No matter how hard we try, it's difficult to view the world and people around us without our lenses of cultural filters and past experiences.
Each one of us has an individual point of view that we use to judge situations, people and relationships which is not necessarily bad unless we operate from an inflexible, myopic and judgemental viewpoint.
Last week A asked us to keep a journal of our social interaction through the week and especially in tableaux that left us a little heated under the collar, we were encouraged to place ourselves in others' shoes and to see where differing opinions and the resultant behaviours diverged, and could possibly converge.
It is only when we see that other perspectives are possible that we are willing to change how we behave, to compromise and arrive at a rapprochement of sorts.
Instead of becoming possessed by our attachments, our undesirable habits and ignoble inclinations that cause us to stumble and fall again and again, we are invited in chapter eleven of Landmarks to recognize our enemies and trust our friends. To realize we can be enslaved by evil and to seek ways to be free of these enslavements which can occasionally parade as something good.
It completely amazes me how last week's readings made a complementary accompaniment to the daily reflections A set for us that culminated in today's: Wisdom 7:7-11, Hebrews 4:12-13 and Mark 10:17-30.*
Today's readings dovetailed neatly into the process of discernment we are invited by Margaret Silf to embody:
To ask for the gift of prudence, wisdom, that we prize above all material wealth. For if we live on God's wisdom, His Word, then we will be able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart, to fill daybreak with kindness and be joyous and glad all our days, giving glory through the work of our hands.
The story of the rich, young man speaks of our attachments that prevent us from following Christ more fully; that despite our desire to grow in intimacy with God, we are not willing to give up what we have, even our perceived weaknesses and faults which have become comfortable habits.
We refuse to undergo kenosis, the self-emptying of our will in order that we be completely receptive to divine will that will teach us who are our enemies and our friends within.
The ability to know which of our impulses, good and bad, come from God requires constant prayer and attention to what our reason and conscience tell us, and for us not just to rely on our senses and imagination.
Not only that, A also reminded us last Friday that we must be humble, open, trusting and full of courage.
In order to win "eternal life", we must move beyond our fears to put our entire fate into God's hands for all things humanly impossible are possible with God.
Even changing our perspective in our interactions with strangers, acquaintances, friends, colleagues, bosses, spouses, parents, siblings and children so that we can diminish differences, banishing ignorance and hate.
We are all made to praise, reverence and serve God for we come from Him and we belong to Him. If we hold on to this truth, then we will learn to live and breathe it.
And thus find God in all things.
* http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/101412.cfm
Each one of us has an individual point of view that we use to judge situations, people and relationships which is not necessarily bad unless we operate from an inflexible, myopic and judgemental viewpoint.
Last week A asked us to keep a journal of our social interaction through the week and especially in tableaux that left us a little heated under the collar, we were encouraged to place ourselves in others' shoes and to see where differing opinions and the resultant behaviours diverged, and could possibly converge.
It is only when we see that other perspectives are possible that we are willing to change how we behave, to compromise and arrive at a rapprochement of sorts.
Instead of becoming possessed by our attachments, our undesirable habits and ignoble inclinations that cause us to stumble and fall again and again, we are invited in chapter eleven of Landmarks to recognize our enemies and trust our friends. To realize we can be enslaved by evil and to seek ways to be free of these enslavements which can occasionally parade as something good.
It completely amazes me how last week's readings made a complementary accompaniment to the daily reflections A set for us that culminated in today's: Wisdom 7:7-11, Hebrews 4:12-13 and Mark 10:17-30.*
Today's readings dovetailed neatly into the process of discernment we are invited by Margaret Silf to embody:
To ask for the gift of prudence, wisdom, that we prize above all material wealth. For if we live on God's wisdom, His Word, then we will be able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart, to fill daybreak with kindness and be joyous and glad all our days, giving glory through the work of our hands.
The story of the rich, young man speaks of our attachments that prevent us from following Christ more fully; that despite our desire to grow in intimacy with God, we are not willing to give up what we have, even our perceived weaknesses and faults which have become comfortable habits.
We refuse to undergo kenosis, the self-emptying of our will in order that we be completely receptive to divine will that will teach us who are our enemies and our friends within.
The ability to know which of our impulses, good and bad, come from God requires constant prayer and attention to what our reason and conscience tell us, and for us not just to rely on our senses and imagination.
Not only that, A also reminded us last Friday that we must be humble, open, trusting and full of courage.
In order to win "eternal life", we must move beyond our fears to put our entire fate into God's hands for all things humanly impossible are possible with God. Even changing our perspective in our interactions with strangers, acquaintances, friends, colleagues, bosses, spouses, parents, siblings and children so that we can diminish differences, banishing ignorance and hate.
We are all made to praise, reverence and serve God for we come from Him and we belong to Him. If we hold on to this truth, then we will learn to live and breathe it.
And thus find God in all things.
* http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/101412.cfm
No comments:
Post a Comment