Tag Archives: desire
Thomas Merton: Contemplation and Action: Weekly Summary
Thomas Merton: Contemplation and Action Saturday, November 28, 2020 Summary: Sunday, November 22—Friday, November 27, 2020 During my sabbatical in Merton’s hermitage, the world, my own issues and hurts, all my goals and desires gradually dissolved and fell into proper perspective. God became obvious and ever present. (Sunday) The contemplative life is not, and cannot… Continue Reading Thomas Merton: Contemplation and Action: Weekly Summary
Love Is Our Deepest Identity
The Transforming Power of Love Love Is Our Deepest Identity Tuesday, November 10, 2020 Behold, there are only three things that will last: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love. —1 Corinthians 13:13 To talk about love is to talk about what Plato calls “holy madness.” Jung even refused to include… Continue Reading Love Is Our Deepest Identity
Public Virtue: Weekly Summary
Public Virtue Saturday, November 7, 2020 Summary: Sunday, November 1—Friday, November 6, 2020 The mystery of the body of Christ turns the focus outward, to ask: how can I be good for the sake of my neighborhood, my city, my church, my community, and even the world? (Sunday) Everywhere there are people who never lose… Continue Reading Public Virtue: Weekly Summary
Great Love
Mary Magdalene Great Love Thursday, July 23, 2020 One of the lessons we might learn from the Gospel stories of Mary Magdalene is that, in the great economy of grace, all is used and transformed. Nothing is wasted. God uses our egoic desires and identities and leads us beyond them. Jesus’ clear message to his… Continue Reading Great Love
Simplicity: Weekly Summary
Simplicity Saturday, July 4, 2020 Summary: Sunday, June 28—Friday, July 3, 2020 As we grow spiritually, our lives become more and more centered and simple. There are only a few things that matter, and eventually really only one. (Sunday) Francis of Assisi truly experienced radical participation in God’s very life. Such practical knowing of his… Continue Reading Simplicity: Weekly Summary
Lesson Two: You Are Not Important
Reality Initiating Us: Part One Lesson Two: You Are Not Important Tuesday, March 31, 2020 O God, if I worship you in fear of hell, burn me in hell. If I worship you in hope of paradise, shut me out from paradise. But if I worship you for your own sake, do not withhold from… Continue Reading Lesson Two: You Are Not Important
Expressions of Divine Love
Twelve-Step Spirituality: Part Two Expressions of Divine Love Wednesday, December 18, 2019 Step Eleven: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood God, praying only for knowledge of God’s will for us and the power to carry that out. [1] In his book Addiction and Grace, psychiatrist Gerald May (1940–2005)—who was… Continue Reading Expressions of Divine Love
Waiting and Unknowing
Darkness Waiting and Unknowing Sunday, December 1, 2019 First Sunday of Advent Advent [meaning “coming”], to the Church Fathers, was the right naming of the season when light and life are fading. They urged the faithful to set aside four weeks to fast, give, and pray—all ways to strip down, to let the bared soul… Continue Reading Waiting and Unknowing
Our Deepest Desire
Meeting Christ Within Us Our Deepest Desire Thursday, May 30, 2019 Find your delight in the Lord who will give you your heart’s desire. —Psalm 37:4 One of my favorite mystics is the English anchorite Julian of Norwich (1342–1416). After a serious illness, during which she experienced “shewings” or revelations of Jesus’ love, she wrote… Continue Reading Our Deepest Desire
Bodily Knowing
This Is My Body Bodily Knowing Wednesday, March 6, 2019 Ash Wednesday Mutual desiring and indwelling is the intended impact of the Eucharist. We know that Jesus often referred to himself as the “bridegroom” (John 3:29; Matthew 9:15), and one of his first recorded acts of ministry was partying at a wedding feast (John 2:1-11),… Continue Reading Bodily Knowing