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We fail to see the place of suffering in the broader scheme of things. We fail to see that suffering is an inevitable dimension of life. Because we have lost perspective, we fail to see that unless one is willing to
accept suffering properly, he or she is really refusing to continue in the quest for maturity. To refuse suffering is to refuse personal growth.
- Henri J. M. Nouwen
(What sufferings are you undergoing at this time in your life? What invitations to grow are to be found in these
situations?)
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HOS 14:2-10; PS 81:6C-8A, 8BC-9, 10-11AB, 14 AND 17
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.
USCCB Lectionary
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Mark 12:28-34 (The greatest commandment)
True religion is much simpler than we usually make it. In this passage Jesus teaches us that God is not a philosophical proposition to be figured
out but rather a being to be loved. Likewise, other human beings are to be loved even as we love ourselves.
* Make a list of the people and things you love most in this world, ranking them according to their importance to you. Where does God come in? How can you draw closer to God?
* Do you love yourself? How
does your self-love affect your relationships?
Paperback, Kindle, ePub, PDF
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God and I: Exploring the Connections between God, Self and Ego, by Philip St. Romain, 2016 (2nd ed.) ____________ Chapter 6: The Journey to Individuation: The Ego-Self Relationship Summary Individuation is a conscious participation in our own evolutionary process. It is an opportunity to develop the potential that each of us has been given that we might each make our unique contribution to others and the creation during our few years on Earth. It is also an awakening to who we are as individual persons. What we attend to, understand, and act upon becomes integral to who we are. To put it another way, we learn nothing
from our experiences, but only by reflecting on them and then acting upon what we have learned. Some people seem to learn very little from experience, making the same disastrous mistakes again and again. Individuating people might do the same, at times, but eventually they learn their lessons and move in a new direction. They have changed Egoically, and this change represents an integration that includes the spiritual, psychological and even physiological aspects of our human nature. A change in
Ego therefore effects a change in the Self, which is the source of Egoic awareness. Thus does the Ego transform Self to non-reflectingly manifest a person, whose awareness shines intelligently and lovingly through the eyes. It is a wonder to behold!
Hardback, paperback, eBook and free preview versions.
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