1. Remembrance Day
Whilst we are remembering those men who had passion enough to put their lives at risk for their beliefs (their country) let us also remember and pay homage to those who had passion enough to experience great hardship and put their natural lives at risk for their faith in GOD.
I returned from a weekend in New Norcia late yesterday full of admiration for those whose faith and trust in The Lord spurred them on to, amidst the unknown, build a mission that gave hope and the possibility of a new life to hundreds.
What struck me was that regardless of theology, catechisms, veneration of Mary, confession to a priest and anything else that may differ from 'our' beliefs ......... we have one thing in common, that is the the principle message of Jesus - TO LOVE!
I wonder what Jesus would make of 'bible study', blogs, discussions, interpretations etc. - I suspect, rather strongly, that he would be shaking his head in wondernment and saying:
"It really is very simple children. Love, reflect my nature and trust!"
2. Mary
As you have gathered from my earlier blogs and comments, since starting this journey, 11 days ago, I am taken to thinking of Mary alot. I have no doubt this is from GOD.
At work the other day, (youth centre in Midland) I looked out the window to see a monk (yes!! a monk in FULL 'regalia') standing AT THE TOP of a very large half pipe (skate ramp). A strange site in Midland indeed! How he got up there I do not know. Of course, I went out to speak to him - to discover he was from The Franciscan Order - the same order with whom I lived and was educated by (in Malta) for seven years as a child. We spoke and he gave me a 'medallion of the Virgin Mary'. It was the same day that earlier that morning I had written the blog regarding Mary!!
When I took Jesus into my heart and was baptised in 2005 (after being an atheist for 30 years) I was particularly interested to learn about Martin Luther and until yesterday thought that he too, like most non-Catholics, was 'anti 'Mary Worship'. From time to time, whilst reading scripture, I have puzzled as to why she is not acknowledged more. After all, she WAS chosen by GOD to bear his son! So she certainly is 'Blessed amongst women'.
I quote from Martin Luther :
[She is the] highest woman and the noblest gem in Christianity after Christ…She is nobility, wisdom, and holiness personified. We can never honor her enough. Still honor and praise must be given to her in such a way as to injure neither Christ nor the Scriptures. (Christmas Sermon, 1531)
That's all from me today - enjoy this warmer weather ;)
3 comments:
Vs 42 - 52 Gentle Jesus meek and mild? hardly! Fierce and fervent!
Hi Gemma. Yeah, I think Mary is special too, but I also like the others too: Elizabeth, Anna, the list is long. And I too love New Norcia having stayed in the guest house out there; I'd love to go olive picking for a couple of weeks out there. There is much we can learn from 'Catholic' (and Orthodox for that matter) spirituality and discipline.
Prayer is such an amazing and powerful thing and yet so many of us struggle in this area.
I have been digging into the simplicity and depth of the "guide" that Jesus gave his disciples when they asked him how to pray in recent times. It has been of great help to me.
I also find it interesting that in the context of Jesus encouraging us to be bold and persevering in prayer he says that we should be asking our Father for the Holy Spirit. What does this mean for us?
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