tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77938426792232389432024-03-15T08:41:42.327-02:30Father Gerald Westcott: ReflectionsStories and Poetry about Life and SpiritFather Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.comBlogger259125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-72657748797306870022024-03-15T08:39:00.005-02:302024-03-15T08:40:58.192-02:30Lighting Up the World<p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>The season of Lent is an invitation to the awakening of the Heart! </span><span>Our heart for God, and our heart for one another. It is a season to renew our</span><span> journey away from focus on self to a focus on the Heart that is God - and God’s Heart is in you waiting to be discovered and lived out of.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lent and Life is a journey of the opening up to the HEART of all hearts.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">“Sir, we would like to see Jesus”</span></i></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">To see Jesus is to see the heart of God, to see Jesus is to see the face of Love. This loving face, this loving awareness is at the very centre of your soul.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In order for us to “see” Christ we must clear away the clutter and illusions of our small and false self. Lent’s invitation is to learn to die to this self.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies it produces much fruit.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">“Whoever loves his life will lose it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus is teaching us that the path to genuine and authentic life is the dying to self-centeredness. </span><span style="font-size: large;">In biblical terms, it is the “ruler of this world” that beacons us away from the freedom of God to the slavery of self-centeredness.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">“And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”</span></i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The way of the Cross is the way of kenosis, of self emptying, and centering on Jesus, of seeing Jesus, the face of Love.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The way of the Cross, of our Lenten journey, is the way of the heart, of a purified and opening heart.</span></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">“I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God and they will be my people.” (Jeremiah)</span></i></p><p class="p4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">“A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me.” (Psalm 51)</span></i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let us surrender our hearts to the Lord of Love, that we may see less of self, and more of the face of Love in every other person.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">That, my friends, will light up the world.</span></p>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-82742832339917989022024-03-08T09:27:00.000-03:302024-03-08T09:27:10.146-03:30Not even Death can Separate us from the Love of God<p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Hebrew story of Moses and the lifting up of the serpent on a pole is a foreshadowing of what will be fulfilled in the lifting up of Jesus on the Cross.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">“Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”</span></i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">When we prayerfully reflect on Jesus and the power of the cross and resurrection, we come to the realization<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that even death cannot separate us from Love that is God. And in this spiritual awakening, new, inclusive and eternal life opens us before us.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The crucifixion of Jesus is not as much about “paying” a price for our sins, as it is about revealing to us that neither sin nor death can separate us from the Love of God. With this freedom we can become more aware of and live out of the Love that is Divinity within us.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">To know and experience Divine Love is to know and experience eternal life.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”</span></i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">This verse captures the entire Gospel!</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">God’s Love keeps us from perishing.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">To know God’s love is to be drawn into a life without end.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lent is a season of preparation to lean more completely into the fullness of the life and love of the Resurrection.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">As we enter more deeply into the mystery of the Divine Love, let us prayerfully become more intentional in inviting and drawing others into that very same life of Love. It is for the salvation of the world - one awakened soul at a time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-67121583421586099442024-02-29T08:27:00.001-03:302024-02-29T08:27:29.453-03:30False and Unhealthy Religion<p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the signs of the times today is that many people, although not interested in organized religion, are in fact “spiritual” and interested in spiritual things.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are many reasons for the loss of interest in organized religion, but one of the causes is because of the history of institutional religion with its dualistic application of either/or, judgement and exclusion, who is right and who is wrong, who is in and who is out. This lifeless theology has caused so much damage over the centuries. In contrast, and we can know intuitively (and with quantum physics!), is that the Divine reality is unitive in nature, it is inclusive and non-judgemental, it is both/and. There is no outside of God!</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Inherent in Lent is an invitation to clean up our spiritual houses, both personally and corporately, so that they can be lovingly inclusive with spiritual depth.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus’ cleansing of the temple in John’s gospel is about a letting go of false and unhealthy religion, and entering into and living out of deeper and inclusive spirituality.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The cleansing of the temple is about making room for God in our lives. It is about recognizing that we are temples of the Holy Spirit, and that God abides in us - in ALL of us.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Intentionally spiritual people spend their life time cleansing their inner temple and opening up to God’s larger life of Love within.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The spiritual life is not about being morally perfect and pure. But it is about changing and opening up more and more to a larger love and life.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">As our hearts and minds grow in intentional love, we come to know more and more the truth that we actually live IN Christ, we live inside of the Divine and eternal flow of Life, we live inside of Love.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christ is our Temple. We are Christ’s Temple.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus says “I am in you, you are in me.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Divine Image is enthroned within the temple of our souls. Through spiritual practice and works of love, as we cleanse away the debris that is in the way of us being more fully aware of God’s image in us and others, we become the very likeness of God to the world around us.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">As we continue our Lenten journey, let us<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>- with the help of the Holy Spirit - cleanse our spiritual houses, and allow the Love that is Christ to live more fully in us, and in our communities.</span></p>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-31978179363100228632024-02-23T09:18:00.003-03:302024-02-23T09:19:16.674-03:30A Mountain Top Experience <p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;">The story of the Transfiguration is a story about the mountain top experience of becoming conscious of the shared life of the human and the Divine - a “resurrection” experience.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The “mountain top” experience is to encounter a Divine Love that transforms us and wakes us up to the unitive nature of all of life, of how we can know and experience deep connection with God, each other and all of creation.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We all have an interior mountain that we are invited to climb in order to draw nearer to the Transforming Love that is God.</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Moses’ Mountain revealed God in the burning bush, and later the 10 commandments.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elijah’s Mountain revealed God in the still, small voice.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Apostle’s Mountain on Tabor reveals the risen nature of Christ in Jesus and in all of us.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">These are mystical or inner experiences that since Pentecost, are not reserved just for the great saints, but for the whole people of God to enter into.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Notice that the living Word of God is “heard” in each of these Divine experiences:</span></p><ul class="ul1"><li class="li1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Moses’ mountain he hears “I AM sent you.”