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Be able to be alone. Lose not the advantage of solitude, … but delight to be alone and single with Omnipresence.
- Sir Thomas Browne (1605-1682), Christian Morals
- - - related (and a quote we’ve seen before)
All of man’s misfortune comes from one thing, which is not knowing how to sit quietly in a room.
- Blaise Pascal
(Take
some time this day to be alone with God, mindful that God is here, now, loving . . . ) |
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ACTS 5:34-42; PS 27:1, 4, 13-14
JN 6:1-15
Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee.
A large crowd followed him,
because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain,
and there he sat down with his disciples.
The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,
he said to Philip, "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?"
He said this to test him,
because
he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him,
"Two hundred days' wages worth of food would not be enough
for each of them to have a little."
One of his disciples,
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?"
Jesus said, "Have the people recline."
Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.
So the men reclined, about five thousand
in number.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted.
When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,
"Gather the fragments left over,
so that nothing will be wasted."
So they collected them,
and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments
from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,
"This
is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world."
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off
to make him king,
he withdrew again to the mountain alone.
USCCB Lectionary
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John 6: 1-15 (Miracle of the loaves)
This account of the feeding of the
multitude is common to all four gospels and represents one of the most enduring and significant traditions. Most theologians see in this miracle a connection with the belief in Jesus as the Bread of Life who satisfies all our hungers.
* Jesus blessed the little that was offered in a spirit of sharing. Do you believe that your gifts of time, talent, and money offered in love are blessed by God? How do you experience this blessing?
* What can you offer to share with others today in a spirit of love? Ask God to bless your offering. 3rd edition pocketbook, trade book, Kindle, eBook.
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God and I: Exploring the Connections between God, Self and Ego, by Philip St. Romain, 2016 (2nd ed.) ____________ Chapter 7: The Journey to Belonging: The Ego-God Relationship
The Response of Faith In keeping with the natural operations of our reasoning and choosing, faith includes our beliefs as well as our decisions. God seeks relationship with the whole person, and that includes our minds as well as our hearts. In saying yes to God, we make an act of will, but this consent includes the mind as well. What kind of relationship would it be if we weren’t even interested in the person we loved? Besides, the will cannot sustain its stance for long
if the intellect does not concur in its action. Faith, then, is our opening to God -- our “Yes” to loving and being loved by God. There are generally turning points in the life of faith, but, as with any relationship, we do not say yes once and for all. A couple exchanging wedding vows usually means what they say, but if they do not continue to say yes to one another and to serve one another in
love, they will eventually drift apart, even divorce. So it is with God. God’s offer of relationship is ongoing, and our response to God needs to be ongoing as well.
Hardback, paperback, eBook and free preview versions.
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