Category: Finding God’s Goodness

Finding God's Goodness

Hope: Looking for God’s Goodness and Weekly Reflection Summary

Smitten With Goodness

Looking for God’s Goodness in contemplation and prayer.

You might find the goodness of hope by Reading with the Divine Presence from the Center for Action and Contemplation, where you can also find the source references.

Lectio divina is a contemplative way of reading and relating to Scripture and other sacred writings. The medieval monk Guigo II (d. 1188) names the four steps of this foundational contemplative practice:

One day when I was busy working with my hands I began to think about our spiritual work, and all at once four stages in spiritual exercise came into my mind: reading, meditation, prayer and contemplation. These make a ladder for monks by which they are lifted up from earth to heaven. It has few rungs, yet its length is immense and wonderful, for its lower end rests upon the earth, but its top pierces the clouds and touches heavenly secrets.

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Finding God's Goodness

Week Seven: Hope. Filled Up.

Smitten With Goodness

Do you practice the virtue of hope? Pope Francis calls hope the virtue that is hidden and humble. Hidden because so often we don’t see reasons for our hope in the world. Humble – because our hope is made real in the humility of Jesus who comes to walk with us, to share our life, our joys, and our struggles. As I practice the virtue of hope, I see that the face of Jesus is the only hope and stability I have in this fallen world. We are all called to hope.

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Finding God's Goodness

Week Seven: Hope. Smitten with Goodness.

Smitten With Goodness

Many people feel that they cannot go on and pray “Lord give me the strength to continue.” Prayer opens the heaven: it gives life oxygen; it gives a breath of fresh air even in the midst of breathlessness and lets us see things from a broader perspective… Do I cultivate intimacy with God, dialogue with him, listen to his word? Among the many things we do each day, let us not neglect prayer; let us dedicate time to it, let us use short invitations to be repeated often, let us read the gospel every day. The prayer that opens the heaven.

Pope Francis Angelus January 9, 2022
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Finding God's Goodness

Week Seven: Hope. A Powerful Force.

Smitten With Goodness

How do I live with hope when the world seems so lost? Our lives seem so painful and senseless at times, and it all seems so pointless. When I ask this question, I’m taking action as I’m seeking and looking for an answer. Hope is almost always connected to action.

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Finding God's Goodness

Week Seven: Hope. Beautiful Hope.

Smitten With Goodness

We live in a culture that produces hopelessness. We can see the evidence of this in the anxiety and depression rates we have in the US. Faced with chaotic realities, where the loudest voice defines truth, where the expectation is that we can do it all and have it all, we are rarely satisfied. Seldom do we allow ourselves to rest in the presence of God.

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Finding God's Goodness

Week Seven: Hope. Perfect Gift

Smitten With Goodness

As spiritual beings, we are all given the spiritual gift of hope but does hope live in your heart? As I eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed, I know I have all the spiritual gifts I need. But am I open to them or better yet am I open to Him?

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Finding God's Goodness

Meaning: Looking for God’s Goodness and Weekly Reflection Summary

Smitten With Goodness

Looking for God’s Goodness in contemplation and prayer.

You might find goodness by reflecting on meaning and God’s timing in this Meditation Poem From Guerrillas of Grace by Ted Loder.

Grant Me Your Sense of Timing

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Finding God's Goodness

Week Six: Meaning. Savoring.

Smitten With Goodness

Savor is to taste and enjoy something completely. God gifted me with the word “savor” this year, inviting me to become immersed and devoted to the fullness of being and calling me to walk the path of meaning. My life, when lived from the heart, is a life of fullness, taking me to places of love, meaning, truth, and kindness. I live in the image of Christ here on this earth to serve and to love. I become true to myself, holding nothing back.

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Finding God's Goodness

Week Six: Meaning. Open.

Smitten With Goodness

Life doesn’t add up but opens. How can it be that I’ve lived in this world for more than fifty eight years and I’m just learning what it means to be open to life. Living a life of openness and being rather than one limited by doing. Living a life always searching and acquiring rather than in the simplicity of enough.

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