</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">On Elijah’s mountain he hears the still small voice.</span></li><li class="li1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">At the Transfiguration the Apostles hear and see Moses and Elijah (representing the Law and Prophets).</span></li></ul><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">St.Augustine teaches that the Scriptures are the Mountain Tops of Israel. The Sacred Scriptures are at the heart of our Lenten journey to the Promised Land of Risen Life.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The invitation is to learn to center on the Living Word of God in order to be consumed by the burning bush of God’s love, to hear God’s still, small voice in holy silence, to know and abide in the Risen Life and Love that is Christ.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">As we are transformed in our relationship with God in Christ, we have a natural responsibility and desire to reach out to those around us trapped in darkness and despair, not knowing the transforming love of Christ.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our Lenten pilgrimage is not just about renewing and deepening our own knowledge and experience of the Divine, it is about committing ourselves to the Church’s mission to reach out to, connect and draw others into the Promised Land of Risen Love, the eternal life of Christ revealed in Jesus our Lord.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-51950437079304843192024-02-16T09:29:00.001-03:302024-02-16T09:29:57.440-03:30Struggling with our Shadow<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">In every liturgical year the Church brings us in the first Sunday of Lent to reflect on the Lord’s being led into the desert to struggle and be tempted.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are reminded of the very real humanity of Jesus. We are reminded that, like Jesus, we need to struggle in the process of knowing who we are in relation to God and one another.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="color: #292929; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Father Richard Rohr teaches that <i>“Human consciousness does not emerge at any depth except through struggling with your shadow. I wish someone had told me that when I was young. It is in facing your conflicts, criticisms, and contradictions that you grow up. You actually need to have some problems, enemies, and faults! You will remain largely unconscious as a human being until issues come into your life that you cannot fix or control and something challenges you at your present level of development, forcing you to expand and deepen. It is in the struggle with our shadow self, with failure, or with wounding, that we break into higher levels of consciousness.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In order for us to make real progress in this inward journey of self realization, we need to take the spiritual desert seriously. Many people are afraid to be alone with themselves. That is to say, to face themselves, along with their pain and trauma. Lent is an invitation to open up to and face the inner barriers that keep us from being more fully human.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus calls us individually and corporately to go into the desert with him to learn to trust God, to be present to God in the power of the Holy Spirit, and to struggle with the enemy within us.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The spiritual desert is a tough place where we learn to recognize and work with the pain and distractions that keep us from a deeper life in God, a deeper life in Love.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">St.Augustine of Hippo says <i>“we progress by means of trial. No one knows himself except through trial…we can only grow when struggling against temptation and challenge.”</i></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The interior life of struggling with self and more habitually centering on the Love that is Christ is something we must simply practice and do. The spiritual practices of prayer and meditation, of reading sacred scripture, of participating in intentional community, of service to the poor and those in need are foundational practices in Christian living, and can be renewed in Lent.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Praying that during this Lent, in your silence and solitude, that more space will open up inside of you as you notice the Indwelling Presence filling you with a Love and Compassion that will change and heal the world.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-72517212932019884412024-02-14T09:39:00.000-03:302024-02-14T09:39:54.126-03:30An Ash Wednesday Reflection<p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Ash Wednesday and the Lenten journey is an invitation to follow Jesus in the Way of the Cross. It is an invitation to die to our false and passing selves and to wake up and rise with our deeper and truer divine selves in God.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>“Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.”</i></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The mantra of Ash Wednesday and Lent and of our lives.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">St.Benedict reminds us that every day we should remind ourselves of our mortality. This is not a morbid remembering. It is a remembering that enables us to let go of that which is passing and to open up to that which is lasting and full of meaning and purpose in our lives.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">On the first Sunday of Lent, Jesus invites us to follow him into the wilderness to struggle with our false selves, our egos and controlling minds. This place of silence and solitude is where real healing and transformation begins. Why? Because we have to face ourselves. Like Jesus, if we want to know resurrection and new life, we have to face our shadow selves.</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And the good news is that we are not alone in this journey into self discovery and self awareness (which ultimately leads to God awareness). The Risen Christ journey’s with us as our deepest and truest self.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">God loves us as we are. But God is never done with the work of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>evolving us into the fullness of Love. This deep divine Love draws us into a life long process of dying to our false selves and rising to the healing and transformation of the new life of Love.</p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>“Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.”</i></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-74086470543854221072023-03-30T08:47:00.003-02:302023-03-30T08:47:59.522-02:30What to do with Suffering?<p class="p1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: large;">All of our lives, are filled with pain and suffering. Suffering is not negotiable. And the suffering will be transformative in our lives: </span><b style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: large;">it will either make us bitter and miserable, or it will make us compassionate and more alive.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></p><p class="p3" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Like Jesus, we need to learn how to hold on to the pain in our lives</b>, to be present to it, to surrender to it until we’ve learned its lessons.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is a great teaching moment where you have the possibility of breaking through to a <b>deeper level of faith and consciousness. </b>There is a greater Divine life beneath the surface of our pain.</span></p><p class="p3" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you can surrender and <b>Hold on to the pain of being human…God will transform you through it.</b> And then you will be an instrument of transformation for others.</span></p><p class="p3" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>As an example of holding the pain, picture Mary standing at the foot of the cross.</b> Standing would not be the normal posture of a Jewish woman who is supposed to wail and lament and show pain externally. She’s holding the pain instead. She is present to it, surrendered to it.</span></p><p class="p3" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Mary is in complete solidarity with the mystery of life and death. </b><i>She’s trying to say, “There’s something deeper happening here. How can I absorb it just as Jesus is absorbing it?”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></i></span></p><p class="p3" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Until you find a way to be a transformer, you will pass the pain onto others.</span></b></p><p class="p3" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jesus on the cross and Mary standing by the cross are images of transformative religion. They are never transmitting the pain to others.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">They hold the suffering… until it becomes resurrection!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b></p><p class="p3" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That’s the core mystery. It takes our whole life to comprehend this, and then to become God’s “new creation” (Galatians 6:15).<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Unfortunately, we have the natural instinct to fix pain, to control it, or even, foolishly, to try to understand it. The ego always insists on understanding. That’s why Jesus praises a certain quality even more than love, and he calls it faith. <b>It is the ability to stand on the threshold, until you move to a deeper level where it all eventually makes sense in God’s grace.