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The
natural human mystery of intimate love can shine light on virtually
every aspect of Catholic spiritual tradition. |
To read reflections by Gordon Hilsman on Cycle A,
B, or C of the scripture readings from the Catholic Lectionary (also used by many
Protestant Churches), click on Previous Reflections on the task bar
above. Click here to order Intimate Spirituality from Amazon.com
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| Scripture
Readings May 3, 2009 |
Weekly
Reflection
May 3, 2009 |
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Acts 4:8-12 The religious
leadership here misses the point that healing a cripple is an
act of loving care, because they narrowly see only political
realities. Self protective and legalistic to the core, they
ignore the glories of human love and supernatural healing. Then Peter, filled with the holy Spirit, answered them, "Leaders of the people and elders: If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved, then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed. He is 'the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.' There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved." 1 Jn 3:1-2 The love of God is always pure gift that is given without our deserving it, just as "falling in love" comes out of nowhere, unable to be earnedSee what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Jn 10: 11-18 The difference between a shepherd who loves the sheep and one who merely tends them for pay is the metaphor here for all loveless relationships, in ministry, in romance and relationship with God.I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father."
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Loving Fortitude Yet some shepherds will risk "life and limb" to defend the utter
vulnerability of the sheep who have powers neither to defend nor
attack. The difference between the sheep herders who invest their
safety for the sheep and those who simply run away as expected, is a
heroic measure of what catholic tradition would call "loving
fortitude". There is no easy way of clearly discerning love from fascination, good sex, exploitation, or seduction. But one clue is the presence or absence of loving fortitude. |
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