Annual Appeal
Since 1998, Shalom Place (http://shalomplace.com) has been the web site that has been the focal point of the Internet Ministry of Heartland Center for Spirituality. If you haven’t been to Shalom Place for awhile, give it a visit. During the last couple of years, I have purchased expensive software to provide a complete make-over of the site — a new
look, and coding that adapts every page to display properly on a computer, tablet or phone.
At this time, we make available:
- Opportunity to sign up for spiritual direction/consultation
- 24 retreats/workshops, many of them free
- 7 youtube teachings, all free
- 8 webinars/series, all
free
- 22 books/eBooks, most in paperback and digital format
- 39 booklets/worksheets, all free
- Discussion board
- A Daily Spiritual Seed eNewsletter
Your donation helps to keep these resources available for everyone, so thank you for considering this appeal request.
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All donations are tax-deductible.
- A special gratitude gift will be sent to all donors.
Check payments:
- Heartland Center for Spirituality
Internet Ministry
3600 Broadway
Great Bend, KS 67530 ______________________
Message of the Day
The friars once
complained to Francis of Assisi: “Can you not see that the bishops often do not let us preach, and we are frequently made to wait for days on end before we are allowed to proclaim the word of God? It would be best to obtain from the Pope a privilege to allow us to preach.”
Francis answered, “I would rather see the
bishops first converted by humility and respect. For when they have seen us humble towards them, they themselves will beg us to preach and convert the people. As for me, I ask of God no privilege except that of having none, and to be full of respect for all, and to convert them, as our Rule ordains, more by example than by words.”
- From Praying with Francis of Assissi)
Breath prayer: Keep me humble (breathing in) Give me humor (breathing out).
Journaling Question: Humility has the same root as humor (the ability to perceive, appreciate and express what is amusing) and humus (the organic part of the topsoil formed from the partial decay of fallen leaves). Where have you experienced a good belly laugh and a real letting go today?
Reflection developed by Sr. Joel Christoph, OP.
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WIS 2:23–3:9; PS 34:2-3, 16-17,
18-19
LK 17:7-10
Jesus said to the Apostles:
"Who among you would say to your servant
who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field,
'Come here immediately and take your place at table'?
Would
he not rather say to him,
'Prepare something for me to eat.
Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink.
You may eat and drink when I am finished'?
Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?
So should it be with you.
When you have done all you have been commanded, say,
'We are unprofitable servants;
we have done what we were obliged to do.'"
UCCB Lectionary
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Reflection on the Scriptures |
How can we love others selflessly and unconditionally? Scripture tells us that God himself is love (1 John 4:16) - he is the author of life and the source of all true relationships of love and friendship. He created us in love for love, and he fills our hearts with the boundless love that gives whatever is good for the sake of another (Romans 5:5). If we love one another, God abides in us and
his love is perfected in us (1 John 4:12).
God honors the faithful servant who loves and serves others generously. He is ever ready to work in and through us for his glory. We must remember, however, that God can never be indebted to us. We have no claim on him. His love compels us to give him our best! And when we have done our best, we have simply done our duty. We can never outmatch God in doing good and showing love. God loves us without measure. Does the love of God
compel you to give your best?
"Lord Jesus, fill my heart with love, gratitude and generosity. Make me a faithful and zealous servant for you. May I generously pour out my life in loving service for you and for others, just as you have so generously poured yourself out in love for
me." DailyScripture.net
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The Ascent of Mount Carmel, by St. John of the Cross E. Allison Peers Translation. Paperback, Kindle, Audio Book.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1935785982/?tag=christianspiritu
BOOK THE FIRST Wherein is described the nature of dark night and how necessary it is to pass through it to Divine union; and in particular this book describes the dark night of sense, and desire, and the evils which these work in the soul.
CHAPTER XI Wherein it is proved necessary that the soul that would attain to Divine union should be free from desires, however slight they be.
5. It is greatly to be lamented that, when God has granted them strength to break other and stouter cords — namely, affections for sins
and vanities — they should fail to attain to such blessing because they have not shaken off some childish thing which God had bidden them conquer for love of Him, and which is nothing more than a thread or a hair. And, what is worse, not only do they make no progress, but because of this attachment they fall back, lose that which they have gained, and retrace that part of the road along which they have travelled at the cost of so much time and labour; for it is well known that, on this
road, not to go forward is to turn back, and not to be gaining is to be losing. This Our Lord desired to teach us when He said: He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth.’ He that takes not the trouble to repair the vessel, however slight be the crack in it, is likely to spill all the liquid that is within it. The Preacher taught us this clearly when he said: He that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little. For, as he himself
says, a great fire cometh from a single spark. And thus one imperfection is sufficient to lead to another; and these lead to yet more; wherefore you will hardly ever see a soul that is negligent in conquering one desire, and that has not many more arising from the same weakness and imperfection that this desire causes. In this way they are continually filling; we have seen many persons to whom God has been granting the favour of leading them a long way, into a state of great detachment and
liberty, yet who, merely through beginning to indulge some slight attachment, under the pretext of doing good, or in the guise of conversation and friendship, often lose their spirituality and desire for God and holy solitude, fall from the joy and wholehearted devotion which they had in their spiritual exercises, and cease not until they have lost everything; and this because they broke not with that beginning of sensual desire and pleasure and kept not themselves in solitude for
God.
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