</b></span></p><p class="p3" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Today is Passion Sunday, when we begin to see Jesus’ suffering as transformative for the world.</span></p><p class="p3" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We are to join our sufferings to Christ’s, and be part of the process of transformation and freedom for ourselves, in our families, and in the world.</span></p>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-32306092378367821222022-01-23T08:00:00.000-03:302022-01-23T08:00:25.565-03:30YOU can become Good News<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus, quoting from the book of Isaiah (Luke 1:14-21), says that he is <i>“anointed to bring good news”</i> </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus is the fulfillment of this scripture.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Likewise it is the Church’s mission to not only bring good news to the poor and to those in need (which is everyone), <b>it is the church’s mission to BE good news.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the midst of a global pandemic, in the midst of global warming, climate change and ecological disasters, in the midst of very dangerous political polarizations, we, the church, the people of God, are called to BE GOOD NEWS. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Our lives as spiritual beings are not as much about right belief. For far too long religion has been about who has the “right” belief system. Instead, our spiritual lives are more about RIGHT LIVING.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We do not “think” ourselves in to a new way of thinking, we “live” ourselves into a new way of thinking. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Our deepening loving and unitive experiences are to change our dualistic and divisive thinking. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Faith is more about how we live on a daily basis than making verbal assent to this or that idea.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So as a church, it is far more important to BE good news than it is to proclaim good news. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So how do we “become” good news?</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">By being changed or transformed from the inside out.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">How are we transformed?</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">By spending intentional and conscious time in the Presence of Christ.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">By spending intentional and conscious time in the Presence of Love.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So that we not only think about or talk about love and being loving.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We actually BECOME Love, we become a conduit for Love’s Presence. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We become Christ to those around us.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We become Love to those around us. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As we are changed, the Spirit works in us enabling us to make a difference to those whom we meet and reach out to. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Are you spending time in the prayerful presence of Christ, the presence of Love, and in the process of being transformed from the image to likeness of Christ? Are you becoming good news for those around you and for the world?</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What are you doing to support this church’s mission as we, as a diverse and inclusive community of faith, seek to become good news to the communities and world around us?</p>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-26606167809195746752021-11-22T14:07:00.000-03:302021-11-22T14:07:00.013-03:30Advent and Tomorrow's Church<p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">With ongoing church decline, coupled with the behavioural changes consequent to almost two years of living with Covid-19 restrictions, the church is hopefully discerning those facets of its life that are no longer necessary and can be let go of, those aspects that are necessary and should be carried forward, and what is being newly invited. One of the areas of the church’s life that I continue to find life giving is the round of the liturgical year.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The movement from Advent to Christmas, from Lent to Easter, and the green growth of Ordinary Time, these liturgical seasons give rhythm and balance to the changing seasons of our spiritual life. Each liturgical season has its own particular giftedness, and as it arrives each year, our spirits are ready to receive its gifts. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As we enter into the liturgical season of Advent, the church invites us to watch and wait for the coming of Christ. This practice of “watching” and “waiting” is foundational to living healthy spiritual lives. Christ not only came to us in history, and is not only going to come at the end of time, but most importantly Christ comes to us in every moment of our lives. Are we watching and waiting? Are we noticing and joining the new and Divine life that is ever emerging in our personal and corporate lives? </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">If we don’t have a deepening spiritual practice of watching and waiting for Christ or the emerging Spirit in our lives, then we will miss the new opportunities to become a church relevant for today’s world. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The church has become smaller during this time of pandemic, and I don’t think there is any recovering of what we were. This is probably a good thing that will help open up new pathways. Consequently, what we “were” is not as important as what we are “becoming.” </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The church has no monopoly on God. God is in God’s world doing what God is doing with or without the church. That being said, God is also in the church, but do we have ears to hear and eyes to see what the Spirit is inviting? </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The liturgical season of Advent reminds us of what we should be doing every moment of our lives. We need to learn how to make space for Christ in our lives, and prepare for Christ’s coming in this moment. As a church we really need to recover the contemplative component of our approach to God. We need to learn to get out of our thinking head space, and lean into our open spiritual heart space. It is from this deep place of Unitive Love where Christ comes to us. When we can watch and wait from this place of spiritual depth, we can join the emerging Spirit and become the church that God needs in the world today. This is not easy. But if the church, and indeed the human species, is to survive, we have to learn to open up to our spiritual depths, and live out of the ever emerging Life that is Christ. </p>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-74219848634998092192021-10-19T10:17:00.001-02:302021-10-19T10:17:12.482-02:30Burning Bush <p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The forest</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">is alive</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">with colour,</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">on fire </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">with nature’s</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">non-consuming </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">flame.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsL8-syRqXAw9hujsJhno8f72JChaKr_5-XGBzaH7jeD7P4i-yHLcGdc8AEv6SSnH7_QhPm8bnnX1FrSEoZMZ6zzt8XBKaDqmdo36Sum_GFXjgqsDSxanFc8OU3b-U-M0NvIrmtlEsXo/s2048/2E2824C3-DF06-4E72-8986-89BF1272883C.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsL8-syRqXAw9hujsJhno8f72JChaKr_5-XGBzaH7jeD7P4i-yHLcGdc8AEv6SSnH7_QhPm8bnnX1FrSEoZMZ6zzt8XBKaDqmdo36Sum_GFXjgqsDSxanFc8OU3b-U-M0NvIrmtlEsXo/w298-h320/2E2824C3-DF06-4E72-8986-89BF1272883C.heic" width="298" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Moses’</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">burning bush</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">is everywhere.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">God’s Presence</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">is in</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">every tree,</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">every creature.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Every where</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I look,</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">every place </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I step</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">is</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Holy Ground.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The creation </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">that</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I Am</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">immersed in,</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">is Christ drenched,</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">alive,</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">on fire</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">with</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Love.