Tag: Catholic

Inspiration

December 12 The Spirit of Generosity

Smitten With Goodness
Preparing our heart in Advent. Read, Reflect, Respond

Read: God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Reflect:  Generosity is a gift of the Holy Spirit when we give to others more than is required, not counting the cost. What exactly is generosity? Generosity is bigheartedness grounded in an abundance mentality. It is unselfish and expresses itself in sharing. It is extended to family and friends, strangers, and particularly those in need, and is offered not only as money, food, and clothing, but also as time shared and assistance provided. We believe that if we have been blessed with talents, wealth, knowledge, time, and the like, we benefit others by sharing those blessings. It is a way of being. Generosity includes how we view and treat others. It includes mercy, justice, humility, and meekness as well.

Teach me to serve as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to labor and not to seek to rest, to give of myself and not ask for a reward, except the reward of knowing that I am doing your will. 

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Respond:  Today, Lord, sow the seed of radical generosity within my heart so that I may bear that fruit in my life.

Inspiration

Advent Day 11: The Spirit of Goodness

Smitten With Goodness
Preparing our heart in Advent. Read, Reflect, Respond

Read: Selfless desire to be generous to others. Ephesians 5:8-10

Reflect: Goodness is a gift of the Holy Spirit when we renounce evil and strive to do God’s will. What exactly is goodness? The word good is used so frequently in our everyday lives that it almost loses its meaning. For example, how many times a day do we say, good morning and good luck and good job? But the Bible tells us that the word good actually means holy, pure and righteousness. Literally goodness is godliness.Goodness comes from living a life of virtue, of good habits. At the end of the day, the foundational or cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance are the only things within our human power to control. Like a muscle, these powers get stronger when used. Virtue allows us to perfect our thoughts and our actions, have courage, and moderate our desires and passions. Infused by grace, we bear the fruits of the Spirit. We become smitten with goodness. We are drawn to more goodness and drawn away from the attractions of the world.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23:6

Respond: Lord, help me to be a person of great integrity—the same inside and out.

Inspiration

Advent Day 8: The Spirit of Peace

Smitten With Goodness
Preparing our heart in Advent. Read, Reflect, Respond

Read:

Contentment and unity between others.

John 16:33

Reflect:

Peace is a gift of the Holy Spirit when we live in harmony, putting our complete trust in God. True freedom and real peace can only be found in the person of Jesus Christ. Nothing else will free us from the disturbances, worry or anxiety of our life. When we know the Prince of Peace, we are blessed with His peace. We are united with Him bringing love, joy, and peace into our hurting world. In peace, the Spirit rests.

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; Where there is hatred, let me sow charity; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is error, the truth; Where there is doubt, the faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; and Where there is sadness, joy. O, Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying to ourselves that we are born to eternal life. Amen

St. Francis of Assisi

Respond:

Lord, Make me an instrument of your peace.

Inspiration

Advent Day 7: The Spirit of Joy

Smitten With Goodness
Preparing our heart in Advent. Read, Reflect, Respond

Read:

Gladness not based on circumstances. 1 Peter 1:8-9

Reflect:

Joy is a gift of the Holy Spirit when we delight in living an eternally ordered life. When our joy comes from knowing and loving Jesus, we have meaning and purpose. Our eyes are focused on what is important and the storms of life are less likely to throw us off balance. We believe and He fills us with an inexpressible and glorious joy!

Whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor. God’s voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good fades. This is a very real danger for believers too. Many fall prey to it, and end up resentful, angry and listless. That is no way to live a dignified and fulfilled life; it is not God’s will for us, nor is it the life in the Spirit which has its source in the heart of the risen Christ.

Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium

Respond:

Help us seek the values that will bring us lasting joy in this changing world. In our desire for what you promise to make us one in mind and heart. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Inspiration

Advent Day 6: The Spirit of Charity

Smitten With Goodness
Preparing our heart in Advent. Read, Reflect, Respond

Read:

Commitment to the wellbeing of others no matter what. 1 John 4:7-12

Reflect:

Charity is a gift of the Holy Spirit when we unconditionally love God and our neighbors. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God . . . If we are children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. We must love the Lord your God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5) and be committed to the wellbeing of others; seeking good for all people, no matter what. (1 John 4:7-12)

We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become.

St. Claire of Assisi

Respond:

The Spirit lives. Let Your good Spirit lead me on a level path.

Inspiration

Advent Day 2: Sins of the Flesh

Smitten With Goodness
Preparing our heart in Advent. Read, reflect, respond.

