God is always present, and always working towards the life of the soul, and its deliverance from captivity under flesh and blood. But this inward work of God, though never ceasing or altering, is yet always, and only hindered by the activity of our own nature and faculties, by bad people through their obedience to earthly passions, and by good people through their striving to be good in their own way, by
their natural strength and a multiplicity of holy labours and contrivances. Both these sorts of people obstruct the work of God upon their souls. For we can cooperate with God no other way than by submitting to the work of God, and seeking, and leaving ourselves to it.
- William Law (1686-1761), letter II, to Rev. Mr. S., Works of Rev. William Law, v. IX
(God is always present . . . always working . . . Be open . . .)
|
Shalom Place Covid-19 resource page
- Practical, inspirational and spiritually formative writings and podcasts
ACTS 5:27-33; Ps 34:2 AND 9, 17-18, 19-20
JN 3:31-36
The one who comes from above is above all.
The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things.
But the one who comes from heaven is above all.
He testifies to what he has seen and heard,
but no one accepts his testimony.
Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy.
For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God.
He does not ration his gift of the Spirit.
The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,
but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life,
but the wrath of God remains upon him.
Reflection on the Scriptures |
In the history of Christianity, so much has been written on God. So much thought and discussion on God's nature, God's will, God's love, humanity's place in God's plan. This desire to know God is right and proper and Thomas was among the best the Church has ever known in writing about God. Still, what was revealed to him - while not necessarily negating what he had written - relegated his towering work to
mere straw. Reflecting on today's scripture, this story of Thomas is what came to mind because, just as Thomas' previous work was dwarfed by what he saw, the Sanhedrin's ire is dismissed by the Apostles precisely because what they had experienced - Jesus' resurrection - eclipsed whatever admonishment the Sanhedrin could deliver. They could not be swayed from their resolve in carrying out Jesus' directive.
Unlike the Apostles, we did not see Jesus resurrected. What a gift that must have been. Yet, we are called to share their resolve in proclaiming Jesus as Lord and sharing the Gospel with our whole lives. For this, Jesus said we are blessed. This requires not the intellectual prowess of Thomas Aquinas. In fact, we have heard from him how little that matters anyway. Let us, instead, lean on our faith in Jesus and
share the love that is God with one another.
- by Scott McClure
Revelations of Divine Love
- by Julian of Norwich
Sixteenth Revelation, Chapter 74
There is no dread that fully pleaseth God in us but reverent dread.
For I understand [that there be] four manner of dreads. One is the dread of an affright that cometh to a man suddenly by frailty. This dread doeth good, for it helpeth to purge man, as doeth bodily sickness or such other pain as is not sin. For all such pains help man if they be patiently taken. The second is dread of pain, whereby man is stirred and wakened from sleep of sin. He is not able for the time to
perceive the soft comfort of the Holy Ghost, till he have understanding of this dread of pain, of bodily death, of spiritual enemies; and this dread stirreth us to seek comfort and mercy of God, and thus this dread helpeth us, and enableth us to have contrition by the blissful touching of the Holy Ghost. The third is doubtful dread. Doubtful dread in as much as it draweth to despair, God will have it turned in us into love by the knowing of love: that is to say, that the bitterness of doubt be
turned into the sweetness of natural love by grace. For it may never please our Lord that His servants doubt in His Goodness. The fourth is reverent dread: for there is no dread that fully pleaseth God in us but reverent dread. And that is full soft, for the more it is had, the less it is felt for sweetness of love.
|
|
|