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">18 October 2021</p>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-35968862505529028932021-08-30T08:37:00.000-02:302021-08-30T08:37:41.322-02:30A Wonder-Full and Uncertain Future<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">My granddaughter has recently had her first birthday. What a gift she has been to us bringing such love, joy and delight to our lives. As a grandparent, I am having a different experience watching my grandchild grow and develop than I did watching and participating in my own children’s growth and development. As a grandparent, I am not caught up in all the daily responsibilities, and nor do I see my grandchild everyday and all day. So when I am with her, I am really present to her, noticing her every new development, every new moment of love and connection. There are some benefits and wisdom that can come with getting older!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOykM0DhPgeRkBg3Ov0TMhr5_wft9PchUQx7nnS5msB27gcspqo1wRqVTMQOe_ZdtJvPNqdUVITNtqXP9kwq9Rd29dqHJ01zGit9rU8HgUL29t4J8LPtSXvcmNE1RzAp94g9f1WHlYn4/s1827/9B0969CE-2F77-4114-82C3-F90CF4EB2193_1_201_a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="1827" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOykM0DhPgeRkBg3Ov0TMhr5_wft9PchUQx7nnS5msB27gcspqo1wRqVTMQOe_ZdtJvPNqdUVITNtqXP9kwq9Rd29dqHJ01zGit9rU8HgUL29t4J8LPtSXvcmNE1RzAp94g9f1WHlYn4/s320/9B0969CE-2F77-4114-82C3-F90CF4EB2193_1_201_a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In fact, my granddaughter has become my new spiritual director! She is teaching and reminding me of the power and life-infused present moment. She notices every little thing, and every little thing to her is “wonder-full,” as it should be for me and for all of us. I am full of wonder as I get caught up in her being full of wonder. What a beautiful and life-giving exchange! Being caught up in this wonder draws me into a sense of “awe” in what I am witnessing. A sense of awe at this beautiful life that is new, always emerging, always becoming. The more I allow myself to be full of wonder, and the more I get caught up in the awesomeness of what I am noticing, the more I find myself “trusting” in the evolving of this little life, trusting in the “nature” of the divine life that we are all part of and share in. This wonder, awe and trust opens me up to the Reality of the Love that I have for this little life in front of me, and that I am at one with her in this Love. The 15th century English mystic Julian of Norwich calls this Love process “oneing” - a conscious becoming at-one-with another, every other, and all of creation. “Oneing” is the purpose of our lives! </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What our little ones have to teach us in these uncertain times of Global Political Polarization, Global Warming, Global Pandemic, Global Crisis, is to remain grounded in our Now. This moment is full of God, full of life, full of love, and has everything we need to move into our next moment with trust and hope. The same is true of the church. The pandemic and its necessary societal restrictions has shaken the foundations of the church as we have known it. Our church is evolving and changing like everything else in the universe. We are not exempt. Yet the Christian community (and every community) is still full of wonder as the Divine continues to emerge in the life of people and creation. This wonder should lead us to a renewed sense of awe in the Divine Presence amongst us and as us, inviting us to a whole hearted trust that we are lovingly at-one-with Christ in our emerging and uncertain tomorrow. </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-10154387300606944972021-05-03T10:07:00.000-02:302021-05-03T10:07:07.714-02:30The Hope of Summer 2021<p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">I have recently received the first dose of the Covid 19 vaccine, and am scheduled for the second dose in August. This day of vaccination has been a long time coming. In March of 2020 when the world was shut down because of the pandemic, and we were told that it would be a year or more before a vaccine would be available for distribution, I remember feeling the burden of uncertainty for our society. With the heavy Covid restrictions in place for the spring and summer of last year, I also remember the summer not being as restful and life giving as I needed it to be. I remember being Covid tired both psychologically and spiritually, even when the summer had come and gone.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Although still being Covid fatigued, as many or most of us are, I am filled with a hope that I did not have this time last year. The reality of the vaccination roll out is lifting my spirit with the hope of a further lessening of community restrictions as we look forward to the fall. That hope, not there last year, is changing the energy within me heading into this summer season. There is a lighter energy, a hopeful energy, a life giving energy. This Spirit of hope is drawing me into the restful months of summer with a more open stance that should allow me to lean into the more gentle and restorative nature of summer. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">For us Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, with such a short summer season, the May 24th weekend is when the collective provincial psyche shifts, and we get into summer mode. This year, more than any other year, we need to use these summer months - holding a vaccinated hope for the fall and lessening of restrictions - to get outdoors, to connect with the creation that we are part of, and allow it to help heal us and restore us. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Many parts of the world continue to struggle with the devastating spread of the virus, especially densely populated and poorer regions. We hope that our governments will do what needs to be done in the sharing and distribution of vaccine resources around the world. In the meantime, us vaccinated and travel bound Newfoundlanders and Labradorians live in a sparsely populated land that is spacious and full of beauty. I for one, am looking forward with hope, to a summer in my garden, on the trails, and in the kayak on the water, with spaciousness and intent on restoring my Covid burdened soul. I hope something of the same for you. </span><o:p></o:p></p>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-74237482281080922552021-04-25T08:16:00.001-02:302021-04-25T08:16:11.193-02:30Easter People: Known and Loved by God<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Christians are on the Easter journey.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A journey of growing and maturing in our awareness that <b>we are known and loved by God</b>. And that we are called to live the Risen life of Love in Christ now and forever.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>We need a Shepherd</b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Seeking to know Christ and to enter more into His Risen life is not something we can accomplish on our own.<b> </b>We need a shepherd to lead us and direct us into the truth of who we are.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>“I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.”</i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><b><i></i></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Just as the Father knows the Son, and the Son knows the Father, we are to come to KNOW Christ, just as He KNOWS us.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It is the relationship between Lover and Beloved.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">God is the Great Lover, and each and every one of us are God's Beloved. </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Being “Known” by God</b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Part of the Resurrection experience is the growing realization that we are “Known” by God.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">1 Corinthians 13:12</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>“…then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”</i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There is a love that is always present to us… despite ourselves. A love that we cannot merit or win, it is just there.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Whether we know it, want it or accept it……we are fully known and fully loved by God.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>“Recognizing”</b> this Loving Presence within us and amongst us is the heart of our Resurrection experience. </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This is what makes Easter people.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This is what makes Easter people different than those who have not yet turned to or woken up to this Risen love of God in Christ. </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And it is Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who leads us into this realization and loving relationship. </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Church’s mission</b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We are known and loved by God, the Great Lover.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Let us enter more deeply into the realization of this Risen Love that is Christ.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And let us continue to be ever more creative in loving the world around us and drawing others into New and Risen Life.