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The fly that touches honey cannot use its wings; so the soul that clings to spiritual sweetness ruins its freedom and hinders contemplation.
- St. John of the Cross -
(Nothing can separate us from the love of God, except the things we prefer more than God.)
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Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone, by Brene Brown
Led By: Ann Axman and Pattie McGurk, on Zoom
Dates: Wednesday October 14, 21, 28 and November 4
Time: 12:05 – 12:55 p.m. CST (Feel free to eat your lunch while on the zoom meeting)
Fee: $20 (Participants will need to provide their own book for the study)
“True belonging doesn’t require us to change who we are. It requires us to be who we are.” Social scientist Brené Brown, PhD, LMSW, has sparked a global conversation about the experiences that bring meaning to our lives—experiences of courage, vulnerability, love, belonging, shame, and empathy. In Braving the Wilderness, Brown redefines what it means to truly belong in an age of increased polarization. With her trademark mix of research, storytelling, and
honesty, Brown will again change the cultural conversation while mapping a clear path to true belonging.
God and I: Exploring the Connections Between God, Self and Ego, by Philip St. Romain
Led By: Philip St. Romain, on Zoom
Dates: Thursday October 22,29 November 5,12 and 19
Time: 12:05 – 12:55 p.m. CST (Feel free to eat your lunch while on the zoom meeting)
Fee: $20.00
This book explores the meaning of these terms and relationships between them, pointing to a foundational understanding for Christian spirituality. There are 9 chapters in the book, each with questions for discussion as well as spiritual exercises to help provide clarifying experience of the material, which participants will have an opportunity to share if they’d like. We used this book as a text for spiritual directors in our training program at Heartland
Center for Spirituality and participants found it very helpful.
– participants will receive a free PDF version of the book, paperback and other purchase options can be found via the link below:
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DN 7:9-10, 13-14; PS 138:1-2AB, 2CDE-3, 4-5
JN 1:47-51
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
“Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him.”
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
Nathanael answered him,
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this.”
And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened
and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
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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Jesus' response to Nathanael's new faith is the promise that Jesus himself will be the "ladder which unites earth with heaven." Jesus proclaims that he is the fulfillment of the promise made to the Patriarch Jacob and his descendants. Jesus is the true ladder or stairway to heaven. In Jesus' incarnation, the divine Son of God taking on human flesh for our sake, we see the union of heaven and earth - God making his dwelling with us and bringing us into the
heavenly reality of his kingdom through his Son Jesus.
Jesus gives us free access to God's presence
Jesus' death on the cross, where he defeated sin and won new life for us through his resurrection, opens the way for each of us to come into a new relationship with God as his adopted sons and daughters. The Lord Jesus opens the way for each one of us to "ascend to heaven" and to bring "heaven to earth" in the daily circumstances of our lives. God's kingdom is present in those who seek him and who strive to do his will. Through the gift of faith God opens a door for each one of us to the
heavenly reality of his kingdom. Do you see with the "eyes of faith" what the Lord Jesus has done for us?
Heavenly Father, through your Son Jesus Christ, you have opened the way to heaven for us. As you revealed yourself to your beloved patriarchs and apostles, so reveal yourself to me that I may recognize your presence with me and know the power of your kingdom at work in my life. May I always find joy in your presence and never lose sight of your kingdom.
- from dailyscripture.net
Paperback, Kindle and eBook
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Treatise on the Love of God, by St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
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BOOK II: THE HISTORY OF THE GENERATION AND HEAVENLY BIRTH OF DIVINE LOVE
Chapter 1: That the divine perfections are only a single but infinite perfection
When the sun rises red and soon after looks black, or hollow and sunk; or again when it sets wan, pale, and dull, we say it is a sign of rain. Theotimus, the sun is not red, nor black, nor grey, nor green: that great luminary is not subject to these vicissitudes and changes of colour, having for its sole colour its most clear and perpetual light which, unless
by miracle, is invariable. But we use this manner of speaking, because it seems such to us, according to the variety of vapours interposed between him and our eyes, which make him appear in different ways.
In like manner we discourse of God, not so much according to what he is in himself, as according to his works, by means of which we contemplate him; for according to our various considerations we name him variously, even as though he had a great multitude of different excellences and perfections. If we regard him inasmuch as he punishes the wicked, we
term him just; if as he delivers sinners from their misery, we proclaim him merciful; since he has created all things and done many wonders, we name him omnipotent; as exactly fulfilling his promises we call him true; as ranging all things in so goodly an order we call him most wise; and thus, continuing and following the variety of his works, we attribute unto him a great diversity of perfections. But, all the time, in God there is neither variety, nor any difference whatever of perfections. He
is himself one most sole, most simple and most indivisible, unique perfection: for all that is in him is but himself, and all the excellences which we say are in him in so great diversity are really there in a most simple and pure unity. And as the sun has none of the colours which we ascribe unto it, but one sole most clear light surpassing all colour, and giving colour to all colours,--so in God there is not one of those perfections which we imagine, but an only most pure excellence, which is
above all perfection and gives perfection to all that is perfect.
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