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Nothing, therefore, happens unless the Omnipotent wills it to happen: God either permits it to happen, or He brings it about Himself.
- St. Augustine
(Often, God "brings it about" through us. What do you sense God wanting to do through you at this time?)
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SIR 17:20-24; PS 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7
MK 10:17-27
As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up,
knelt down before him, and asked him,
"Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good?
No one is good but God alone.
You know the commandments: You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
you shall not defraud;
honor your father and your mother."
He replied and said to him,
"Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth."
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
"You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."
At that statement, his face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
"How hard it is for those who have wealth
to enter the Kingdom of God!"
The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,
"Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.
than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
“Then who can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said,
“For men it is impossible, but not for God.
All things are possible for God.”
USCCB Lectionary
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Praying the Daily Gospels: A Guide to Meditation, by Philip St. Romain, 2018 (3rd ed.)
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Mark 10:17-27 (The danger of riches)
It is noteworthy that Jesus never condemned material goods—not even money and alcohol. His confrontation with the rich young man warns us, however, that the love of material goods can keep us from growing spiritually.
• Let your imagination re-create this encounter between Jesus and the rich young man. See Jesus looking at him with love; hear him challenge the young man to live a life of poverty and freedom; observe how the young man’s face grows sad.
• Why did Jesus challenge the rich young man to give away his goods? Do you believe everyone is called to do this? Are you?
• Pray for the grace to be less attached to material goods.
Paperback, Kindle and eBook
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God and
I: Exploring the Connections between God, Self and Ego, by Philip St. Romain, 2016 (2nd ed.)
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Chapter 9: Spiritual Transformation -- God, Self and Ego
4. We Consent to the “Dark Nights” of Healing
An Ego committed to living authentically and in relationship with God is best-suited to sort through and integrate unconscious material. Even so, spiritual direction and sometimes psychotherapy are necessary to support one through these times of healing and integration. That is what the Dark Nights of the Soul are about,
and they are difficult times, lasting for months and even years in some cases. Through the Dark Nights, the psychological level of our human nature becomes more integrated with the human spirit and with God.
This whole area is one that I think Christianity as a whole deals with poorly. One reason is that many branches of Christianity do not invite much more than a superficial engagement with Ego-God possibilities. Just so long as one “believes” and invites Christ into your life, you are “saved” and that is enough. What more could you want, anyway? Heaven at the end of life will be plenty! I wish this were
simply a cheap shot and caricature, but it is far from it.
Hardback, paperback, eBook and free preview versions.
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