</p>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-62738101046040284852021-03-08T08:34:00.001-03:302021-03-08T08:34:30.979-03:30People, Places and Things: Looking for Relief from Pandemic Weariness<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Living life, even on a good day, is hard. Suffering is a non-negotiable component of the human condition. Too many people spend too much of their lives trying to outrun or cover over this reality. This is why people awakening to Deeper Reality and the spiritual path not only have the courage to embrace their suffering, but they also know the need and have the desire to intentionally practice Loving Presence. The truth and hope of Easter is that, through the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, we can come to know a new and risen life (which Christians call Christ), a Loving and Healing Presence living among us, within us and as us. Alleliua! This is Good News indeed! </p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Yet, living with the various levels of Covid-19 restrictions over the last year and into the foreseeable future has made living life even harder than normal on all of us. Of course there is the virus itself which, when contracted, has been making people very ill, and in too many cases, has been fatal. There is the economic suffering that has been widespread, and has negatively affected every form of business and employment. There is the community suffering. Even when in level 1 restrictions, to be kept to physical distancing without being able to touch another and draw close in conversation - this is not normal and we suffer because of it. There is the suffering of families living apart at greater distances and not being able to travel to visit and connect. And there is the collective societal suffering of not knowing what our future will be while not only still working through the pandemic, but in the long reaching aftereffects. This is just to name some of the areas of our Covid-19 struggling. </p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the midst of all this suffering and uncertainty, there is light and hope. And you don’t have to go very far to find it. It is within you. The Easter hope of life in Christ, of life in Love, is within you waiting to be discovered or rediscovered, and then lived out of. This larger Life of Love is your deepest truth and reality, it is your deepest identity. It alone will set you free from your suffering and bring you into the light of a new day filled with new love and hope. </p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Realizing this hope is best done with the company of others. My friends in the Resurrection’s Addictions Recovery Groups regularly refer to the importance and wisdom of “people, places and things.” If the company we are keeping, or the places we are going, or the things we are doing are not deepening loving connection and hope, then we need to hang around with new people, in new places, doing new things - whether virtually or in person. A healthy church (and there are healthy churches out there!) that is open to and leaning into a deeper love and hope would be worth finding and participating in. It could help bring you more hope and deeper love in a Covid-19 restricted world. </p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-67317409655243171372021-01-11T15:42:00.002-03:302021-01-11T15:42:12.172-03:30Something is Missing<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There is loneliness in my spirit, a pandemic induced and bodily loneliness. On March 22, 2020, our church communities were shut down because of the Covid 19 pandemic. That is almost a full year ago. With the development and distribution of the Covid 19 vaccines there are rays of hope that our society and our churches will be more opened by the fall of this year, 2021. That is still a long way out, and I feel it in my body and spirit. As a community of faith, since last March, we have been adjusting to recorded liturgy and other forms of community gathering online. In September we began the process of in person liturgy and other gatherings with physical distancing and required restrictions. I am truly grateful for every form of gathering, both online and in person, even with Covid restrictions. But having said that, I am aware of a loneliness about me - a bodily loneliness. Our bodies are equally as important to being part of community as are our minds and souls. We are not long out of the Christmas season when we were celebrating the Incarnation of God in Jesus of Nazareth. This is the same Jesus who teaches that “I am in you, and you are in me.” Each and every one of us is an incarnation of God. This means everything. God is “in” all of creation. This means that our bodies are good and important, and that physical presence and physical touching is a non negotioninable component of being in healthy community. I am grateful for the love and physical embrace of my family and Covid Bubble. But that is not enough. I need the Church, the Body of Christ. I need to physically hold the Body of Christ. I need to be physically held by the Body of Christ. That is what I am lonely for. That is what I most miss during this season of Covid restrictions. Something as simple as a hand shake at the door as the church physically gathers. I miss that. Being able to stand close to another in conversation. I miss that. Being able to embrace anyone who wanted or needed an embrace. I miss that. Although a restricted number of people are allowed to gather as church, there is, for me at least, a loneliness about it. Something is missing in our presence and connection. I long for the day when we can embrace one another again. It is a hope that is full of the Spirit drawing us forward and together. </p>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-73763319791168860862020-12-20T08:31:00.004-03:302020-12-20T08:33:49.184-03:30Conceiving of the Holy<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Advent 4, 20 Dec 2020</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Lk 1:26-38</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>John the Baptist</b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Many Christians throughout the world are celebrating the last Sunday of Advent, a season of preparing ourselves spiritually for the coming of the Christ.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">John the Baptist has led the way through Advent calling us to repent and prepare our hearts <b>to be baptized by Him who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When we deepen our spiritual living, we realize that everything we do is about Christ and <b>not about us.</b> “He must increase, I must decrease.”</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Remember Jesus saying “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”: your life is not about you, you are about life. In other words: </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Your life is not about you, you are about Christ.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Church’s ministry is about <b>Jesus’ Kingdom of Love,</b> and about drawing us and all those around us into that freedom and love.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Mary, the Mother of God, has something to teach us about drawing others into God’s kingdom of freedom and love.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Mary and You and Me and the Annunciation</b></span></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Listening</b>: <i>“Hail full of grace! The Lord is with you”</i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Pondering:</b> <i>“she pondered what sort of greeting this might be”</i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Consenting</b>: “<i>May it be done to me according to your word.”</i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Receiving</b>: <i>“The Holy Spirit will come upon you.”</i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Conceiving</b>: <i>“you will conceive in your womb”</i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Christ and His Kingdom of Love</b>: <i>“of his kingdom there will be no end”</i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Mary shows us the way for deep spiritual living, she shows us the way to the feast of Christmas.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Christmas</b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When we spiritually give birth to God who is Love in our lives, the people around us know it by how non-judgemental and compassionate we are to others and how loving we are in our everyday ordinary lives and activities. </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">With Mary, let us say “yes” to the word of the angel.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Let us become pregnant with the holy.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Let us embody God’s compassion and love and joy. </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">God is with us. Emmanuel.</p>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-10174166488239786992020-12-13T07:54:00.002-03:302020-12-13T07:54:15.670-03:30Advent Witnessing<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Advent 3, Yr. B, Dec 13, 2020</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">John 1:6-8, 19-28</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The first Sunday of Advent</b> we spoke about <i>“watch, stay awake, because you do not know when the Master is coming.”</i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Last Sunday</b> we spoke about <i>“in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord,” </i>our need to create space within us in order to experience the coming of the Holy Spirit.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Today, the third Sunday of Advent</b>, we are going to reflect on the witness of John the Baptist and our need to tell others about Christ.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>John’s </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>Witness</b></span><b> </b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>v.7 “John came as a </i><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><i>witness</i></b></span><i> to speak for the Light”</i> <i>(a voice crying in the wilderness).