mere emotion but in the form of duty, service, self-sacrifice. The legionary must be an attractive embodiment of this true pd201
However as the Legion handbook notes:
It has fallen on many ears that are determined to be deaf. It would be evidence of this gravely incorrect point of view to regard the legionary standards as a sort of sanctity, intended for chosen souls only. For these standards are only elementary Christian ones. It is not easy to see how one can descend much below them and at the same time claim to be rendering to our neighbour the active love which is enjoined by the Great Precept, and which is part of the very love of God; so much so, that if it be omitted, the Christian idea is mutilated. “We must be saved together. We must come to God together. What would God say to us if some of us came to Him without the others?” (Péguy)
That love must lavish itself on our fellow-men without distinction, individually and corporately, not as a mere emotion but in the form of duty, service, self-sacrifice. The legionary must be an attractive embodiment of this true pd201
In summary we must rely on each other, but to do that we need to first love God, then we can love one another.
Today's scripture readings is about love, and what love should be; that we should learn how to love one
another and love God. Its was St. John calls perfect love.
God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. In this is love brought to perfection among us,
that we have confidence on the day of judgement
because as he is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love,
but perfect love drives out fear
because fear has to do with punishment,
and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.
that we have confidence on the day of judgement
because as he is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love,
but perfect love drives out fear
because fear has to do with punishment,
and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.
1 jn 4:17-18
So love is contrasted with fear (1 Jn 4:18),
and the antidote to fear is prayer. Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us that love
increases through a relationship with God. Prayer is a conversation
with God, with us doing most of the listening and God doing most of the
speaking.
What do we fear of? In this case going to hell out of punishment of not obeying
God's commands most likely, at least that is my fear sometimes. St. John point’s out that we can't focus on fear which
then will limit us to just doing things to avoid punishment and then just get by with the
minimum. For example, it's like going to school and getting C's and D's just so we
can graduate, but if we really care about furthering ourselves for the
future and please our parents, then we go for better grades. Similar is
with our relationship with God.
However, there has to be some fear in order to start loving, just like a child fears there parents out of respect of not doing everything it pleases to avoid punishment.
Example: Like a child eating all the cookies from the cookie jar knowing that it was told by the parents to not eat cookies without permission otherwise there will punishment; and so the child respects the parents and later on it learns to love by sacrificing itself to not give in on eating the cookies from the jar even knowing it could get away with it.
There can't be this love where we have no fear of offending others and just think about our needs only and not be considerate to those around close to us, in other words taking advantage of the situation and loving to gratify yourself knowing that person will stand for your "so called" weaknesses" and not hold yourself accountable.
In so many ways this would be all of us with God. We sin but know he will always love us, and will forgive us no matter what, which is true. However, what if we don't have that moment to ask for forgiveness, the time passes, what then. Well we are not with God no more.
“Take away from love the fullness of self surrender, the completeness of personal commitment, and what remains will be a total denial and negation of it.”
and
“Love consists of a commitment which limits one's freedom - it is a
giving of the self, and to give oneself means just that: to limit one's
freedom on behalf of another.”
― John Paul II, Love and Responsibility
― John Paul II, Love and Responsibility
Friday, January 1, 2016
The year of fear or not
Is this now the year of fear - 2016? Or have we left it behind - 2015
Today is the first day of 2016. We leave a year with so many incidents of killings from terrorists, war , plane accidents; Paris shootings (twice), San Bernardino, Russian and Malaysia planes shot-down through terrorist bomb or missile from war, the list goes on.
We live in fear of someone coming in any time and shoot us, we live in doubt through our economy because the amount of debt we have accrued.
We live in fear of loosing some through suicide because of social media and online bullying
We live in fear of loosing now the sacrament of marriage or what the institution of marriage is which helps protect the core families we did have; but now put our social society in doubt now through civilly allowing homosexual marriages. It's only matter of time the church will be pressured to marry or recognize these false unions.
We live in fear of now how are politicians take advantage of all what has been mentioned above and string us like guitar strings and causing smoke screens, but not realizing the real needs we need from our government leaders; which is simply to be like St. Thomas Moore, serve the people justly.
I can't imagine if I was a person with no faith what we be going through my mind reflecting these fears, but since I'm a follower of Christ, I recall what he has said:
Mathew 6:25
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?o 27Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?* 28Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. 29But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. 30* If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ 32All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness,* and all these things will be given you besides. 34Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil."
An then also from John
"Do not love the world or the things of the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world,
sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life,
is not from the Father but is from the world.
Yet the world and its enticement are passing away.
But whoever does the will of God remains forever."
We must redirect our selves past the physical nature of ourselves; like loosing our body or spouse and children bodies, our homes, our cars, belongings, money, etc.
We can't be fixated on these things, we can do what we can to take care of our bodies and well being of those near us, protect ourselves, increase our security for the future of our family needs. We can't however depend soley on them, we must look to better protect our souls first and those around us who we care about; we do this by example by being charitable, pray, patience and loving. If we are able to accomplish this , then all the fears above wouldn't then overtake us and would be secondary.
In short, we need to trust God's will and be present in the day, we will have plenty of times we will fail, but plenty of times to restart. Only can we do this by constant prayer and serving those around us. So this is no ordinary New Years resolution; we were attempt to do it and give up and forget about it, but this is a resolution we need to make every day.
Amen
Today is the first day of 2016. We leave a year with so many incidents of killings from terrorists, war , plane accidents; Paris shootings (twice), San Bernardino, Russian and Malaysia planes shot-down through terrorist bomb or missile from war, the list goes on.
We live in fear of someone coming in any time and shoot us, we live in doubt through our economy because the amount of debt we have accrued.
We live in fear of loosing some through suicide because of social media and online bullying
We live in fear of loosing now the sacrament of marriage or what the institution of marriage is which helps protect the core families we did have; but now put our social society in doubt now through civilly allowing homosexual marriages. It's only matter of time the church will be pressured to marry or recognize these false unions.
We live in fear of now how are politicians take advantage of all what has been mentioned above and string us like guitar strings and causing smoke screens, but not realizing the real needs we need from our government leaders; which is simply to be like St. Thomas Moore, serve the people justly.
I can't imagine if I was a person with no faith what we be going through my mind reflecting these fears, but since I'm a follower of Christ, I recall what he has said:
Mathew 6:25
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?o 27Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?* 28Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. 29But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. 30* If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ 32All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness,* and all these things will be given you besides. 34Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil."
An then also from John
"Do not love the world or the things of the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world,
sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life,
is not from the Father but is from the world.
Yet the world and its enticement are passing away.
But whoever does the will of God remains forever."
We must redirect our selves past the physical nature of ourselves; like loosing our body or spouse and children bodies, our homes, our cars, belongings, money, etc.
We can't be fixated on these things, we can do what we can to take care of our bodies and well being of those near us, protect ourselves, increase our security for the future of our family needs. We can't however depend soley on them, we must look to better protect our souls first and those around us who we care about; we do this by example by being charitable, pray, patience and loving. If we are able to accomplish this , then all the fears above wouldn't then overtake us and would be secondary.
In short, we need to trust God's will and be present in the day, we will have plenty of times we will fail, but plenty of times to restart. Only can we do this by constant prayer and serving those around us. So this is no ordinary New Years resolution; we were attempt to do it and give up and forget about it, but this is a resolution we need to make every day.
Amen
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