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“Blessing involves relationship: one does not bless without investing something of oneself into the receiver of one’s blessing. And one does not
receive blessing oblivious of its gracious giver. A blessing spirituality is a relating spirituality. And if it is true that all of creation flows from a single, loving source, then all of creation is blessed and is a blessing, atom to atom, molecule to molecule, organism to organism, land to plants, plants to animals, animals to other people, people to people, and back to atoms, molecules, plants, fishes.”
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Matthew Fox [20th C.], Original Blessing
(What blessings are you aware of these days? What blessings are you sharing?)
Monthly forum on Christianity and Spiriituality
August 3, 2023: God, Creation, and Spirituality
7:30 - 8:30 Central
Our focus will be the unique approach taken in Christian theism to explain the origin of creation, its connection with God, and implications for spirituality. We will contrast this with atheism, pantheism, and deism.
More info and sign-up
YouTube archive of July 6 presentation: The
Uniqueness of Christ.
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Ex 33:7-11; 34:5b-9, 28; Ps 103:6-13 Mt 13:36-43 Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house.
His disciples approached him and
said,
"Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."
He said in reply, "He who sows good seed is the Son of Man,
the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom.
The weeds are the children of the Evil One,
and the enemy who sows them is the Devil.
The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire,
so will it be at the end of the age.
The Son of Man will send his angels,
and they will collect out of his Kingdom
all who cause others to sin and all evildoers.
They will throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
Then the righteous will shine like the sun
in the Kingdom of their Father.
Whoever has ears ought to
hear."
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Reflection on the Scriptures
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Are you quick to judge the faults of others? Jesus' parable teaches us patience lest we judge before the time is right. Jesus also warns that there is an enemy who seeks to destroy the good seed of his word before it can bear fruit. Both good and evil can be sown in our hearts like tiny seeds which germinate, and in due time yield a harvest of good or bad fruit. We must stand guard
lest evil take root in our hearts and corrupt us. Reaping what we sow in this life
Charles Read wrote: "Sow an act and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny." In the day of judgment each will reap what he or she has sown in this life. Those who sow good will
shine in the kingdom of their Father. They will radiate with the beauty, joy, and fullness of God's love. Do you allow the love of Jesus Christ to rule in your heart, thoughts, and actions? Lord Jesus, may your all-consuming love rule in my heart and transform my life that I may sow what is good, worthy, and pleasing to you.
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The Ascent of Mount Carmel, by St. John of the Cross E. Allison Peers Translation. Paperback, Kindle, Audio Book.
Click here to purchase on Amazon.com BOOK THE THIRD Which treats of the
purgation of the active night of the memory and will. Gives instruction how the soul is to behave with respect to the apprehensions of these two faculties, that it may come to union with God, according to the two faculties aforementioned, in perfect hope and charity.
Chapter 3 Wherein are described three kinds of evil which come to the soul when it enters not into darkness with respect to
knowledge and reflections in the memory. Herein is described the first.
5. And if you again reply, saying that the soul will have no blessing unless it meditates upon God and allows its memory to reflect upon Him, and that many distractions and negligences will continually enter it, I say that it is impossible, if the memory be recollected with regard both to things of the next life and to things
here below, that evils or distractions should enter it, nor any other follies or vices (the which things always enter when the memory wanders), since there is no exit or entrance for them. This would come to pass if, when we had shut the door upon considerations and reflections concerning things above, we opened it to things below; but in this state we shut the door to all things whence distraction may come, causing the memory to be still and dumb, and the ear of the spirit to be attentive, in
silence, to God alone, saying with the Prophet: Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.' It was thus that the Spouse in the Songs said that his Bride should be, in these words: My sister is a garden enclosed and a fountain sealed up' -- that is to say, enclosed and sealed up against all things that may enter.
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