Tomorrow I go for a second interview for a prospective job. It's not what I was looking for, but sometimes you just have to suck it up and accept what you can get. I have to trust that God knows what is best for me and will put me where I need to be. Looking back over the past few months I can see where God has silently stepped in pushing me in the right direction. He took my main distraction away so that I could focus on my relationship with Him which was sorely in need of renewal. Then He led me to Carmel over Easter. Last but not least He gave me time to deal with my diagnosis before bringing on a new job. I just makes sense to follow his lead as St. Theresa of Avila did throughout her life. She turned over all control to God. She didn't worry about anything but her vow to be obedient to God. Amazingly God provided for her and her Carmelite nuns many times over. Tomorrow I will take God's lead and trust that he knows what is best for me.
Lead me, Lord, lead me, Lord,
by the light of truth
to seek and to find the narrow way.
Be my way; be my truth;
be my life, my Lord,
and lead me, Lord, today.
Showing posts with label St. Theresa of Avila. Show all posts
Showing posts with label St. Theresa of Avila. Show all posts
Jul 20, 2011
Jun 19, 2011
Good Intentions
That saying, "The path to Hell is paved with good intentions" is what comes to mind when St. Theresa talks about the worst temptation. Satan is an excellent deceiver. When you think you are doing something for the good of God, you really are doing evil instead. Unfortunately you don't know this until it's too late. Those who support euthanasia, abortion and same-sex marriage believe they are doing good.
Euthanasia takes away a persons suffering, but it also takes away any chance for good either towards that person or from that person. Suffering is a reminder not to waste what little life that we each have. As St. Theresa said, "black is that much blacker against white and white is so much whiter against black." Without the contrast everything would just look gray.
Abortion is another grave sin for which supporters believe they are helping. I read a bumper sticker recently that said, "Abortion doesn't make you unpregnant, it makes you the mother of a dead baby". Although rather harsh sounding it is so true and heart breaking. It may not sink in right away, but one day it will and those women will have to live with the fact that they murdered their own child. The intentional killing of children by their mother doesn't destroy just one life. It destroys two lives.
Same-sex marriage seems harmless enough. Supporters just want homosexual couples to have the same happiness that other couples have. If only it was that innocent. Marriage is a unique bond between a man and woman. It's not just for love or producing children, but a covenant created by God that binds two people together in love and as the basic support system for the raising of children. Homosexual couples may love each other, but they weren't designed by God to fulfill the marital covenant or to be the basic support system for raising of children. They as a couple can never have children. While there are couples that are infertile or choose not to have children, they still fulfill that covenant and make up the basic structure to support children.
I pray that the people led astray by their good intentions will have time to realize their mistake and repent. It would be very sad indeed to discover too late that they have paved their path to Hell with these good intentions.
Euthanasia takes away a persons suffering, but it also takes away any chance for good either towards that person or from that person. Suffering is a reminder not to waste what little life that we each have. As St. Theresa said, "black is that much blacker against white and white is so much whiter against black." Without the contrast everything would just look gray.
Abortion is another grave sin for which supporters believe they are helping. I read a bumper sticker recently that said, "Abortion doesn't make you unpregnant, it makes you the mother of a dead baby". Although rather harsh sounding it is so true and heart breaking. It may not sink in right away, but one day it will and those women will have to live with the fact that they murdered their own child. The intentional killing of children by their mother doesn't destroy just one life. It destroys two lives.
Same-sex marriage seems harmless enough. Supporters just want homosexual couples to have the same happiness that other couples have. If only it was that innocent. Marriage is a unique bond between a man and woman. It's not just for love or producing children, but a covenant created by God that binds two people together in love and as the basic support system for the raising of children. Homosexual couples may love each other, but they weren't designed by God to fulfill the marital covenant or to be the basic support system for raising of children. They as a couple can never have children. While there are couples that are infertile or choose not to have children, they still fulfill that covenant and make up the basic structure to support children.
I pray that the people led astray by their good intentions will have time to realize their mistake and repent. It would be very sad indeed to discover too late that they have paved their path to Hell with these good intentions.
Lord Jesus, you have endured me all these years with my sins, but nonetheless You pitied me;
I was led astray in every way, but now I will sin no more;
I have wronged You and I have been unjust;
I will be so, no more;
I renounce sin,
I renounce the Devil,
I renounce iniquity that stains my soul;
free my soul from all that is against Your holiness;
I will be so, no more;
I renounce sin,
I renounce the Devil,
I renounce iniquity that stains my soul;
free my soul from all that is against Your holiness;
I entreat You, Lord Jesus, to rescue me from all evil; Come Jesus now, come now and abide in my heart;
Forgive me, Lord Jesus, and allow me to rest in You, For You are my Shield, my Redeemer and my Light and in You do I trust;
From today I will bless You Lord at all times;
I repudiate evil and all other gods and idols, for You are the Most High over the world, far transcending all other gods;
By Your mighty arm, rescue me from ill health, rescue me from being a captive, rescue me from trouble and defeat my enemy the Devil; come quickly to my help O Saviour!
Amen
Jun 14, 2011
Patron Saint for those with ADHD?
In formation we are finishing up The Way of Perfection by Saint Teresa of Avila and on my own I am reading Interior Castle. St. Theresa's writing is rambling and by her own admission her mind frequently wanders. For those who like very ordered writing I wonder how they ever get through her writings. Even with her frequent off topic musings, she expresses a humility and love of God that I can only aspire to. And sets a wonderful example for those who struggle with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). She shows that even with all ones faults a person can attain great things through God.
As my Bishop likes to say, "Catholics aren't good listeners." And he's right. Our minds wander while in prayer, at Mass, and especially during the homily. Theresa advises that one close their eyes to worldly things and distractions so they can better focus on God. She also talks about having the image of Jesus in your mind as if you were two normal people having a conversation. Now I don't know about her, but to me Jesus is anything but a "normal person".
These two simple acts have greatly helped my sense of focus during prayer and while in church. My understanding of the rituals and words have opened up greater depths of appreciation and love during Mass. It makes it seem less like a chore and more like a piece of art that unfolds in new and unique ways to express our love for God. In prayer I have grown closer to Jesus as he sits patiently listening to me pour out my soul to him. At times I curl in his lap like a young daughter who needs comfort and other times I look upon him from afar in awe of his greatness. I am grateful for St. Theresa's beautiful testament and instruction.
Lord,
Give me focus
in my thoughts
and in my actions
Curb my tongue
from impulsive words
Let all that I do
Amen.
As my Bishop likes to say, "Catholics aren't good listeners." And he's right. Our minds wander while in prayer, at Mass, and especially during the homily. Theresa advises that one close their eyes to worldly things and distractions so they can better focus on God. She also talks about having the image of Jesus in your mind as if you were two normal people having a conversation. Now I don't know about her, but to me Jesus is anything but a "normal person".
These two simple acts have greatly helped my sense of focus during prayer and while in church. My understanding of the rituals and words have opened up greater depths of appreciation and love during Mass. It makes it seem less like a chore and more like a piece of art that unfolds in new and unique ways to express our love for God. In prayer I have grown closer to Jesus as he sits patiently listening to me pour out my soul to him. At times I curl in his lap like a young daughter who needs comfort and other times I look upon him from afar in awe of his greatness. I am grateful for St. Theresa's beautiful testament and instruction.
Lord,
Give me focus
in my thoughts
and in my actions
Curb my tongue
from impulsive words
Stay my hand
from impulsive deeds
Fill my heart
with patience
Let all that I do
be a glory to your name
Amen.
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