Christianity and Spirituality monthly forum
Meets online the first Thursday of every month (beginning July 6) from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. for prayer, teaching and discussion. Sign up for Zoom link and topic notifications. Suggested topics welcomed. No registration fee.
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I am where God wills me to be, and so I have found rest and security. His wisdom governs me, His power defends me, His grace sanctifies me, His mercy encompasses me, His joy sustains me and all will go well with me.
- St. Rose Phillippine
Duchesne (Good affirmations for any day!) |
Tb 6:10-11; 7:1, 9-17; 8:4-9a; Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 Mk 12:28-34 One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,
"Which is the first of all the
commandments?"
Jesus replied, "The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these."
The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher.
You are right in saying,
He is One and there is no other than he.
And to love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding,
with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself
is worth more than all
burnt offerings and sacrifices."
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God."
And no one dared to ask him any more
questions.
Reflection on the Scriptures
It's June, one of the biggest wedding months of the year, and the readings for
today are often favorite wedding homily texts. They encourage us to form loving partnerships and relationships with others for noble purposes, such that the will and work of the Lord may prosper. This is true for friendships, as well as marriages, and parents and other adults should model these purposes for our children. With so much at stake in terms of our happiness, we are given specific instructions on what guides those purposes. Jesus says it clearly in the Gospel
today: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.” This multidimensional love triangle not only brings the Kingdom of God nearer, God-centered love brings personal fulfillment and happiness. Jesus tells us that if we can get these straightforward concepts, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”
-by Barbara Dilly
Proverbs for Perspective and Spiritual Living by Philip St. Romain, M.S., D. Min. From Pathways to Serenity, 1989, Liguori Publications; reprinted by Contemplative Ministries, Inc., 2013 (Minor editing applied.)
- https://shalomplace.com/view/pathview.html Included in Light for the Christian Journey, 2020: Contemplative Ministries, Inc.
https://shalomplace.com/view/light-journey.html
IV. The Experience of God
22. The experience of God is like the experience of water to a person who is floating within it.
23. God’s presence is always new, yet familiar; extraordinary, yet common; fresh, yet ancient.
24. You are like a sailboat. God is the wind and the sea.
Sometimes the wind blows; sometimes the sea moves;
at other times calmness prevails.
Do not cling to intensity or calm,
but allow the wind and sea
to simply move you where they will.
25. “Those who know do not say, and those who say do not know.” (Tao te Ching).
This
statement brings home the danger of reducing the experience of God to a matter of words.
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