WEBINAR SERIES ON CHRISTIAN PRAYER:
Drawing Closer to God
July 1, 8, 15, 2015: 7:00 -8:30 p.m. CDT
Free-will donation.
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Take some time this summer to give more attention to your prayer life. We will explore many topics, including methods of prayer, Jesus' teachings on prayer, prayer in the early Church, encounter with Eastern methods, and others.
A webinar is a live presentation, with interactive opportunities for asking questions and making comments. Philip St. Romain, M.S., D. Min. will present the material, which is from a course he taught for the Diocese of Dodge City through Newman University.
For more information and registration options, visit the link below.
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“The contemplative way is, in fact, not a way. Christ alone is the way, and he is invisible. The ‘desert’ of contemplation is simply a metaphor to explain the state of emptiness which we experience when we have left all ways, forgotten ourselves and taken the invisible Christ as our way.”
- Thomas
Merton, Contemplative Prayer
(Let go into the Mystery. "Nothing can separate us from the love of God poured out in Jesus Christ." Rm. 8:39) |
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2 COR 6:1-10; PS 98:1-4; MT 5:38-42
R. The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm.
In the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; break into song; sing praise.
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture |
"As your fellow workers we beg you not to receive the grace of God in vain." –2 Corinthians 6:1
Much of 2 Corinthians is devoted to St. Paul's defense of his apostleship. Traveling evangelists demeaned Paul's apostleship to build up their own
ministries. This situation can still exist in churches today. Paul's accusers were evangelists who accepted money for their services, a practice which Paul himself recommended at least once (1 Tm 5:17). Paul had a calling from God to preach "the gospel free of charge" (1 Cor 9:18) while working to support himself. As a result, Paul's accusers saw themselves as qualified "professionals" superior to the "amateur" Paul and his team. These quasi-professionals did all they could to undermine Paul's
ministry, calling him an impostor (2 Cor 6:8), unskilled (2 Cor 11:6), and unimpressive (2 Cor 10:10), among other charges.
Church professionals have trained hard and long to devote themselves to God's service. Thank God for them!
Nevertheless, St. Paul would warn: "As your fellow workers we beg you not to receive the grace of God in vain" (2 Cor 6:1). Church professionals were the group Jesus most severely condemned. Let us all humble ourselves so we do not squelch a future St. Paul.
PRAYER: Father, may we always conduct "ourselves with
innocence, knowledge, and patience, in the Holy Spirit" (2 Cor 6:6).
PROMISE: "He has remembered His kindness and His faithfulness toward the house of Israel." –Ps 98:3 mycatholic.com
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NOTES ON THE LIFE OF CHRISTIAN PRAYER 2719. Contemplative prayer is
a communion of love bearing Life for the multitude, to the extent that it consents to abide in the night of faith. The Paschal night of the Resurrection passes through the night of the agony and the tomb - the three intense moments of the Hour of Jesus which his Spirit (and not "the flesh [which] is weak") brings to life in prayer. We must be willing to "keep watch with [him] one hour." - The Catechism of the Catholic Church, IV, 3, 1)
- part 24 of 24 The Catechism of the Catholic Church, IV
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