Saturday, 28 June 2014
Tuesday, 24 June 2014
Love
Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back,
Guiltie of dust and sinne.
But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lack'd anything.
"A guest," I answer'd, "worthy to be here," Love said, "You shall be he."
"I the unkinde, ungratefull?
Ah my deare I cannot look on thee."
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
"Who made the eyes but I:"
"Truth, Lord; but I have marr'd them:
let my shame Go where it doth deserve."
"And know you not," sayes Love, "who bore the blame?"
"My deare, then will I serve."
"You must sit down," sayes Love,
"and taste my meat."
So I did sit and eat.
[George Herbert: "Love"]
Friday, 20 June 2014
If Christ had become incarnate now...
If Christ had become incarnate now
and were a thirty-year-old man today,
he would be here in the cathedral
and we wouldn't know him from the rest of you —
a thirty-year-old man, a peasant from Nazareth,
here in the cathedral like any peasant
from our countryside.
The Son of God made flesh would be here
and we wouldn't know him —
one completely like us.
How shameful to think that perhaps pagans,
people with no faith in Christ,
may be better than we
and nearer to God's reign.
Remember how Christ received a pagan centurion
and told him, "I'll go and cure your servant"?
The centurion, full of humility and confidence,
said, "No, Lord, I am not worthy that you go there.
Just say a word
and my servant will be cured."
Christ marveled, says the gospel, and he said,
"Truly, I have not found such faith in Israel."
I say:
Christ will also say of this church:
outside the limits of Catholicism
perhaps there is more faith,
more holiness.
So we must not extinguish the Spirit.
The Spirit is not the monopoly of a movement,
even of a Christian movement,
of a hierarchy, or priesthood, or religious congregation.
The Spirit is free,
and he wants men and women,
wherever they are,
to realize their vocation to find Christ,
who became flesh to save all human flesh.
Yes, to save all, dear brothers and sisters.
I know that some people come to the cathedral
who have even lost the faith and are non-Christians.
Let them be welcome.
And if this message is saying something to them,
I ask them to reflect in their inner consciousness,
for, like Christ, I can tell them:
the kingdom of God is not far from you,
God's kingdom is within your heart.
Seek it, and you will find it.
The Bible has a very meaningful expression:
The Spirit makes all things new.
We are those who grow old,
and we want everyone made to our aged pattern.
The Spirit is never old,
the Spirit is always young.
Archbishop Oscar Romero
From the chapter "Evangelizer of the People"
The Violence of Love
Sermons and writings, 17 December 1978, Gaudete Sunday
pp. 108-110
Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez (August 15, 1917 - March 24, 1980) was a prominent Roman Catholic priest in El Salvador during the 1960s and 1970s becoming Archbishop of San Salvador in 1977. After witnessing numerous violations of human rights, he began to speak out on behalf of the poor and the victims of repression. This led to numerous conflicts, both with the government in El Salvador and within the Catholic Church. After speaking out against U.S. military support for the government of El Salvador, and calling for soldiers to disobey orders to fire on innocent civilians, Archbishop Romero was shot dead while celebrating Mass at the small chapel of the cancer hospital where he lived. It is believed that those who organized his assassination were members of Salvadoran death squads, including two graduates of the School of the Americas.
and were a thirty-year-old man today,
he would be here in the cathedral
and we wouldn't know him from the rest of you —
a thirty-year-old man, a peasant from Nazareth,
here in the cathedral like any peasant
from our countryside.
The Son of God made flesh would be here
and we wouldn't know him —
one completely like us.
How shameful to think that perhaps pagans,
people with no faith in Christ,
may be better than we
and nearer to God's reign.
Remember how Christ received a pagan centurion
and told him, "I'll go and cure your servant"?
The centurion, full of humility and confidence,
said, "No, Lord, I am not worthy that you go there.
Just say a word
and my servant will be cured."
Christ marveled, says the gospel, and he said,
"Truly, I have not found such faith in Israel."
I say:
Christ will also say of this church:
outside the limits of Catholicism
perhaps there is more faith,
more holiness.
So we must not extinguish the Spirit.
The Spirit is not the monopoly of a movement,
even of a Christian movement,
of a hierarchy, or priesthood, or religious congregation.
The Spirit is free,
and he wants men and women,
wherever they are,
to realize their vocation to find Christ,
who became flesh to save all human flesh.
Yes, to save all, dear brothers and sisters.
I know that some people come to the cathedral
who have even lost the faith and are non-Christians.
Let them be welcome.
And if this message is saying something to them,
I ask them to reflect in their inner consciousness,
for, like Christ, I can tell them:
the kingdom of God is not far from you,
God's kingdom is within your heart.
Seek it, and you will find it.
The Bible has a very meaningful expression:
The Spirit makes all things new.
We are those who grow old,
and we want everyone made to our aged pattern.
The Spirit is never old,
the Spirit is always young.
