Reading: The Furious Longing of God

The Furious Longing of God
by Brennan Manning

It was a quick read but a good one.  A few favorite quotes...

"You will live with an awareness that the Father not only loves you, but likes you."

"... I will devote not one more minute to monitoring my spiritual growth.  No, not one."

Quoting Paul Murray, "This moment, the grace of this one raptureless moment."

"Young Christians are sick of pablum."

"How could she believe in the love of a God she can't see when she couldn't find even a trace of love in the eyes of a brother wearing a clerical collar whom she could see?"

"The only true sadness is not to be a saint."

"In times of persecution, theoretical Christianity will collapse."

Sermon: Christmas II

The Sunday sermon is in the books.  I can say that I'm fairly happy with this one.

Be a Saint

We must never lose sight of the fact that we are either Saints or outcasts, that we must love for Heaven or for Hell; there is no middle path in this.

- John Vianney

Image: Pandemonium by John Martin (article)

Learning to love

Last week I closed out my sermon by saying if you want to have true joy, then "learn what it means to love." (working from John 15:9-11)  The challenge this week is to help folks learn what that actually means.  I'm working from the Gospel which is Joseph's dream and I'm thinking that I want to move toward the aspect of love being a sacrifice that allows Christ to be born in another - that love is of course conceived in God - but am wondering if this is still too much of an anthropocentric approach to defining love.

My Queen

The Saints and Angels are but compared to stars, and the first of them to the fairest of the stars; but she is fair as the moon, as easy to be chosen and discerend from all the Saints the the sun from the stars.

- St. Francis de Sales

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,

that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection,

implored your help or sought your intercession,

was left unaided.

Inspired with this confidence,

I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother;

to you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.

O Mother of the Word Incarnate,

despise not my petitions,

but in your mercy hear and answer me.

Amen.