During Lent, we may spend time doing battle with what we call our “animal passions.” But this may not be the right way to put it because God’s covenant is made, not just with men and women, but with the animals as well.
I know this sounds strange to us, but that is because we are the heirs of modernity, a philosophical movement that tends to separate human beings radically from other animals and from nature. Modernity sees nature as, at best, something that might serve us or be mastered by us. But God has a much more integrated vision of things. All creatures, coming forth from God, are ontological siblings—brothers and sisters. In finding oneness with God, we find, ipso facto, oneness with the rest of creation.
This idea is reflected in much of the great tradition prior to modernity. St. Thomas Aquinas says that vegetables, plants, and animals are ensouled like us. In fact, the word “animal” just means “thing with an anima, a soul.” Thomas Aquinas saw us as part of a great chain or hierarchy of being. For the modern consciousness, we are, essentially, the masters of nature, and this is part of the problem for us, of course. We have so mastered nature that we are, effectively, alienated from it.
The Bible would have named this as one of the faces of sin. Sin, the caving in on oneself prompted by fear and pride, effectively cuts us off from each other, but it also cuts us off from the non-human world around us. It cuts us off from our love for it, our curiosity about it, our care for it, and our fascination with it. (This was one of the major themes in Pope Francis' encyclical, Laudato Si'.)
But Jesus, in his own person, joins together the disparate elements of creation, the spiritual and the material, angels and wild beasts. A Prayer for Lent
"Lord, I believe, help my unbelief! Let me accept the obstacles in my path as a learning experience and to be able to hand them all over to You. I know, Lord, that for every door that closes another will open. Help me to get through the trials and tribulations of disappointments and to look to You for the answers. Help me to face every challenge strong in my faith that You stand beside me always, guiding me on the right path." Crabby Old Man
What do you see nurses? . . . . . What do you see?
What are you thinking . . . . . when you're looking at me?
A crabby old man . . . . . not very wise,
Uncertain of habit . . . . . with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food . . . . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . . . . . 'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . . . . . the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . . . lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . . . The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? . . . . . Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse . . . . . you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am. . . . . . As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, . . . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . . . . . with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters . . . . . who love one another.
A young boy of Sixteen . . . . with wings on his feet.
Dreaming that soon now . . . . . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . . . my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows . . . . . that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . . I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . . . . With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons . . . . . have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me . . . . . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . . my wife is now dead.
I look at the future . . . . . shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing . . . . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . . . and the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . . . and nature is cruel.
This jest to make old age . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles . . . . . grace and vigour, depart.
There is now a stone . . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . . . . . a young guy still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys . . . . . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . . . . gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people . . . . . open and see.
Not a crabby old man . . . Look closer . . . see ME!!
Remember this poem when you next meet
an older person who you might brush aside
without looking at the young soul within.
We will all, one day, be there, too!
PLEASE SHARE THIS POEM
The best and most beautiful things of
this world can't be seen or touched.
They must be felt by the heart.
Now share this with the ones you love. One of these days, if we live long enough, we'll become one of these "Crabby Old Men".
Practice What You Preach You can know all the scriptures,
Have all the bibles you can reach,
But when push comes to shove
Do you practice what you preach? Anyone can go to church
And collapse on the floor,
But when Judgment Day comes
Will you be at Heaven's door? You can have the biggest of fits
And say the Holy ghost passed through,
But is that really reflected
In the things you do? You can yell far and wide
Proclaiming your love for Christ,
But what have you given him
When for you He gave his life? You can lecture others
About the wrong things they do,
But before you look at others
You need to look at you. You can ****** all the sinners
Tell them they're headed south,
But what have you done lately
Besides run your mouth? You can call yourself a Christian
Spend all your days at church,
But while you are praising His name,
Have you been doing the Lord's work? You can boast of good deeds
To show us the spirit is within
But why show it to us?
You should show it to Him! You can memorize the bible
Know it from front to back,
But you don't use it to regulate others
Regulate how you act! Take a good look at yourself
Not at what others do,
Because when He comes to get his children...
Will He be coming for you too? (Author Unknown) LOVE TO PRAY
Feel during the day the need for prayer
and take trouble to pray.
Prayer enlarges the heart.