</i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>v.19 “this is how John appeared as a </i><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><i>witness</i></b></span><i>…[pointing to Christ]”</i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>John’s </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>witness</b></span><b> is by pointing beyond himself to Christ</b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>“he must increase and I must decrease.”</i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>“I baptize with water, but there stands among you the one who is coming after me; and I am not fit to undo his sandal strap. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”</i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>“behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”</i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">All of what John did pointed to Jesus!</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>John wanted others to know</b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">John’s life and witness is “preparing the way of the Lord” by pointing the crowds to Christ. John wanted<b> </b>others to know.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Our Advent preparations, indeed our life and witness in preparing the way of the Lord is to point beyond ourselves to Jesus who shows us the Christ life, the life of unitive Love.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">All of us need a Saviour, all of us need someone who can show us the way to the deeper life of God. All of us, in our Christian context, need Jesus.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The mission of the Christian church, in loving our neighbour and creation, is to witness to the way of Jesus!</b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In this context of preparing ourselves and others for the coming of the Christ…</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">How does your life and witness point beyond itself to the Love that is Christ?</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What are you saying that is a witness to the Love that is Christ?</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What are you doing in your life that is a witness to the Love that is Christ? </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Conclusion</b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the midst of all the numbing business of the secular world around us, let us learn to be spiritually still and to slow down, to know Christ within us and amongst us and AS us.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">May Christ come to us as we love and serve others.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">May Christ come to others through us. </p><div><br /></div>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-13181472740878736682020-11-15T07:50:00.003-03:302020-11-15T07:50:25.709-03:30Remembrance Sunday, 15 November 2020<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Remembrance Sunday, November 15, 2020</p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Matthew 5</p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Today we are commemorating Remembrance Sunday.</p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I remember …. Walking on the fields of Beaumont Hamel, and being reminded of the horrible loss of lives in the 1st World War…</p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I remember… my dad’s war medals and six brothers who went over seas during the 2nd World War…</p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I remember … being a chaplain in the Canadian Forces and preparing soldiers for conflict in Croatia and Afghanistan…</p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I remember….as an army chaplain, having to deliver the news to the parents whose son died in an IED explosion in Afghanistan. </p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I remember …. When my own son was on the front lines of Afghanistan, was in two IED explosions, in constant fire fights. I remember thinking that he would be coming home in casket draped in the Canadian flag.</p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We remember, as families of those who have served in the Canadian Forces. We remember as citizens of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. We remember as citizens of the nation of Canada. We remember those who have given their lives in the conflicts that we have been involved in around this global village. </p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We remember … the ongoing political and economic evils in our world, that subverts the dignity of human life and creation. </p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We remember … that Jesus said …</p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>“Blessed are the peace makers, for they will be called children of God.”</i> Matt 5:9</p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We have a responsibility to find ways to offer something of ourselves for the benefit of those around the world who cannot help themselves.</p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus asks us to lay down our lives for our neighbours.<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>He asks us to be peacemakers. All people of good will are called to help those who cannot help themselves.</p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So today, let us remember and give thanks for our men and women of our Armed Forces who have sacrificed themselves for others.</p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">And as a people and a nation, let us continue our stand against evil and injustice in our world.</p>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-12346727593573123302020-10-04T09:23:00.003-02:302020-10-04T09:23:42.007-02:30The Church is Always Rediscovering its Way<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Church in every generation is a Church that needs to “rediscover” its way, its purpose for existence.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Church in every generation is a church that needs to discover the risen life of Christ, the very Cornerstone of what it means to be human.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Until we encounter Christ, and the ongoing change that Christ can bring to our lives, <b>we will be unable to produce the good fruits of the Kingdom of God.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus tells the parable of the landowner whose tenants abused and killed those who came to collect the fruit of the land.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Historically, this is a story of how the people of God rejected the prophets and killed the Messiah.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Pastorally, this a story of warning that if we, the people of God, do not produce good fruit, we will lose what God has given us.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The call to Kingdom living</b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>“Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”</i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">If we are not trying to live the Kingdom life, in relationship with Christ, producing the good fruits of forgiveness, love and reconciliation, then we forfeit the kingdom life ourselves.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The same is true for the Church in every generation. It is especially true for the church now in this Covid-19 pandemic.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>If we loose focus on being Kingdom people, even during a pandemic, and doing the work of mission, then the church dies – and so it should.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The “maintenance” model of the Church</b> – building, priest, liturgy – is a model of spiritual death. And this is the model that most of the mainline Church that we know still lives by. That is why most of the Church that we know is in decline.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We need to be careful that Covid-19 does not shrink us further into this maintenance model of church.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The “mission” model of the Church</b> – community, faith, action – is a model of life and vitality. It is a model that is interested in genuine relationships, in nurturing a maturing faith, and in reaching out to the needs of the world around us.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Reaching out, in creative and safe ways, even during a pandemic. </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A mission church is:</p><ul>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>a church that accepts Jesus Christ as Lord.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>a church that is producing the fruits of the Spirit.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>a church that is reaching out and connecting in meaningful and relevant ways.</li>
<li style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"></span>a Kingdom Church.</li>
