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There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which every one in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else; and of which hardly any people, except Christians ever imagine that they are guilty themselves....The essential vice, the utmost evil,
is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere fleabites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil; Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind...As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.
- C. S. (Clive Staples) Lewis, Into The
Wardrobe
(Upon what/whom do you look down upon? How does this sabotage your looking toward God?) |
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MAL 3:13-20B; PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6
LK 11:5-13
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Suppose one of you has a friend
to whom he goes at midnight and says,
'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey
and I have nothing to offer
him,'
and he says in reply from within,
'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked
and my children and I are already in bed.
I cannot get up to give you anything.'
I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves
because of their friendship,
he will get up to give him whatever he needs
because of his persistence.
"And I tell you, ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives;
and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
What father among you would hand his son a snake
when he asks for a fish?
Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your
children,
how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit
to those who ask him?"
USCCB Lectionary
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Luke 11:5-13 (The value of persistence)
Jesus often taught about God by using analogies in human behavior. One of his most frequent themes is that God is at least as good as good human beings. God is therefore approachable, interested, and
willing to help us if we take the trouble to address him.
* “The poor man is not he who is without a cent, but he who is without a dream,” Harry Kemp wrote. What are some of your dreams for the future? How do you keep these dreams alive?
* What are you doing to keep yourself growing and learning about the spiritual life?
* Pray for the grace to dream “the impossible dream.” Paperback, Kindle
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God and I: Exploring the Connections between God, Self and Ego, by Philip St. Romain, 2016 (2nd ed.) ____________ Chapter 5: The Journey to Egoic Authenticity - Being Attentive
(After recommending a few exercises, this section concludes.)
Authentically experiencing the reality of our own lives is the gift that being attentive holds out to us. Of course, this might not always seem like such a great gift when the experience is unpleasant, or entails getting in touch with painful feelings and memories. Honestly acknowledging what’s going on in that “secret self” part of our inner life -- the part we hide from the outside world -- might not be so much fun, either. The support of a counselor,
friend, or pastor might be necessary at times to assist us in our attending to the painful aspects of life. Often, the fear of seeing what is there is worse than the reality we are avoiding, but we do not know that until we actually give it a try.
Try we must, for, as Socrates noted, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Being attentive to the life we are already living is a first and
ongoing step in this examination process. If we are faithful to this practice, we will come to a deeper appreciation of the wonder of ordinary things.
Hardback, paperback, eBook and free preview versions.
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