The Center for contemplative practice
A Lay Cistercian Looks at Spiritual Reality
THE SIXTY SECOND CATHOLIC: Don’t get too cocky.
Here are some thoughts about our preoccupation with exclusivity and elitism.
- Is there something beyond gender, male and female?
- Is there something beyond political status, such as king, senator, congressman, citizen?
- Is there something beyond race, color, nationality, or tribe?
- Is there something beyond being Democrat, Republican, or whatever?
- Is there something beyond youth, teen, young adult, adult?
- Is there something beyond career?
- Is there something beyond marriage and non married?
- Is there something beyond pope, bishop, priest, deacon, various ministries, laity?
- Is there something beyond the body?
Yes. It is called Heaven. As a Catholic, you belong to the Church Universal (those in Heaven, those awaiting their judgment on earth, those awaiting purification). Don’t worry about who is going to Heaven. That is pride. Worry about you loving God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength, and your neighbor as yourself. (Deuteronomy 6:5 and Matthew 22:37). Put another way, seek first the kindgom of Heaven and all else will be given to you besides.
The Purpose of the Law19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring[i] would come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained through angels by a mediator. 20 Now a mediator involves more than one party; but God is one. 21 Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law. 22 But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ[j] might be given to those who believe. 23 Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. 27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring,[k] heirs according to the promise. (emphases mine) |
As a Lay Cistercian trying to convert my life each day to be more like Christ, I am beginning to see trials and tribulations as I walk down my path as opportunities to practice love, such as loving those who wish you were dead, can’t stand the sight of you, and ridicule your God. That is not easy. It is an opportunity for grace not a test of good verses evil.
Perspective is the key in this case. If you seek to have in you the mind of Christ Jesus (Phil 2:5), you will not judge others but ask for mercy for them and you. You will not try to second guess the Holy Spirit and make up your own sexual morality but try to focus on being a temple of the Holy Spirit (although with some cracks showing).
Check out the immensity of space and time in this Youtube video, but realize that reality is the Mystery of Faith, beyond what the mind of man can conceive.
Refrain from being seduced into belonging to a group that does lead you to Heaven.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever. The God who is, who was and who is to come at the end of the ages. Amen and Amen. –-Cistercian doxology
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