Comments on Intentional Disciples: Bone Deep

"Part of it is vanity, because I want people to th...

2008-09-17T19:25:00.000-06:00

"Part of it is vanity, because I want people to think I'm stronger or holier than I actually am. Part of it is fear that I'll actually scandalize someone, or lead them to despair. Part of it is just the same lack of motivation that makes prayer difficult."

When you realize that it is He who is the source of your being and that these bothersome "bits and parts" of you will be transformed when you let go and just live in Him, in whom we live, move and have our being...When you trust Him with your little nothings and failures, when you surrender all these "parts" to him, THEN you and he will be one in the Father -- a relationship that is more we than He and I.

I'm a seminarian, and at our place we're encourage...

2008-09-16T20:19:00.000-06:00

I'm a seminarian, and at our place we're encouraged to enter into a small group with some of our brothers with the idea of deepening fraternity and fellowship, but also to share with each other and talk about Christ in our lives and our walk with Him. It's heartening and awesome to see this being integrated into the formation process.

Dear Brother Robert,I see the 'o.p.' behind your n...

2008-09-16T19:27:00.000-06:00

Dear Brother Robert,

I see the 'o.p.' behind your name -- do you have the support of some community? That can be helpful. I've also found spiritual direction *VERY* helpful -- but then, it helps to have a good director (which, by God's rich grace, I do).

A friend of mine recently gave me a great prayer for times when I know I could say something about the Lord and don't know how to or what: "Lord, I'm open!"

I will say a Memorare for you in this tough time. I have had more than what I think my fair share is in the past few years (I say this ruefully, knowing that He really does know best), and can empathize with you.

Lord, please help Brother Robert to persevere and to be faithful to everything You are calling him to; amen.

~Margo

Dear Brother Robert,I don't remember the context b...

2008-09-15T17:43:00.000-06:00

Dear Brother Robert,
I don't remember the context but I recall that Pope Benedict remarked some months back that every believer believes better some days than others - and this my experience as well. Of course, we live in a world permeated with agnosticism, skepticism and empiricism - and don't even get me started about the post-Enlightenment scientism (not science - but ism)
There are times when what is needed is further reading and reflection - fideism - or just trying to believe harder is not the answer. I believe that some of our concepts of God sometimes come under challenge as we mature and abstract notions accepted "on faith" when we were younger may not be adequate. And yet we have encountered mystery. And we have much evidence. And afterall -there is the resurrection!
I have been reading some pretty heavy theology myself lately, getting ready for some comprehensive exams in grad school - and along the way, I have encountered some new ways of thinking about just "how" God is "who" I have believed him to be. If you're inclined to the intellectual life perhaps you would enjoy Denys Turner The Darkness of God - a discussion of mysticism, patristics, medieval theology - maybe I'm just an obsessed grad student - but I found it offered some surprising ways of thinking about God that dealt with some long time cul de sacs in my thinking.

I happen to be at a pretty low place in my relatio...

2008-09-15T15:08:00.000-06:00

I happen to be at a pretty low place in my relationship with Christ just now: prayer is difficult and dry, old vices (like procrastination) are re-emerging, and intellectual doubts are confronting the faith I profess with my lips. Now, I'm taking steps to keep praying, and to keep acting like I believe even when I don't feel like I believe. But this is not a part of my lived relationship with Christ I'm all that eager to share with others. Part of it is vanity, because I want people to think I'm stronger or holier than I actually am. Part of it is fear that I'll actually scandalize someone, or lead them to despair. Part of it is just the same lack of motivation that makes prayer difficult.

It's scary enough to bring up my walk with Christ when I'm feeling his love for me. Any ideas on how to do so when, well, when I'm not feeling the love? Or when I know I'm slacking off on my end of the relationship? (I'm asking Sherry, and other readers as well.)