Read:

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, and they are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality” Galatians 5:19

Reflect:

Identifying works of the flesh does not demand extraordinary spiritual discernment. We can clearly see they center around sexual sin. Think about ordering your physical appetite according to your vocation in life. When we lack restraint with our passions and our thoughts, we can start down the slippery slope of considering others as mere objects to fulfill our desires. Ask yourself, do any of my thoughts, words or actions go against the beliefs of my faith? Does my heart hold any strong cravings or desires that are impure? How does my behavior, including the entertainment I consume, reflect my values and nourish my soul?

Take care of your body as if you were going to live forever and take care of your soul as if you were going to die tomorrow. St. Augustine

Respond:

Today, Lord, please purify any of my desires that do not come from You.

Inspiration

Attitude of Gratitude

Smitten With Goodness
Reflections for contemplative living

We all have days where we feel anything but grateful. Days where we stare at the glass half full and it feels like everything is going wrong. 

But gratitude draws us closer to Jesus! Thanksgiving changes things. Gratitude fills our minds with higher, sweeter things so we can’t be occupied by negative thoughts! 

Studies show that thankful people are more empathetic, less aggressive, healthier, and happier. This makes sense because Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 that rejoicing and praising God is actually God’s will for our lives! When we obey Him, we are happier and we are healthier! 

You don’t have to feel happy or have happy circumstances to praise the Lord. If you are in a season of grief or struggle, read Psalm 103 for a giant list of the qualities of God that will never change. He is forgiving, good and redeems us. 

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever. Psalm 118:1

Thank you, God. for Your goodness. 

Inspiration

Prayer for Peace

Smitten With Goodness
Reflections for contemplative living

As we prepare our hearts for Advent, let’s yearn for peace.  Our lamentations will be heard and our prayers help ease the places of suffering from war and violence for which we can pray concretely today: Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Mali, Libya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Colombia. Take some time to meditate on this prayer for peace written by Patricia Navas González, published in Alethia.  

Dear Father in heaven,

You created us out of love
and await us behind every event, great and small.
United in Christ with all our brothers and sisters
who are suffering from armed conflict today,
and knowing that we are “wrapped” in the mantle of Mary our Mother,
we stretch out our hands to welcome your peace.

Have mercy on all those who have died
among countless attacks
and on their loved ones, on the wounded,
on those who have killed someone,
and on all the people suffering due to violence.

We pray to you, Almighty God:
stop war and the use of weapons.
Give us your peace.

Grant us the humility to recognize our littleness
and the wisdom to accept your love and your salvation,
which come to us through the cross and atonement.

Disperse the evildoers
who sow violence, lies, and hatred in human hearts.
Send us your Holy Spirit, who awakens pity,
compassion, and forgiveness,
and enables us to unite as brothers and sisters for your glory.

I place myself entirely at your disposal
so that you may use me along with others
to bring peace to the world.
Unite me to You, in what I feel and what I think,
in all that I am.

Accept now my efforts and sacrifices
to empty myself of my selfish interests.
Fill my heart with your love
and make it be expressed in my eyes,
my words, my actions, my life.

May I thus collaborate
in the spread of justice and love.
May I help you to foster reconciliation
and open the world to your eternal riches. 

Amen.

Inspiration, Uncategorized

The Author

Smitten With Goodness
Reflections for contemplative living

Situation
upon situation
upon situation,
the ever-changing cycle
of your story,
has been authored by Another,
one of infinite power
unparalleled wisdom
unending grace,
who has every epic
every turn of the plot
every surprising mystery
every unnoticed moment
written into his book.

The Author is never surprised
never taken off guard
never confused by new developments
never feeling unprepared
never just making it through
never looking for a way out.

Situation
upon situation
upon situation,
the ever-changing cycle
of your story,
authored by Another,
the changing saga written
by the One who never changes.

Let go of knowing the future.
Let go of having your own way.
Let go of self-sovereignty.
Let go of the anxiety of not knowing.
Let go of craving more power.
Let go of ranting against mystery.

Settle into what you’ve been designed to be.
Celebrate being included in the gospel plot.
Be thankful you’re not in control.
Remember God’s way is better.
Know that you’re in good hands.

Things out of your control
are not out of control.
There is an Author,
he is not you
his will will be done.

Your story,
that ever-changing cycle
situation upon situation
surprise after surprise
mystery chasing mystery
year piling upon year
has a final chapter,
penned before time began
written on the pages of eternity
and it will be glorious.

By Paul Tripp