“God
makes Himself known to us, not through the conscious ego, but as the still small voice of the true self. To hear that voice we must know how to be recollected even amid the activity of the workaday world. This in its turn implies that we ‘see through’ mental concepts and words and conventions of behavior to their underlying truth. What makes possible this mental attention, however, is not insight alone, but a rightly adjusted will, expressing itself in love.”
- Dom Aelred Graham, Zen Catholicism - (This quality of attentiveness is the fruit of spiritual practice, especially "being here now in love." [This is an excellent book, by the way; highly recommended]).
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1 Kgs 18:41-46; Ps 65:10, 11, 12-13
Mt 5:20-26
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.
"You have heard that it was said to your
ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his
brother, Raqa,
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall
that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown
into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."
Reflection on the Scriptures
Today’s Gospel quotes a well-known saying of Jesus that those of faith have to let their faith be visible and influential if it is from the Holy Spirit. It is perhaps
helpful to know that one of the “signs” of the Spirit is this generous outpouring of one’s best gifts for the benefit of those around us. Just as the Spirit is the “principle” of the “going out-ness” of God – if God dwells within us that has to “show” in some way that benefits or gives life to others.
Barnabas’ sign of the Spirit was has goodness and his deep
faith, that he is able to put into words effectively. That was Barnabas’ light that shines from the lamp stand of the faith community.
What is the Sign of the Spirit in each of us? Whatever gifts we have that bring others life and light and that we claim in gratitude to God are such signs. When we take credit for them ourselves, we extinguish the
light and become salt without taste.
Today is a good day to consider the gift of goodness, of kindness perhaps, or fidelity. All movements of God’s love toward the human family. When the light of the Spirit shines, the darkness is dispelled.
“All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God.” Ps 98 by Jeanne Schuler
Psychic Energy and Contemplation by James
Arraj From St. John of the Cross and Dr. C. J. Jung, Part III, Chapter 7. Inner Growth Books, 1986. Inflation and Deflation In all these temptations the imagination plays a vital role. It is the imagination that holds up the images from the senses to the transforming
forces from the unconscious. It becomes the arena in which conscious and unconscious struggle to achieve a new relationship. The beginner is puffed up by his spiritual experiences. He attributes them to himself. From the psychological point of view, this is a state of inflation where the ego attributes to
itself realities that are not its own proper possessions. St. John's description of the imperfection of beginners is a whole catalogue of these inflationary phenomena.(27) These beginners develop a vain desire to speak of spiritual things, to instruct rather than be instructed, to condemn others. They want no one except themselves to appear holy, and even make manifestations of this holiness in outward signs. They want their spiritual director to think good of them and to do what they want. They
are not content with the spirit God gives them, and are distressed when their consolation diminishes. They measure the things of the spirit by their own sensible satisfactions. They want to be praised, and are envious of those who seem to be making progress. The inflation of the beginners is quenched by the trials and temptations they undergo. The balance of energy has
shifted to the unconscious. They are subjected to autonomous powers that buffet them and threaten to overwhelm them. Deflation follows inflation.
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