</ul><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>“Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed by thy Name, Thy Kingdom Come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven”</i></p><div><i><br /></i></div>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-78597019911398611942020-09-15T08:56:00.004-02:302020-09-15T08:56:44.186-02:30Outrageous Generosity <p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">what generosity</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">outrageous generosity</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">in God's </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Kindom </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">all are treated </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">the same</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">all are seen</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">as equal</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">no matter</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">when</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">you come</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">early </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">late</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">as long as you</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">respond</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">as long as you </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">come</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">you will be </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">welcomed</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">the same</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">given</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">the same</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">you are</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">the same</p><div><br /></div>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-43046172979218816042020-09-06T09:08:00.000-02:302020-09-06T09:08:28.966-02:30The Foundational Reason for the Existence of the Church<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The ministry of the Church is multifold. But what is at the very “heart” of our ministry? What is the first and foundational reason for the existence of Christian Church?</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>RELATIONSHIP!</b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We are made for relationship.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We are made to be in right relationship with each other. </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We are made to be in right relationship with creation.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We are made to be in right relationship with God.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">But guess what?</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We do and say hurtful things.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We cause problems in our relationships with God and each other.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Christ event </b>- forgiveness, unimaginable love, and union - has restored us into right relationship with God and one another. </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Putting it into practice is another story!</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Reconciling broken relationships</b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>“If your brother or sister sins against you…tell him his fault between you and him alone…take one or two others along with you…tell the Church…” Matthew</i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 36px; text-indent: -18px;">1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We need to use wisdom and initiative in seeking to reconcile broken relationships. </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 36px; text-indent: -18px;">2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This is not easy. </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 36px; text-indent: -18px;">3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Many people, when something goes wrong, drop the relationship or leave the community. </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">That being said, not all relationships are healable at the surface. Both parties have to want to be reconciled. And often that doesn’t happen. Yet we have to maintain an open hearted stance to the possibility of reconciliation. </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In fact, if there are people in our lives that continue to cause us harm, we need to walk away from them.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Foundationally, in order for us to be open to restoring broken relationships, we need to be openly part of the process of being continually changed by the Word of God, and the Loving Presence and activity of God within us.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Soft Heart and Soft Eyes</b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Psalm)</i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Hearing the Word of God is meant to change and soften our hearts, and soften our eyes toward one another.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We are made to love<span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"><b> </b></span>God and one another.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Let all of us commit to being open to the healing Presence and activity of God within us, and from that open hearted stance, to be open to the healing of the broken relationships in our families and communities. </p><div><br /></div>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-30219902740500801982020-08-31T10:26:00.001-02:302020-08-31T10:26:56.153-02:30 Why Bother Physically Gathering With The Church During a Pandemic?<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Sunday, March 22, 2020, the entire diocese gathered on line to virtually participate in liturgy and to hear from the Bishop of the diocese. Beginning on that date congregations were no longer permitted to physically gather because of Covid-19 restrictions and a pandemic that brought the entire world to a standstill. Countless people have been adversely affected by the virus itself, the physical distancing restrictions, and the economic fallout. Covid-19 is with us for the foreseeable future. We are all still adjusting, recovering and longing for reconnecting in the community. And although fatigued with physical distancing, and opening up our “bubbles” to more people, we have to be vigilant in maintaining government social distancing directions if we want to keep our families safe in and through our still uncertain future.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: medium;">That being said, the churches of our diocese have now been given permission to reopen to physical gathering liturgy starting on Sunday, September 13. As of that date, it was six months since the church last physically gathered and shared in the Holy Communion together. Personally, I so miss being with the gathered church, and I so miss sharing in the Holy Eucharist, the Body of Christ. But when the list of church restrictions was sent out, my first thought was “why bother going to church?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: medium;">No touching. No socializing. No singing. Wearing masks. Sitting six feet apart. Ushered in. Ushered out. No human contact. These restrictions in no way reflect the church that has for so long nurtured my soul in warm and deeply connected community.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: medium;">But as I thought about it more and got past my initial reactions, I realized the absolute value of physically gathering with the church, even with the pandemic restrictions. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: medium;">There is value in listening to the beauty of the music…with others physically present. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: medium;">There is value in hearing the Word of God…with others physically present. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: medium;">There is value in sharing the Eucharist…with others physically present.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: medium;">There is value in being lovingly present to God…with others physically present.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: medium;">There is value in being lovingly present to others…with others physically present.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: medium;">The energy and love of our physical presence, in the context of liturgy when we are together opening our hearts up to the larger life of Christ, invites and facilitates deep and transformative human contact. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: medium;">In a pandemic or not, there are not too many places like a gathered and loving church, that can have such a necessary and positive effect on your body and soul from the physical and loving presence of others. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><span style="font-size: medium;">There are those because of age, illness or some other personal reason, that will choose to continue to join the church on line beyond September 13. For others of us, it is time to come back to the gathered church that we have been missing for six long months. And there are others again, who may have come to know the church in a new way on line, and may feel drawn to meet that church in person. Either way, the church has an essential role in the well being of our society, and it is worth the bother of getting Back To Church.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-12791580288503259392020-08-22T12:06:00.002-02:302020-08-22T12:06:20.329-02:30Who is Jesus?<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Who is Jesus?</b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">There is not a more important question that we can ask ourselves.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus holds the key to life.