Perish every thing, dismiss we these empty vanities, and betake ourselves to the one search for truth! Life is vain, death uncertain; if it steals upon us on a sudden, in what state shall we depart hence? and where shall we learn what here we have neglected? and shall we not rather suffer the punishment of this negligence? ... Wherefore delay then to abandon worldly hopes, and give ourselves wholly to seek after God and the blessed life? (Confessions, St. Augustine)
I'm on holiday now, and with the free time I can go to mass more often; an early morning calisthenics of the spirit. Also I get a chance to mass at different churches, cathedral, parish, Anglo and polish. One elder priest told us in his homily that we might do away with our worldly distractions, a life time of work, family, concerns, fears, and try to live in the moment together with the Holy Spirit. To be guided by it. To come closer to it. I had to smile because it remind me so much of Buddhism's mindfulness, however, regardless of the label, his advice rang true, his motivation being wisdom and love. And if we doubt the Self-denial and trust in the Lord showing us the right way? The elder priest reminded us of St. Paul's speech to the Athenians: Neither is he served by the hands of men, as if in need of anything, since it is he who gives to all things life and breath and all else (Acts 17:25).
'All else'? Does that include evil? Jesus told us that all that is good comes from the Father. We graciously accept, even if our minds cannot rationalize or understand, for 'the Lord works in mysterious ways'. With peace of mind and a clear motivation, events in one's life, either good or bad or neutral, will occur, and the challenge will then be to enter into these events with Love as ones guide. Do not waste time in judgement or trying to think it through, as this is closing ones heart to experience.
Madness? To a Self-ish society wrapped up in Self- preservation, its worldly values and priorities, it will seem like madness. It certainly is not cautious. But if one trusts in the goodness of the Lord, abides in him, he will provide. This Sunday is Pentecost. The Holy Ghost came down as a gift and was accepted by Christ's disciples and He dwelt in us. Am I fully accepting God's gift? We claim we search for truth, as St Augustine states, but having found it, can we embrace it? Can we commit ourselves to following the truth with the help of the Holy Ghost, whatever the cost? Madness? Others may think this, but then they shall never know freedom from the chains of ego's tyranny (doubt, suspicion, fear, Self- interest) and what true freedom is when abiding in Love.
Deo gratias.
I'm on holiday now, and with the free time I can go to mass more often; an early morning calisthenics of the spirit. Also I get a chance to mass at different churches, cathedral, parish, Anglo and polish. One elder priest told us in his homily that we might do away with our worldly distractions, a life time of work, family, concerns, fears, and try to live in the moment together with the Holy Spirit. To be guided by it. To come closer to it. I had to smile because it remind me so much of Buddhism's mindfulness, however, regardless of the label, his advice rang true, his motivation being wisdom and love. And if we doubt the Self-denial and trust in the Lord showing us the right way? The elder priest reminded us of St. Paul's speech to the Athenians: Neither is he served by the hands of men, as if in need of anything, since it is he who gives to all things life and breath and all else (Acts 17:25).
'All else'? Does that include evil? Jesus told us that all that is good comes from the Father. We graciously accept, even if our minds cannot rationalize or understand, for 'the Lord works in mysterious ways'. With peace of mind and a clear motivation, events in one's life, either good or bad or neutral, will occur, and the challenge will then be to enter into these events with Love as ones guide. Do not waste time in judgement or trying to think it through, as this is closing ones heart to experience.
Madness? To a Self-ish society wrapped up in Self- preservation, its worldly values and priorities, it will seem like madness. It certainly is not cautious. But if one trusts in the goodness of the Lord, abides in him, he will provide. This Sunday is Pentecost. The Holy Ghost came down as a gift and was accepted by Christ's disciples and He dwelt in us. Am I fully accepting God's gift? We claim we search for truth, as St Augustine states, but having found it, can we embrace it? Can we commit ourselves to following the truth with the help of the Holy Ghost, whatever the cost? Madness? Others may think this, but then they shall never know freedom from the chains of ego's tyranny (doubt, suspicion, fear, Self- interest) and what true freedom is when abiding in Love.
Deo gratias.
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