tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post3356097417450679422..comments2024-03-25T11:09:41.538-04:00Comments on a minor friar blog: Ruthless and SelfishBrother Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07780326836452864455noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post-12739048508903652882009-08-05T02:44:26.926-04:002009-08-05T02:44:26.926-04:00Very helpful and inspiring post. I like this part ...Very helpful and inspiring post. I like this part especially: "When the Holy Spirit finds a soul willing to work, the work will arrive." Interestingly, in my experience, the willingness does not necessarily have to be conscious willingness.Elizabeth Mahlouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00334700057953625321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post-46292010591097689482009-08-03T23:07:55.290-04:002009-08-03T23:07:55.290-04:00This is an excellent post--thank you!This is an excellent post--thank you!The Ironic Catholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12990289461877567408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post-35735978471619629152009-08-03T20:03:18.450-04:002009-08-03T20:03:18.450-04:00Jesus withdraws to deserted places, and the crowds...Jesus withdraws to deserted places, and the crowds follow him. That's what's remarkable, to desire and trust him enough to follow him into the desert.<br /><br />I'm sure the Lord made time for prayer before he was found again.Brother Charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07780326836452864455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post-37462299347870458632009-08-03T19:38:20.057-04:002009-08-03T19:38:20.057-04:00I am reminded of the time Jesus left the crowds in...I am reminded of the time Jesus left the crowds in order to go away by himself to pray and be alone with His Father. (the priority you speak of) <br /><br />I imagine he would have been exhausted by His ministry among the people; healing preaching, etc.. This reminds me of your lines: <i>"we have to make the sanctity to which God calls us as individuals an absolute priority."</i> and again, <i>"We have to say that nothing comes before our prayer, devotion, and daily right effort to follow in the footsteps of Christ."</i><br /><br />So Jesus went away. However, the people followed him. There appeared to be no rest for the weary one. Jesus saw that the people had followed Him and He couldn't help but feel compassion for them and He ministered to them.<br /><br />Despite His own need to pray and be alone, He gave that up for the needs of others... <br /><br />Jesus' priority seemed to have been to be there for the people; not to give in to His own need for prayer and silence.<br /><br />Help me to square this with the particular selfishness you are talking about...<br /><br />Thanks, Fr. Charles...pennyantehttp://penny-nowisthetime.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post-43009516304199102192009-08-03T17:37:13.494-04:002009-08-03T17:37:13.494-04:00"We have to say that nothing comes before our..."We have to say that nothing comes before our prayer, devotion, and daily right effort to follow in the footsteps of Christ. This doesn't mean that we ignore the requests and demands of people we love, people to whom we are committed by circumstance or state of life, or even strangers. But it does we mean that we discern these relationships carefully and ask ourselves if the time and energy we give to others are demanded by charity and justice, or if what goes into the relationship is a distraction."<br /><br />It's funny you post this today, Father, because I found myself facing this dilemma just a few hours ago. I ended up choosing to miss Mass and my normal prayer time in order to pick my mom up from work. She offered to stay at work late so that I could pick her up after going to Mass, and I actually began to drive to the church before I changed my mind, turned around, and got her directly.<br /><br />Yes, I missed the Eucharist, and I missed my normal prayer time, but I can pray this evening and make a good spiritual communion. This move also allowed me to visit a Catholic bookstore and pick up a good spiritual book that I've been meaning to get.<br /><br />There are lots of interesting decisions in the Christian life.Julianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post-16739760998004840982009-08-03T14:49:28.739-04:002009-08-03T14:49:28.739-04:00I second Kam's comment; great post. There is ...I second Kam's comment; great post. There is a story of Mother Teresa's early years when she set out as a missionary after being cloistered. She spent her entire day trying to look after and care for others, even offering her own meals to them until she finally succumbed to exhaustion. A fellow missionary told her she needed to look after her own health; physical and spiritual or else she would be of no use to anyone. How true your words are. If you are going to be a priest and do not put God first, how can you bring God to others who are in desperate need of him?Qualis Rexnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26883902.post-74588519514266540292009-08-03T13:11:17.963-04:002009-08-03T13:11:17.963-04:00Great post, Father, and two points stood out for m...Great post, Father, and two points stood out for me; "a person has no idea what he's getting into." and the true meaning for those who wish to closely follow Our Lord, "If your right hand causes you sin..." I used to think that part of scripture was some abstract statement made to be used as a scare tactic, but once one begins to evaluate ones life and to slowly chip away at the bad habits and distractions, the true nature of it's meaning becomes clear. Three years into my conversion and the excitement of the early days of eyes opened to Christ have changed, but changed to a love beyond all love, and... and... words fail me.kamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08248881807382198330noreply@blogger.com