Archbishop Oscar Romero
From the chapter "Evangelizer of the People"
The Violence of Love
Sermons and writings, 17 December 1978, Gaudete Sunday
pp. 108-110
Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez (August 15, 1917 - March 24, 1980) was a prominent Roman Catholic priest in El Salvador during the 1960s and 1970s becoming Archbishop of San Salvador in 1977. After witnessing numerous violations of human rights, he began to speak out on behalf of the poor and the victims of repression. This led to numerous conflicts, both with the government in El Salvador and within the Catholic Church. After speaking out against U.S. military support for the government of El Salvador, and calling for soldiers to disobey orders to fire on innocent civilians, Archbishop Romero was shot dead while celebrating Mass at the small chapel of the cancer hospital where he lived. It is believed that those who organized his assassination were members of Salvadoran death squads, including two graduates of the School of the Americas.
Monday, 2 June 2014
Nothing...
Headsup to the people at peopleforothers.loyolapress.com for this one. Thanks folks.
Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime.
Therefore we are saved by hope.
Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history.
Therefore we are saved by faith.
Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone.
Therefore we are saved by love.
No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own.
Therefore we are saved by the final form of love,
Which is forgiveness.
-Reinhold Niebuhr
Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime.
Therefore we are saved by hope.
Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history.
Therefore we are saved by faith.
Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone.
Therefore we are saved by love.
No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own.
Therefore we are saved by the final form of love,
Which is forgiveness.
-Reinhold Niebuhr
Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime,— - See more at: http://peopleforothers.loyolapress.com/page/2/#sthash.Pmnz1R56.dpuf
Therefore, we are saved by hope.
Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history;
Therefore, we are saved by faith.
Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone.
Therefore, we are saved by love.
No virtuous act is quite a virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own;
Therefore, we are saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness.
Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime,— - See more at: http://peopleforothers.loyolapress.com/page/2/#sthash.Pmnz1R56.dpuf
Therefore, we are saved by hope.
Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history;
Therefore, we are saved by faith.
Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone.
Therefore, we are saved by love.
No virtuous act is quite a virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own;
Therefore, we are saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness.
Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime,— - See more at: http://peopleforothers.loyolapress.com/page/2/#sthash.Pmnz1R56.dpuf
Therefore, we are saved by hope.
Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history;
Therefore, we are saved by faith.
Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone.
Therefore, we are saved by love.
No virtuous act is quite a virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own;
Therefore, we are saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness.
Monday, 26 May 2014
The Rules
Saw this today on Facebook and I remember being told something very similar to this in my first year at veterinary college. I thought today that they weren't bad rules for spiritual formation either. Especially number 11, which is the main reason I'm still a Catholic. I've found a lot in my faith to love, which is as it should be. I've found a lot that drives me crazy too, which is probably also as it should be. I've found that ignoring the tough questions is never a solution but prayer, patience and discussion of said questions often is.
Number 3 I believe is actually a direct paraphrase of St Paul.
"Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil." (1 Thes 5:19-22)
Thursday, 22 May 2014
European elections
Just saw this reposted by a friend.
"I do like a polling card that can touch the floor when you hold it. So, the choices were: Socialist, Neo-Socialist, Crypto-Socialist, United Reformed Socialists, Real Socialists, TRUE Socialists (leader, Bob Crow, Deceased), Film Socialisme, UKIP, Not-Quite UKIP, Get Out Of Europe Free, Ex-UKIP, Get Out of Europe AND the United Kingdom, The Green Party, The Greener Than Green Party, Christians United Will Never Be Defeated, Tom O'Connor, Independents United Against Other Independents and the Conservative Party....yet people say there's no one to vote for!"
Sad thing is, judging by my ballot paper today, I don't think he was joking....
Just saw this reposted by a friend.
"I do like a polling card that can touch the floor when you hold it. So, the choices were: Socialist, Neo-Socialist, Crypto-Socialist, United Reformed Socialists, Real Socialists, TRUE Socialists (leader, Bob Crow, Deceased), Film Socialisme, UKIP, Not-Quite UKIP, Get Out Of Europe Free, Ex-UKIP, Get Out of Europe AND the United Kingdom, The Green Party, The Greener Than Green Party, Christians United Will Never Be Defeated, Tom O'Connor, Independents United Against Other Independents and the Conservative Party....yet people say there's no one to vote for!"
Sad thing is, judging by my ballot paper today, I don't think he was joking....
Thursday, 8 May 2014
No idea who the author of this is, but since they want it passed on I'm happily doing so. Sad. Really very sad.
OBITUARY FOR THE LATE MR. COMMON SENSE
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense,who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; and Maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6 year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get Parental consent to administer Calpol, sun lotion, or a band-aid to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 3 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
A moment of silence.
OBITUARY FOR THE LATE MR. COMMON SENSE
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense,who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; and Maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6 year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get Parental consent to administer Calpol, sun lotion, or a band-aid to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 3 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.
A moment of silence.
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