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus shows us the Christ which is the most important reality that we need to come to know.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i>“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”</i></b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 36px; text-indent: -18px;">-<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Who does the culture around us think that Jesus of Nazareth is?</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 36px; text-indent: -18px;">-<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>A good man, a healer, a prophet, a historical figure that has no relevance today, etc.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i>“But who do you say that I am?”</i></b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What does Scripture tell us? “In the beginning was the Word…”</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What does Tradition tell us? That God is Trinity.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What does Reason tell us? That all of life comes from God and is connected.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What does Experience tell us? That to be in Love is to be in Christ.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b><i></i></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Christ is the answer to all humanity’s questions.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Christ is the only response fully capable of satisfying the desire of the human heart.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Christ is our life, our life is Christ’s life!</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>“I am in the Father and the Father is in me. I am in you, and you are in me.”</i></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>To know and experience who Christ is, is the </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>KEY</b></span><b> to the Kingdom of God, the fullness of life. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i>“I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.”</i></b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Church has the Keys to Life: forgiveness, reconciliation, and Loving Union with God and each other.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>The Church’s (you and me) mission is to use the keys that have been entrusted to us.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We need to enter kingdom living ourselves - repentance, forgiveness, Union with God and all of creation. And then, out of our deepening experience, we are to invite and draw others into that very same Kingdom of Love.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In Jesus of Nazareth, God is made flesh.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">IN YOU AND I GOD IS MADE FLESH.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Christ is drawing us into His life of love that knows no end.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Christ has given us the responsibility to draw others into that same life right now.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Let us commit our whole life to the mission and ministry of </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Knowing Christ and to making Christ known.</b></p><div><b><br /></b></div>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-54912635208769389822020-08-19T08:55:00.001-02:302020-08-19T08:55:18.145-02:30Who Am I?<p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Who am I?”</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Jesus asks.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Who are you?”</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">is the same question.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I am not</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">my aging and failing </p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">body.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I am not</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">my fearful and judging</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">ego.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I am not</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">my fragmented and dualistic</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">mind.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">I am</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">who you are.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">You are</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">who I am.</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Can you imagine that?</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We share</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">the same</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Deep Mind</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">of Christ,</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">our deepest</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">and truest Self,</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Love made flesh</p><p style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">in me, in you.</p>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7793842679223238943.post-85847880664296148542020-08-01T16:26:00.001-02:302020-08-01T16:26:40.660-02:30Spiritual Hunger and Thirst<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Proper 18, Year A, 2 August 2020</p>
<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Matt 14:13-21; Is 55:1-3; Rom 8:35, 37-39</p>
<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.3px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Gospel story of the feeding of the 5000 is about many things.</p>
<ul>
<li style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">it is about the large crowd recognizing their need for Jesus, his healing presence and words of wisdom.</li>
<li style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It is about the miracle of so many people being fed with what seemed to be so little. </li>
<li style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It is a foreshadowing of the Holy Eucharist, where Jesus breaks bread and feeds our souls. </li>
<li style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It is a story about our need for God.</li>
</ul>
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<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Having said that, bodily hunger and thirst are primal and necessary needs.</p>
<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.3px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We notice our bodies when it needs food, and we eat to satisfy that need.</p>
<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We notice when our bodies are thirsty, and we drink to satisfy that need. </p>
<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14.3px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Yet, when you have eaten all you can eat, and drunk all that you can drink, if you listen closely, you will notice a deeper hunger and thirst that food and water cannot satisfy. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The prophet Isaiah says <span style="font-style: italic;">“Thus says the Lord: All who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk!…Come to me heedfully, </span><span style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-BoldItalic; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">listen, that you may have life</span><span style="font-style: italic;">.”</span> </p>
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<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Isaiah is saying that, more than physical food, water and material needs, we have spiritual hunger and thirst. </p>
<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">We are spiritual beings, and </span><span style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">we are created to need God</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">.</span> </p>
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<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Until you begin to recognize this spiritual or inner need, and to respond to it, there will always be something missing in your life. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">You cannot be complete or made whole without responding to your need for God, your need for Christ. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">St.Paul says in our reading today [read the passage] that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This “love of God” is our deepest need.</p>
<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This “love of God” is our deepest hunger.</p>
<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">This “love of God” is our deepest thirst. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It is how you are made.</p>
<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It is how you are created. </p>
<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It is not negotiable. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">You can deny or repress this deep need. But that only makes you a fool, and it short changes you and those around you of the more of life, the more of love. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So, for those of you who are spiritually hungry, come.</p>
<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">For those of you who are spiritually thirsty, come. </p>
<p style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Like the 5000 in our Gospel story, let us come to Jesus, who will open to us the Christ life, which alone will satisfy our deepest need to be in love.</p>Father Geraldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11587033298094079742noreply@blogger.com0