Trial by Faith

We are called to learn to survive life's trials by faith in His strength--surrendering to not only survive but to grow in His name.   We are each called to service in His name--disciples in name following The Way.  

We are called to struggle in life with those around

us--to grow in depth, in sincerity, and in holiness, 

to grow despite weaknesses, to grow beyond our 

weaknesses.

 

 

How do we grow?  We surrender trusting in His word.  We must give Him our willful spirit.  He will wake us up to the tomorrow that can be--not to remain in the dark world of today.

We must learn to humble ourselves at all time.  Do the work we are called to do.  With Him by our side and by His Grace we will prevail.

 

To Enshrine The Way

Benedict focuses again today on the importance of the prior and prioress leading a life which they seek to enshrine in others. Sister Joan brings it to life for us today.

The abbot and prioress are to make of themselves the light that guides
 and the crystal that rings true. Otherwise, why should anyone else 

attempt The Way at all?

If you have not already done so, let me again invite you to read Practicing the Way, by John Mark Comer.  I believe Saint Benedict devoted his life to teaching how we are to make Practicing the Way our life's work.

A reminder...

 

Norman Rockwell, 1961

Pray for our country....

Norman Rockwell, in 1961, offered us a vision of humanity’s shared dignity: men, women, and children of every nation, faith, and complexion gathered under the golden words of the Gospel’s Golden Rule. That canvas spoke not just of America, but of God’s dream for humanity: that we might look into each other’s eyes and see not threat or stranger, but brother and sister. It was painted during the Cold War, the Civil Rights movement, and the uneasy dawn of global consciousness. It was aspirational—a reminder of who we might be, not who we were.

If the Creator—by whatever name invoked in our different traditions—were to look upon America today, I believe He/She would see a people both blessed beyond measure and broken by their own choices:

• Blessed, because we still carry extraordinary freedom, creativity, resources, and the ability to speak, gather, and worship. These are gifts entrusted to us, not earned by us.

• Broken, because division, anger, suspicion, and greed have crept into our common life. Many see neighbors not as fellow children of God, but as enemies. Our politics often reward outrage more than compassion. We live in an age of abundance, yet millions go hungry or are crushed under debt. The Creator must surely weep that after so many years, we still struggle with racism, violence, and indifference.

The eyes of the painting—serious, compassionate, longing—ask us whether we have grown closer to the dream Rockwell imagined, or drifted further.

Can we be humble enough to ask for help?

Humility is the only path back. We must admit:

• We cannot fix this by clever policies alone.

• We cannot heal by shouting louder than the other side.

• We cannot find peace until we are willing to kneel—each in our own way of prayer, silence, or surrender—and confess that we have fallen short.

Humility is not weakness. It is the courage to say: 

We need help. We need grace. 

We need wisdom greater than our own.

We stand again before Rockwell’s vision, sixty-five years later. The world is watching whether we can live into the words: 

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. 

This is not sentiment—it is the Creator’s law written in every faith tradition: in Torah, in the words of Jesus, in the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), in the wisdom of the Buddha, in the counsel of the Bhagavad Gita.

Let us begin with small steps:

• See the humanity of the neighbor with whom you disagree
• Choose kindness when cruelty is easier
• Teach children not just to succeed, but to serve
• Pray—not only for your family—but for the stranger

If enough of us do this, then perhaps in another sixty-five years, a new artist might paint not just the dream, but the reality of a nation—and a world—that finally took the Golden Rule seriously.

We must take responsibility

God waits for us. We are indeed called to see God. We are responsible for our own souls. Personal decisions are still decisions, personal judgments are still judgment, free will is still free will.

We must take responsibility for ourselves – what we have done, what we are doing, and what we will do. Therein lies the challenge – we fall we get up, we fall we get up. This is our constant effort.

Might there be a time when we begin to feel less and less? The gospels and Benedict seek to share an answer with us.

Pray without ceasing, read, meditate, and reflect on the word, listen with the ear of the heart. God will see us. God will hear us. And by his grace, the day will come when we realize we are drawing nearing – that God is at hand.

We must be willing....

Sister Joan Chittister starts her discourse today on what she calls the social revolution of the rule. She points out that the superior of the Benedictine monastery is to be a Christ figure, simple, unassuming, immersed in God.

She then takes this gentle discussion of the qualities of the prior or prioress and extends it into a way of living for you and me. She reminds us that the spiritual journey takes time. That we must place Him before ourselves beyond all else. We must recognize that, in time, the practices living in us will bring us into full communion with God.

She makes a very interesting point too, about the role of the prior and prioress as a model. They are not to be idolized, but they are indeed models. In truth as each of us is call to be a disciple. However, we should never lose sight that is our goal to allow Him to find us.  We must learn to trust in Him and then surrender – opening ourselves up to his love and wisdom.

While living in this secular world, fulled of distractions, we must build His moral code within our weak and often unwilling selves. 

Your Rule of LIfe

Obedience to your Rule of Life is the most important task in front of you each day. If we follow the rule--we move toward our life goals. How easy to say and so very difficult to do daily.  

Your Rule of Life is your guide to walking through 

the universe whole and holy.  Listen, pay attention and attend

to the important things in life. Let nothing go by without

being open to being nourished by the inner meaning 

of that event in life.