Thursday, June 21, 2018

week of June 17 reflection pts

Sunday-Ps.20  Two verses jump out. At the start one pleads for help in the day of trouble and it comes from the sanctuary. Toward the end, it takes the usual view against militarism. Some take pride in chariots, but the faith is in the name of the Lord. where do you see non-violent power?

Monday-Sophie Scholl-People believe that we live in the end times, and many terrible signs make such a belief all too credible. But isn’t it irrelevant? Don’t we all realize that, no matter when we live, God can call us at a moment’s notice?

Tuesday-Bonhoeffer-Don’t be surprised at the difficulty of faith, if there is some part of your life where you are consciously resisting or disobeying the commandment of Jesus. Is there some part of your life which you are refusing to surrender at his behest, some sinful passion, maybe, or some animosity, some hope, perhaps your ambition or your reason?

Wednesday-“Grace is a gift offered freely that helps us to return to alignment with our Self and the divine.” -- Christine Valters Paintner

Thursday-Nouwen-Prayer is the gift of the Spirit. Often we wonder how to pray, when to pray, and what to pray. We can become very concerned about methods and techniques of prayer. But finally it is not we who pray but the Spirit who prays in us.

Friday-Abbey of the Arts-No matter how far I stray from my practice, there is always an invitation to begin again. Not just each day, but each moment offers us the chance to lay a new foundation."

Saturday-Merton-"Actually one decides one's life by responding to a word that is not well defined, easily explicable, safely accounted for. One decides to love in the face of the unaccountable void, and from the void comes the unaccountable truth. By this truth one's existence is sustained in peace - until the truth is too firmly grasped and too clearly accounted for. Then one is relying on words - i.e. on his own understanding and his own ingenuity in interpreting existence and its 'signs.' Then one is lost - has to be found once again in the patient 'Void.'"*

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