Gathering Together To Meet Christ

The topic of this reflection in Lent and Easter , Wisdom from Thomas Merton is  sacred liturgy.

"Liturgy is a work in which the Church collaborates with the divine Redeemer, renewing on her altars the sacred mysteries which are the life and salvation of mankind, uttering again the life-giving words that are capable of saving and transforming our souls., blessing again the sick and the possessed, and preaching His Gospel to the poor." (page 24)

The question I am asked to reflect upon is, "What do you love about celebrating the liturgy with your faith community?:

My faith community is "family."  We gather to share our life experience.  We offer each other support.  We are on the Journey and we know it.  It is one of life's treasures given and accepted as reality!  For me it is affirming my belief that I have been redeemed, once for all by our Savior Jesus Christ.  It is a celebration of life and eternal life.  I have a "genealogy" that takes me to the root of salvation and I am privileged to share that with other believers in praising God.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Simply Profound!

 Saint Meinrad Archabbey

February, 2010

Simple, yet profound.

A single opinion cannot overturn the unanimous tradition of the
whole Church, which has spread to the ends of the earth.
~Saint John of Damascus~

This is the Church that has the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit as its guide!

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Super Abundant Grace

Reflection by Herni J. M. Nouwen.

Super Abundant Grace

Over the centureis the Church has done enough to make any critical person want to leave it. Its history of violent crusades, prgroms, power struggles, oppression, excommunications, executions, manipulation of people and ideas, and constantly recurring divisions is there for everyone to see and be appalled by.

Can we believe that this is the same Church that carries in its center the Word ofGod and the sacraments of God's healing love? Can we trust that in the midst of all its human brokenness the Church presents the broken body of Christ to the world as food for eternal life? Can we acknowledge that where sin is abundant grace is superabundant, and that where promises are borken over and over again Go's promise stands unshaken? To believe is to answer yest to these questions.

*****

I read this, re-read it, thought about it, and read it again. If we study the Holy Scripture we find the same history throughout all time from the beginning of creation. Where there is sin, greed, and jealousy there will be pain, conflict, and violent death.

What I find in the Church is the love of God through the sacraments, nourishment in the Word and the Body of Christ, healing through the community of the Family of God. To this I say, "Where else would I go?"

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God