tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post8614367867818338461..comments2024-03-25T11:09:41.538-04:00Comments on a minor friar blog: Shrimp and BlindnessBrother Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07780326836452864455noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post-83560003867033883282013-02-13T19:26:46.780-05:002013-02-13T19:26:46.780-05:00Nicely done, friars ;)
Wonderful reflection, sir,...Nicely done, friars ;)<br /><br />Wonderful reflection, sir, as always. :)<br /><br />-LouLouis Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04157133812801652860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post-8822328610570841962013-02-13T19:21:48.333-05:002013-02-13T19:21:48.333-05:00The Empty Water Jug by Macrina Wiederkehr OSB
Jes...The Empty Water Jug by Macrina Wiederkehr OSB<br />Jesus, I come to the warmth of your Presence<br />knowing that You are<br />the very emptiness of God.<br />I come before You<br />holding the water jar of my life.<br />Your eyes meet mine<br />and I know what I’d rather not know.<br />I came to be filled<br />but I am already full.<br />I am too full.<br />This is my sickness<br />I am full of things<br />that crowd out<br />Your healing Presence.<br />A holy knowing steals inside my heart<br />and I see the painful truth.<br />I don’t need more<br />I need less<br />I am too full.<br />I am full of things that block out<br />Your golden grace.<br />I am smothered by gods of my own creation<br />I am lost in the forest of my false self<br />I am full of my own opinions and narrow attitudes<br />full of fear, resentment, control<br />full of self pity, and arrogance.<br />Slowly this terrible truth pierces my heart,<br />I am so full, there is no room for You.<br />Contemplatively, and with compassion,<br />You ask me to reach into my water jar.<br />One by one, Jesus, you enable me<br />to lift out the things<br />that are a hindrance to my wholeness.<br />I take each on to my heart,<br />I hear You asking me<br />” Why is this so important to you ? ”<br />Like the murmur of a gentle stream<br />I hear You calling,<br />” Let go, let go, let go! ”<br />I pray with each obstacle<br />tasting the bitterness and grief<br />it has caused.<br />Finally<br />I sit with my empty water jar<br />I hear you whisper<br />You have become a space for God<br />Now there is hope<br />Now you are ready to be a channel of Life.<br />You have given up your own agenda<br />There is nothing left but God.<br />CJDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03712388905946305690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post-17286123084498768182013-02-13T08:02:35.159-05:002013-02-13T08:02:35.159-05:00UPDATE: the journey is funny sometimes. As I have ...UPDATE: the journey is funny sometimes. As I have been discovering over these past months, religious life is a little bit different here in Italy.<br /><br />Today I went down to the midday meal, which is the 'main meal' of the day here, at which there is always, according to Italian custom, a first and second plate, as well as wine and bread and cheese and sometimes even a dessert, and was a little bit surprised to see that all there was a plain vegetable soup. And it was a little bland too.<br /><br />Had I encountered such an offering on Good Friday nineteen years ago, I would probably have thought myself edified, but I'm glad I didn't, because it would have been a flattered passion in disguise.Brother Charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07780326836452864455noreply@blogger.com