WE NEED ONE ANOTHER TO DO WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO
In our stressful world today, there is a growing need for
genuine friends who will respect our individuality and spiritual beliefs
without trying to convert us to their ways. Those who are spiritually inclined
who have already begun their search for personal intimacy with their God/Dess,
appreciate the importance of engaging with those of like mind.
Only God and Lord Kutumi knows the full spiritual impact of
the message that they gave to the therapists of the Sean Bradley Academy
All of the work within the Tau Community of St. Francis is
accomplished through people who are honest with one another, committed to serve
one another, and willing to receive wise council from one another. When we
build trust, we will work together smoothly and see God at work in and through
us. Yes, to be men and women of integrity and productive members within the Tau
Community of Interfaith Franciscans, we need one another.
We share a common bond of
love
That comes from God our
Father,
And we’re dependent on the
strength
We draw from one another. Sper.
Human
nature is a wonderful window on man’s true need for God. Why? I sense it is
because we get so carried away with enthusiasm with our pet projects that when
we encounter delays or frustrations, we soon throw the towel in by surrendering
to defeat! Brother Rob says that when I am busy around the monastery, I remind
him of an ‘express train.’ How awful for those who get in his way for fear of
running them down. A gentle reminder not to get caught up in a flurry of high
activity and remember the need to slow down but not give up! In the Gospels, we
are reminded by Jesus of an incident when he called to visit three of His
nearest and dearest where he knew He would get rest from His labours. On His
arrival there was poor Martha busy like Brother Sean trying to do too much too
soon and getting all fractious and bad tempered whilst Mary sat at the Lord’s
feet pondering on His words. I dare say that Martha’s looks were enough to set
the forest ablaze with the fires of discontent within her heart.
THE
WORLD CROWNS QUICK SUCCESS; GOD CROWNS LONG-TERM FAITHFULNESS
In
the Bible, the life of faith is often described as a walk (Gen. 17:1.). for
most of us, our spiritual pilgrimage involves plodding, a pace that sometimes
feels unspiritual and unproductive. My dictionary defines plodding as “making
one’s way slowly and perseveringly.”
Two
of God’s earliest plodders, Abraham and Sarah, trusted God’s promises even
though they had to wait many years for those promises to be fulfilled (Heb. 11:
8-12). Another example of productive plodding is Tau Interfaith Community of
St. Francis. We wait patiently upon God to deliver the small holding where we
can unite as members of the monastic community and start work in earnest.
There
is another wonderful example of a God’s plodder is William Carey. A shoemaker
by trade, Carey became a scholar, linguist, and a father of modern missions. He
lived by this motto:
“ Expect great
things from God; attempt great things for God.” In old age, he made one thing clear, however: “If,
after my removal, anyone should think it worth his while to write my life, I
will give you a criterion by which you may judge of its correctness. If he
gives me credit for being a plodder, he will describe me justly. Anything
beyond this will be too much.” Then he added, “I can plod....To this I owe
everything.” Are you fulfilling your God given responsibilities patiently by
faith, or do you feel like giving up? God want you to be a purposeful plodder.
Day by day perform your mission
With Christ’s help keep at your tasks;
Be encouraged by His presence-
Faithfulness is all He asks. Boschi.
FAITH IS THE ABILITY TO SEE GOD IN THE DARK
When I was a young
inexperienced nursing monk, I disliked the story of Abraham going to Mount Moriah
It is easy to make a
profession of faith. But the real test comes when God asks us to lay our
dearest treasures on the line. As with Abraham, the issue becomes one of
obedience. A business woman lost a high-paying job because she wouldn’t
compromise her standards. And a pastor was driven from his church when he obeyed
God’s Word and spoke out about racism in his congregation.
Shouldn’t these people
have been rewarded when they did the right thing? Faith meets its toughest test
when we feel the Lord has not rewarded our faithfulness.
You may be faced with
giving back to God something you feel He has given you. Learn to see this test
as an opportunity to demonstrate your faith in the One who always keeps His
promises – even when you don’t understand.
Be still, my soul – the Lord is on your side!
Be patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide –
In every change He faithful will remain. von
Schlegal.
The above illustration
may came as a bolt of lightning for anyone who is trying to discern a way
forward regarding God’s plans for their lives. So many of us get stuck in our
own issues! In reality, we find it difficult coping with simplicity and when we
follow the advice of St. Francis to close down our lips and ears in meditation,
then we are able to connect with our hearts. If we persist in always having the
‘last word,’ then we will not hear God’s Spirit speak to our hearts in silent
prayer. So many today, cannot see or even hear the voice God because they are
frenetically busy and hence to the old saying, ‘they cannot see wood for the trees.’
Forty years of trying
to do things my way, finally caught up with me, when in May 2008, I was left
with a temporary paralysis in my lower spine that stopped me in my tracks!
There was nowhere to run away too from God. He had me where He wanted me to
face my irrational fears about monastic life. I have always known in my heart
that despite not feeling a sense of belonging in this life, I knew that life
without God as a monastic was intolerable and lonely. I recall being told by
one of my spiritual directors back in 1990 that the idea of my returning to a
conventional Catholic Monastery was out of the question. I asked the question
why that was and reminded that the ‘Catholic Church wasn’t ready for me yet.’
So, I plodded along merrily avoiding making any form of commitment to God. By
avoiding Him, I sensed that He would forget about me! Not so! December 8th,
Feast of the Immaculate Conception, forty years forward from making my First
vows to God as a monastic nursing monk, came proof that if we are willing to
trust God, then He will show us a way, where there seems to be no way.
The battle that many
of us experience in our faith journey should not be seen as a punishment from
God. If our stubbornness of heart persists and we continue to ‘go it alone,’
then we should not be too surprised when Spirit leads us to events that offer
us a way out clause. Usually when this happens, we are truly on our knees in
despair pleading with our ego to take a one way flight to wherever. The ‘Hound
of Heaven’ never abandons His children because they were formed out of love.
Surrendering one’s heart to God usually is as a direct result where our ego has
been ‘publicly humiliated.’ This is the only way forward for many whose ego
continually dictates how they should live their life. There can be no place for
ego in God’s ministering unto others as it derails God’s Spirit from empowering
others to claim their abundance.
The soul that prefer
the egoic self to ‘walking humbly with their God,’ do so at their own peril as
lying in the wings is the dreaded ‘dark night if the soul’ experience that
leaves one bereft of God’s inner peace. And all we have to do is say, God, you
know that I am a stubborn soul, so why bother with my insults and dramas? The
response is always the same regardless who we are or, and regardless of what
depths we may have fallen into. What’s so amazing is that God really does love
us with a selfless, unconditional love that cannot be bought- a love that is
unlike any other love known to us.
Why not come and join
me on Livestream where we embrace the healing energies of the Risen Cosmic
Christ and Magdalene to reactivate the soul’s DNA to self heal.
Led by Brother Sean from
12 midnight (GMT );
07.00pm (EST) 4 personal and global
Peace and Insterspiritual Unity.
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