14.marec 2019 Four Words – Tri slová
Domáca úloha z minulého týdňa
Nájdite si 10 minút v priebehu nasledujúceho týždňa a predostrite Bohu svoj najpálčivejší problém a spýtajte sa: Bože, čo odo mňa chceš?
8 Four Words
Theological integration, the ability to apply the scriptures and teachings of the Church to our everyday lives and become a more Christ-like person, is difficult! When I was younger, I remember walking out of church and within twenty minutes, start arguing and with my siblings (sound familiar parents?). Mom always said, “We don’t just hear the, we live it.” Honestly, that didn’t mean anything to me at the time. I lacked the ability theologically integrate the Good News proclaimed and have it make sense in my everyday. I simply couldn’t relate.
Then again, I didn’t try or even know I was supposed to try. As I have grown older ordained a priest, I would like to say that everything is different. However, on occasion, I still find the of life keeping me from allowing the Gospel to change me… to complete me! So how do we allow the Gospel to take hold? …to become theologically integrated into the life of Christ? Personal reflection and prayer!
One of the comments I often hear is that I have great life stories. The reality is that we all have great life stories, but most of us have been too “busy” to do the work of reflection. Matthew Kelly wrote, “When we are too busy to reflect on how we are living our lives, it is almost certain that we are not busy doing the right things.” Theological reflection allows us to take the lessons of the Gospel and recognize how they make sense in our own lives.
For example, last Sunday we discussed conscience and conscience formation. Did you reflect upon that in your own life? Has there been a time in which you (listened/ didn’t listen) to your conscience? What were the consequences? This week, our Psalmist speaks of a kind and merciful God. Go home and reflect upon experiences of God’s kindness and mercy in your life. Where have you been God’s mercy to another or were the recipient of His mercy?
Each and every one of us has a story to share, a life that is exciting and full of God’s presence. Are you willing to work to recognize it? Reflect upon your life and see how the scriptures we have just heard not only apply to your life, but actually give it meaning? When you reflect upon God’s life in you, you have begun the long and arduous journey of theological integration; the process by which we not only hear the Gospel but embody the Gospel by becoming the living, breathing Body of Christ. With His life in us, our lives, no matter how boring they may seem to be on the surface, are quite extraordinary.
“The Holy Bible is like a mirror before our mind’s eye. In it we see our inner face. From the Scriptures we can learn our spiritual deformities and beauties. And there too we discover the progress we are making and how far we are from perfection.” Pope St. Gregory
“Seek by reading and you will find by meditating. Knock by praying, and it will be opened to you in contemplation.” St. John of the Cross
“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” St. Augustine
“Holy Scripture is a stream in which the elephant may swim and the lamb may wade.” Pope St. Gregory
“Men are like wine – some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age.” Pope John XXIII
Tu si môžete pozrieť krátke video, v ktorom Matthew Kelly a Renessa Foronda hovoria o dnešnej téme.
Otázky na zamyslenie (zdielanie)
- Akú máš predstavu o Bohu? Povedz aspoň 1-2 charakteristické vlastnosti Boha, ktorého máš vo svojich predstávach.
- Keď odriekate modlitbu Pána, t.j. „Otče náš, ktorý si na nebesiach …“, zamyslíte sa nad vetou „buď vôľa Tvoja“ ?
- Ako viete, čo je Božia vôľa? Či to robíte alebo nerobíte, je Božia vôľa?
- Stáva sa vám, že cítite, čo by ste mali spraviť a nespravíte to? Stáva sa vám , že cítite, že „toto“ by som nemala/nemal robiť a spravíte to?
- Máte okolo seba ľudí, na ktorých sa môžete s dôverou obrátiť s prosbou “Poraď mi, čo mám urobiť“
Domáca úloha
Porozmýšľaj nad jednou, dvomi, tromi Božími charakteristikami/vlastnosťami a nad tým, ako sa tieto Božie charakteristiky prejavili / prejavujú v tvojom živote