Ask — How does the cross fit into my stance toward God?
Seek — Acknowledge God's priority in your life, over your heart (all of your emotions), over your understanding (all of your thoughts), and over all of your strength (all of your actions).
Knock — Meditate on 1 John 4:10-12. How does John define "love"? What does the death of Jesus on the cross teach us about God's love? How do we find God's love in all the human suffering that we witness? How can we concretely love one another?
Transform Your Life — Will yourself to love God and everyone else with whom you come into contact today and every day. Think about what it means to truly love other people. Seek to be a sacrificial lover first when it comes to the way you love other people and God.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, p. 119.)
Showing posts with label the power of the cross. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the power of the cross. Show all posts
Friday, March 20, 2009
The Power of the Cross: Third Week of Lent, Thursday - The Cross of Christ Transforms Our Lives
Ask — Do I trust God?
Seek — Frequently call upon the Lord for his help throughout the day. Life was not intended to be a solitary venture; recognize that God is always present, and is there for us when we call upon him.
Knock — Meditate on Romans 10:11-13. What strikes you in the passage? Dwell on that part and let it enrich your faith in Jesus Christ.
Transform Your Life — Pay attention to the way you think and act throughout the day. What do your actions and thoughts say about what you really trust in? When given choices between what you know God wants for you and what others are asking of you, who wins out? Radically commit to trusting in God and watch your life be transformed in ways that you can't even imagine at this moment.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, p. 115.)
Seek — Frequently call upon the Lord for his help throughout the day. Life was not intended to be a solitary venture; recognize that God is always present, and is there for us when we call upon him.
Knock — Meditate on Romans 10:11-13. What strikes you in the passage? Dwell on that part and let it enrich your faith in Jesus Christ.
Transform Your Life — Pay attention to the way you think and act throughout the day. What do your actions and thoughts say about what you really trust in? When given choices between what you know God wants for you and what others are asking of you, who wins out? Radically commit to trusting in God and watch your life be transformed in ways that you can't even imagine at this moment.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, p. 115.)
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The Power of the Cross: Third Week of Lent, Wednesday - The Cross of Christ Transforms Law and Love
Ask — How much do I love God?
Seek — God's love for us and his plans for us are greater than our minds can conceive. Starting today, acknowledge these realities by undertaking acts of trust in God throughout the day. Ask God to fill you with his love. Share God's love with everyone.
Knock — Meditate on Romans 13:8-10. Think about the love you owe to others. Jesus often present the kingdom of God in terms of parables that speak of a king leaving his servants with talents to share with others. Are you giving of yourself in a way that builds up the kingdom of God?
Transform Your Life — Imitate Christ or one of your favorite saints as you go about your daily activities. Plead with God to enable you to show charity to all you meet. Listen intently to those who speak to you, asking yourself what God might be saying to you through them. Give them, including yourself and God, the benefit of the doubt.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, pp. 109-110.)
Seek — God's love for us and his plans for us are greater than our minds can conceive. Starting today, acknowledge these realities by undertaking acts of trust in God throughout the day. Ask God to fill you with his love. Share God's love with everyone.
Knock — Meditate on Romans 13:8-10. Think about the love you owe to others. Jesus often present the kingdom of God in terms of parables that speak of a king leaving his servants with talents to share with others. Are you giving of yourself in a way that builds up the kingdom of God?
Transform Your Life — Imitate Christ or one of your favorite saints as you go about your daily activities. Plead with God to enable you to show charity to all you meet. Listen intently to those who speak to you, asking yourself what God might be saying to you through them. Give them, including yourself and God, the benefit of the doubt.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, pp. 109-110.)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
The Power of the Cross: Third Week of Lent, Tuesday - The Cross of Christ Transforms How We Forgive
Ask — Do I still harbor past sins for which I have not accepted God's forgiveness?
Seek — Go to confession regularly. As part of your examination of conscience, review how you have accepted God's forgiveness for past sins in your life, and review how well you have forgiven others in God's name.
Knock — Meditate on Ephesians 4:32—5:2. St. Paul speaks of us as "beloved children" of God. What does being a child of God require of you? How does it affect the way you treat others, who are also God's children?
Transform Your Life — Let your life be marked by being a forgiver. Realize that when you hold on to something you are making a "god" of it, which close God out of that part of your life.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, p. 105.)
Seek — Go to confession regularly. As part of your examination of conscience, review how you have accepted God's forgiveness for past sins in your life, and review how well you have forgiven others in God's name.
Knock — Meditate on Ephesians 4:32—5:2. St. Paul speaks of us as "beloved children" of God. What does being a child of God require of you? How does it affect the way you treat others, who are also God's children?
Transform Your Life — Let your life be marked by being a forgiver. Realize that when you hold on to something you are making a "god" of it, which close God out of that part of your life.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, p. 105.)
Monday, March 16, 2009
The Power of the Cross: Third Week of Lent, Monday - The Cross of Christ Transforms How We See Jesus
Ask — Am I overly familiar (i.e. too casual) with Christ?
Seek — Read the Gospels every day. Encounter Christ as he is presented and try to imagine him in the world today, doing the same acts, confronting unbelief in the modern world.
Knock — Meditate on 1 Peter 2:4-5. Rocks are inanimate objects. It is because they don't move that they make good building blocks. Why, then, does Peter talk about "living stones"? Think about this metaphor and your faith life. In what way does your faith in Christ make you a living stone? Think also about the life of St. Peter; what about his experience of Christ might have led him to come up with this image?
