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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 6th
Week of Easter
St. Luke’s Institute
May 27, 2014
RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCES
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
We can’t say to anyone or even to ourselves, “Go out and have a religious experience”
Ø
Some definite awareness of God working in our
life or around us comes as a gift
Ø
We don’t work ourselves into it as people may
rev themselves up by pumping iron or thinking positive thoughts
Ø
But it is undeniable that religious experience
is very powerful
MIRACLES à
FAITH ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
The jailer in today’s 1st reading,
after witnessing the freeing of the prisoners, asks Paul and Silas, “What must I do to be saved?”
Ø
To see something as extraordinary as this
certainly would have an impact on most human beings
Ø
But while we can’t produce religious experiences
like this, we can be more receptive to seeing God at work around us and in
ourselves
Ø
In the jailer’s case a miracle seems to have
produced faith
Faith à Miracles ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
Often it’s the other way around: genuine faith
produces or is willing to see miracles where others see just natural happenings
Ø
The way a particular individual brightens up our
life, makes us happy, chases the clouds away is like a miracle for some of us
Ø
Why not?
Ø
Can’t God be helping us through such people?
Ø
Faith that God is all around us and in other
people can result in our seeing God at work more often]
Ø
Such faith can result in our having what we can
call religious experience
Ø
Religious experience here means a kind of
verification of our faith
Ø
Seeing good come to us through others or through
events confirms for many of us that there is truly a God who cares for us
CONCLUSION
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
God isn’t forced on us, but God is perceivable
with some openness on our part
Ø
Whether it’s faith helping us experience
miracles or miracles helping us experience faith
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