Until it is capable of containing God's gift of Himself.
Ask and seek, and your heart will grow
big enough to receive Him
and keep Him as your own.
Verse of the Day "Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults. Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression." Psalm 19: 12-13 Lord Jesus, give me your peace.
Give me confidence in the depths of danger.
Give me hope when I am surrounded by fear.
Still my worries, calm the anxieties pressing in on me from the world I live in.
Lord Jesus, give me your peace.
Reassure me that you are with me when I seem alone.
Ease my doubting, as you did Thomas'.
Lord Jesus, give me your peace.
Guide my searching for peace,
so that I may not seek it where it is not to be found, but I may seek it in you.
Lord Jesus, live in me and give me your peace. Amen. Adorable Spirit... Adorable Spirit of Jesus, my Savior, I wish henceforth to listen always to your voice...Divine Spirit, I want to be before you like a light feather that I may be carried away by Your breath where you want me to go, and grant that I may never offer you the least resistance. -- (Venerable Francis M.P. Libermann, C.S.Sp.) To Whom It May Concern:
I heard you were considering a new manager in your
life. I would like to apply for the job. I believe I am the most
qualified candidate. I am the only one that has even done this job successfully.
I was the first manager of human beings. In fact I
made them, so naturally I know how humanity works, and what is best to get people back into proper
working condition. It will be like having the
manufacturer as your personal mechanic.
If this is your first time considering me, I would
just like to point out hat my salary has already been paid by the blood of my son, Jesus on
the cross of Calvary. What I need from you is the
acknowledgment that the price is sufficient to pay for all of your sin and your independence from Me. I need you to believe this in your heart and to
tell somebody else about your decision with your
mouth.
The next thing I ask is the right to change and fix
your life so you can learn how to stay close to Me. I will make some major changes and pevisions. They are not for you to worry about. I need your permission to execute these changes, My way and in My time. I will change your desires and give you the strength to make the
changes.
Please keep your hands out of the way. Don't try to
help me and Don't resist me. I really do need your full commitment and cooperation. If you give me those, the process can go smoothly, without delays.
Yours Sincerely,
GOD
P.S. I created the heavens and the earth. I AM ...
BELOW IS MY RESUME...
GOD
Everywhere
All over, Every Place 00000
Phone: (123) 456-PRAY
EXPERIENCE
From the beginning of time. Before the beginning of time. From
everlasting to everlasting. I made time.
ABILITY
All Powerful
PRIOR EMPLOYMENT
*Created the universe, put the galaxies in place, formed man.
*Established heaven and earth by My spoken Word and am currently holding up
the world by My power.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING *I AM and I have all knowledge.
CHARACTER REFERENCE
Love, light, and life (1John 4:16, 1John 1:5, John
14:6). A representative, but by no means conclusive list of
other character traits follows:
*Wisdom - James 1:5
*Comfort - 2 Corinthians 1:3
*Truth - John 8:32
*Healer - 1 Peter 2:24
*Strength - Phil. 4:13
*Forgiveness - 1John 1:9
*Provider -Phil. 4:19
*Mercy - Ephesians 2:24
*Good - Matt. 19:17
*Peace - Romans 14:17
AVAILABILITY
*Willing and ready to take over your life.
*Able to put your life together again.
*Will bring all of who I AM into your life.
*Can start now.
*Will transform your life if you let Me.
SALARY REQUIREMENT
*Work in your life has already been paid for
through the blood of My Son, Jesus.
*Your only responsibility is to commit initially and
on a daily basis.
*To trust and obey what Jesus has done and wants to
do in your life.
Other references available upon request. March 3 - Jesus Calling
I love you for who you are, not for what you do. Many voices vie for control of your mind, especially when you sit in silence. You must learn to discern what is My voice and what is not. Ask My spirit to give you discernment. Many of My children run around in circles, trying to obey the various voices directing their lives. This results in fragmented, frustrating patterns of living. Do not fall into this trap. Walk closely with Me each moment, listening for My directives and enjoying My companionship. Refuse to let other voices tie you up in knots. My sheep know My voice and follow me wherever I lead.
Ephesians 4:1-6 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humbles and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit--just as you were called to one hop when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism;one God and father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
John 10:4 " When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice." |
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