Monthly Archives: April 2016

Suggestions for Reading Fr. Thomas Keating’s Books

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Suggestions for Reading Fr. Thomas Keating’s Books:

1.The Human Condition: Contemplation and Transformation (Wit Lectures-Harvard Divinity School. (1999) by Thomas Keating O.C.S.O and Ronald F. Thiemann. _A short invitation to begin a personal spiritual journey.

2. Open Mind Open Heart 20th Anniversary Edition (2006) by Thomas Keating. O.C.S.O _An introduction to centering prayer as the core practice of contemplative Christianity; a one volume presentation of topics covered on books 3 and 4 below.

3. The Heart of the World: An Introduction to Contemplative Christianity (2008) by Thomas Keating O.C.S.O

4. Intimacy with God: An Introduction to Centering Prayer. (2009) by Thomas Keating O.C.S.O

5.Invitation to Love 20th Anniversary edition: The Way of Christian Contemplation. (2012) by Thomas Keating O.C.S.O – A more detailed discussion of the process of spiritual growth.

6.The Mystery of Christ: The Liturgy as Spiritual Experience. (1994) by Thomas Keating O.C.S.O_A reflection of the Christian liturgical year from the perspective of contemplative Christianity.

7.Crisis of Faith, Crisis of Love. (1995) by Thomas Keating O.C.S.O_ Scriptural reflections of the spiritual journey of contemplative Christianity

8. Meditations on the Parables of Jesus (2010) by Thomas Keating O.C.S.O _Short Homilies on Jesus paraboles from a contemplative perspective.

9. Manifesting God ( 2005) by Thomas Keating O.C.S.O _A more recent introduction to centering prayer as a spiritual transformation.

10. Fruits and Gift of the Spirit (2000) by Thomas Keating O.C.S.O _more or less a sequel to book 9.

(List suggested by Mary Dwyre)

The Spirit Will Speak in Us

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Henry Nouwen Society Daily Meditation April 18, 2016

When we are spiritually free, we do not have to worry about what to say or do in unexpected, difficult circumstances. When we are not concerned about what others think of us or what we will get for what we do, the right words and actions will emerge from the center of our beings because the Spirit of God, who makes us children of God and sets us free, will speak and act through us.

Jesus says: “When you are handed over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes, because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you” (Matthew 10:19-20).

Let’s keep trusting the Spirit of God living within us, so that we can live freely in a world that keeps handing us over to judges and evaluators.

 

Concrete Participation _Practice_Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation _April 16, 2016

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As we turn toward participation we now can see that most of religious and church history has been largely preoccupied with religious ideas, about which you could be wrong or right. When faith is all about ideas, you do not have to be part of it; you just need to talk correctly about it. You never have to dive in and illustrate that spiritual proof is only in the pudding.
The spiritual question is this: Does one’s life give any evidence of an encounter with God? Does this encounter bring about in you any of the things that Paul describes as the “fruits” of the spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22)? Are you different from your surroundings, or do you reflect the predictable cultural values and biases of your group?
The “participatory turn” is learning from concrete practices, personal disciplines, and interactive dialogues that change the seer and allow and encourage the encounter itself. Many Christians today are rediscovering prayer beads, prayer of quiet, icons, contemplative sits, Taizé chants, charismaticprayer, walking meditation, Zen chores, extended silence, solitude, and disciplined spiritual direction. Up to now, you could have a doctorate in theology as a Catholic or Protestant and not really know how to pray or even enjoy prayer (experienced union), although you could recommend it officially to others and maybe even define it. Now we know that we must personally live our faith.

I hope you will dive into your faith and experiment with ways of opening yourself to transformation, to encounter, to conscious participation in God.
Gateway to Silence
Spirit of Love in me, love through me.

The Good Shepherd_Fr. William Meninger_Homily April 17, 2016

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The image of Jesus as the good Shepherd is a very endearing one. During his earthly life time, it was a comfortable and very familiar one.  Even today this is true in many rural settings albeit becoming increasingly rarer. Even here at our ranch, it has been some years since one or other of the monks has been called upon to play that role. So while it is an icon that we can understand and to a limited degree appreciate, the image of Jesus as the good Shepherd is one that his flock, that is, his people, that is, his church, is increasingly unable to experience and adequately appreciate.

 In this morning’s reading from the book of Revelation, John tells us of a vision he had of a great multitude which no one could count from every nation,race, people, and tongue.They were gathered in adoration, not before the good Shepherd but, on the contrary, before the Lamb. Strangely enough the Lamb, far from being a shepherd, is the most insignificant, the most helpless and therefore the most needy member of the flock. This, I suppose, is an illustration of Jesus’ teaching that the least among us will be the greatest.

 But before we get further entangled in this plethora of icons and images, maybe we can transcend them and see what happens to the good Shepherd in our times. It was Jesus of Nazareth, the God- man, the word made flesh and dwelling among us, who identified with the good Shepherd. But after the resurrection, Jesus of Nazareth became, if you will, the cosmic Christ. Still a human being but one who has returned to his place at the right hand of the father, who counts the number of the stars and gives to each one its name, who is the image, the blueprint for creation, through whom all things were made and whom the darkness cannot extinguish. Truly this is Jesus whom we now call the Christ and whom we can retroactively, as it were, recognize as  fully present in every atom of the created cosmos as it hurtles along its way from the Big Bang through the divinely guided universal journey towards its appointed goal in the fullness of Christ. We are indeed much more than the sheep of his flock, the people that he calls his own. Neither has it entered into our hearts, nor have our minds conceived what God has planned for those who love him. This is what the teachings of Jesus the Christ tell us, what our faith gives substance to within us and wither our hope leads us. For whoever believes that Jesus is Lord and who receives him as Savior has eternal life.

 It is for this reason that we stand even now before God’s throne. And the one who sits on the throne will shelter us. And we will not hunger or thirst anymore, nor will the sun or any heat strike us. For the lamb of God will lead us to springs of life giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from our eyes.

—

May you be happy,
May you be free,
May you be loving,
May you be loved.

Father William Meninger

The Yaweh Prayer

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A rabbi taught this prayer to me many years ago. I write about it in the second chapter of my book The Naked Now. The Jews did not speak God’s name, but breathed it with an open mouth and throat: inhale–Yah; exhale–weh. By our very breathing we are speaking the name of God and participating in God’s breath. This is our first and our last word as we enter and leave the world.

Breathe the syllables with open mouth and lips, relaxed tongue:

Inhale–Yah

Exhale–weh

 During a period of meditation, perhaps twenty minutes, use this breath as a touchstone. Begin by connecting with your intention, your desire to be present to God. Breathe naturally, slowly, and deeply, inhaling and exhaling Yah-weh. Let your focus on the syllables soften and fall away into silence. If a thought, emotion, or sensation arises, observe but don’t latch on to it. Simply return to breathing Yah-weh.

You may be distracted numerous times. And perhaps your entire practice will be full of sensations clamoring for attention. Contemplation is truly an exercise in humility! But each interruption is yet another opportunity to return to Presence, to conscious participation in God’s life.

From:  Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation April 9,2016