In contemplating Rembrandt’s painting of The Prodigal Son, do you identify with the younger son or the older son from the Parable of Two Brothers that we know so well from the Gospel of Luke (15:11-32)?
Continue reading “Week Twenty-Eight. Temperance. Satisfied.”Embodiment, which is a key element of identity or a sense of self, is the experience of one’s body in the world. The experience of being embodied signifies a consciousness of the feelings and sensations within one’s body, especially as it relates to the outer world. Embodiment is not just awareness of the body as an object; rather, it is awareness as a body.
Continue reading “Week Twenty-Eight. Temperance. Embodied.”Looking for God’s Goodness in contemplation and prayer. Temperance in a Modern World. Acquiring virtue. In the face of all the inducements against the practice of temperance that the world throws at us today, how can people hope to acquire this indispensable virtue?
Continue reading “Week Twenty-Seven. A Pure Heart. Looking for God’s Goodness and Weekly Reflection Summary.”I’ve always been stubborn and sometimes it takes a big smack on the head to get my attention. After successfully avoiding Covid for two and a half years, I finally got a mild case and am recovering. However, in this space of isolation, I can see clearly how the “achiever” in me has gotten caught up in the “doing” since returning to work and living a post Covid life. I’ve let all this interfere with my “being”. “Being” allows me to listen to the whisper of God’s voice, feel secure in who I am and “whose” I am. It keeps me from taking on the weight of the world.
Continue reading “Week Twenty-Seven. A Pure Heart. Covid Reset.”My confession, I struggle with discipline. I can be very disciplined with my work life and other areas of my life, but it falls off the rails when it comes to exercise and eating healthy. You wouldn’t know this about me from the outside but I’m on a constant roller coaster ride, up and down, and it’s exhausting. I’m praying for the virtue of temperance in my life so I can have self-mastery over my desires for food and drink. I am a sensual person, we all are, and if I don’t express this in healthy ways, I’m back on the roller coaster.
Continue reading “Week Twenty-Seven. A Pure Heart. Desire.”Living well is nothing other than to love God with all one’s heart, with all one’s soul and with all one’s efforts. This is who I was created to be. How many times have I left “home” looking and searching for something more when the voice of love that satisfies is within. The problem begins when I start seeing myself as separate from God.
Continue reading “Week Twenty-Seven. A Pure Heart. Coming Home.”One virtue that helps us grow in purity, trust God more and grow in apostolic zeal is simplicity of heart. When I grow in simplicity of heart, I will never demand of God that He explain my vocation or my sufferings. I’m able to trust God with all my heart living a temperate life.
Continue reading “Week Twenty-Seven. A Pure Heart. Simplicity.”Recently I’ve been fascinated by birds. I love the freedom they portray for me. Listening to their gentle chirping to one another. Finding delight in a hummingbird’s visit to my Firecracker bush or the sighting of the brilliant red cardinal and its mate. I’m coming to the realization that these creatures are the Spirit’s voice urging me to trust in loving providence which purifies my heart.
Continue reading “Week Twenty-Seven. A Pure Heart. Trust.”Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will’s mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable. The temperate person directs the sensitive appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion: “Do not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires of your heart.” Temperance is often praised in the Old Testament: “Do not follow your base desires, but restrain your appetites.” In the New Testament it is called “moderation” or “sobriety.” We ought “to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world.”
Continue reading “Week Twenty-Seven. A Pure Heart. Temperance.”
Looking for God’s Goodness in contemplation and prayer. The Breath prayer, says the Gravity Center, is an ancient Christian prayer practice dating back to at least the sixth century. Historically, it is associated with the Eastern Church, particularly Greek and Russian Orthodox churches. Known as the “Jesus Prayer” or “Prayer of the Heart,” early practitioners would repeat to the rhythm of their breath the phrase, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” In time, the prayer was shortened to, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy” or simply, “Jesus, mercy.” Breath prayer is a good example of “praying without ceasing” as St. Paul admonished us to do, and has the potential to become as natural as breathing. It is intended to be a very short prayer of praise or petition, just six to eight syllables. The words of the prayer can be easily adjusted to your heart’s desire.
Continue reading “Week Twenty-Six – Finding Goodness. Looking for God’s Goodness and Weekly Reflection Summary.”
Smitten With Goodness 