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In 2014, I am facilitating a 12-week interactive online course in contemplative prayer and action for priests with Saint Luke Institute. Please visit SLIconnect.org to learn more: https://www.sliconnect.org/product/living-god-program-contemplative-life-2/
In 2014, I am facilitating a 12-week interactive online course in contemplative prayer and action for priests with Saint Luke Institute. Please visit SLIconnect.org to learn more: https://www.sliconnect.org/product/living-god-program-contemplative-life-2/
Tuesday of the 22nd
Week of OT
St. Luke’s Institute
September 2, 2014
GOD’S JUSTICE OR
MERCY +++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
Some of us talk a lot about the justice of God
and warn folks to the evil in the world
Ø
Some of us talk a lot about the mercy of God and
not pay attention to fighting off temptations
Ø
So it is mercy we ask of a God who is seen
primarily as a judge
Ø
And it is justice we ask from a God whom we see
primarily as righteous …
Ø
But we may be missing something
GOD’S COMPASSION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
The psalmist, unlike us, talks a great deal
about the compassion of God…
Ø
The notion that God is a God who sees our
stumbling, suffering lives, and suffers our afflictions with us
Ø
God to the psalmist is a God who feels our
feelings and commiserates with them, understands them, knows how they affect
us…
Ø
And through it all stands by us while we work
them through
Ø
God is a father who rocks us through our
struggles, a mother who carries us beyond our pain, despite our sense of
isolation
OUR COMPASSION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
It is for these ways that God is present we must
learn to be thankful
Ø
Many people are forgiving, a few of us are just,
but compassionate people are rarer still
Ø
The resident who simply stand by when we are hurt,
Ø
– Not tying to talk us out of it, not trying to
convince us we’re wrong, not demanding that we pretend to be something else –
are rare
CONCLUSION
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
Sisters and brothers, It is compassion that
supports us in our darkest times
It is compassion for which we are most grateful in life’s struggles
Ø
And it is compassion that we ourselves must
develop, if we are ever to be worth anything to anyone all – besides ourselves
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