Transform Your Life — There is nothing that exists that can transform our lives more than a relationship with Jesus Christ as he really is — give your life to Christ. Believe, placing all of your trust in his powerful being, and embrace his power in your weakness.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, pp. 99-100.)
Seek — Read the Gospels every day. Encounter Christ as he is presented and try to imagine him in the world today, doing the same acts, confronting unbelief in the modern world.
Knock — Meditate on 1 Peter 2:4-5. Rocks are inanimate objects. It is because they don't move that they make good building blocks. Why, then, does Peter talk about "living stones"? Think about this metaphor and your faith life. In what way does your faith in Christ make you a living stone? Think also about the life of St. Peter; what about his experience of Christ might have led him to come up with this image?
Transform Your Life — There is nothing that exists that can transform our lives more than a relationship with Jesus Christ as he really is — give your life to Christ. Believe, placing all of your trust in his powerful being, and embrace his power in your weakness.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, pp. 99-100.)
Sunday, March 15, 2009
The Power of the Cross: Third Week of Lent, Sunday - The Cross of Christ Transforms How We Worship
Ask — What do I do with the life God has "breathed" into me?
Seek — From a prayer posture, concentrate on your breathing. As you inhale, ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit, to animate your every action to do his will. As you exhale, breathe the name from the core of your being: Jesus. Continue to meditate on him.
Knock — Meditate on Galatians 6:7-9. Reflect on the difference between a living person and a corpse. Are most of your actions, actions of sowing in the flesh or sowing to the spirit? Ask God for patience that you might endure in all things by sowing to the spirit.
Transform Your Life — Make it a habit to pray the prayer of Jesus from the cross whenever you find yourself tempted to do something that you know is not of God: "Father, into your hands I commend my Spirit." This prayer that Jesus has given us is the key to moving from sowing in the flesh to sowing to the spirit.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, p. 95.)
Seek — From a prayer posture, concentrate on your breathing. As you inhale, ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit, to animate your every action to do his will. As you exhale, breathe the name from the core of your being: Jesus. Continue to meditate on him.
Knock — Meditate on Galatians 6:7-9. Reflect on the difference between a living person and a corpse. Are most of your actions, actions of sowing in the flesh or sowing to the spirit? Ask God for patience that you might endure in all things by sowing to the spirit.
Transform Your Life — Make it a habit to pray the prayer of Jesus from the cross whenever you find yourself tempted to do something that you know is not of God: "Father, into your hands I commend my Spirit." This prayer that Jesus has given us is the key to moving from sowing in the flesh to sowing to the spirit.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, p. 95.)
The Power of the Cross: Second Week of Lent, Saturday - The Cross of Christ Unites God's Mercy and Love
Ask — Have I judged someone wrongly?
Seek — Do you need to be reconciled to someone in your life? It might be someone in your family, a former friend, an enemy, or even God. Go to confession; through the grace of absolution, seek to trust in God more and more.
Knock — Meditate on 2 Corinthians 5:16-18. What does it mean to be a new creation? If you are a new creation, how are you different from those in the world who are not "in Christ"? How do you view others?
Transform Your Life — See the temptation to judge others or even yourself as a personal invitation to take up your cross and to trust in Christ, the friend of sinners. Pray that God will bless both you and those you might judge. Be quick to show the mercy that God shows to you to others.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, p. 87.)
Seek — Do you need to be reconciled to someone in your life? It might be someone in your family, a former friend, an enemy, or even God. Go to confession; through the grace of absolution, seek to trust in God more and more.
Knock — Meditate on 2 Corinthians 5:16-18. What does it mean to be a new creation? If you are a new creation, how are you different from those in the world who are not "in Christ"? How do you view others?
Transform Your Life — See the temptation to judge others or even yourself as a personal invitation to take up your cross and to trust in Christ, the friend of sinners. Pray that God will bless both you and those you might judge. Be quick to show the mercy that God shows to you to others.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, p. 87.)
The Power of the Cross: Second Week of Lent, Friday - The Cross of Christ Unites Us in the Work We Have to Do
Ask — How can dying to myself help me to know God's purpose?
Seek — Ask others to describe what your gifts are, and where they see you as being the most authentic in your life. Resolve to see everyone who crosses your path as the servants that God sends to obtain fruit from the harvest.
Knock — Meditate on Revelation 22:1-2. How was your Baptism changed the curse of original sin in your life into the blessing of the mission that God gives you in Christ? When you receive the Eucharist, imagine that Christ is grafting you to himself, so that his life, his healing, his strength flow through you.
Transform Your Life — Ask our Lord to reveal to you any areas of your life where you might be serving false gods. Ask him to help you to abandon yourself to God's will in your life in the same way that he did in the Garden of Gethsemane. Believe in God's providential care for you, no matter what has happened in your life in the past or present.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, p. 82.)
Seek — Ask others to describe what your gifts are, and where they see you as being the most authentic in your life. Resolve to see everyone who crosses your path as the servants that God sends to obtain fruit from the harvest.
Knock — Meditate on Revelation 22:1-2. How was your Baptism changed the curse of original sin in your life into the blessing of the mission that God gives you in Christ? When you receive the Eucharist, imagine that Christ is grafting you to himself, so that his life, his healing, his strength flow through you.
Transform Your Life — Ask our Lord to reveal to you any areas of your life where you might be serving false gods. Ask him to help you to abandon yourself to God's will in your life in the same way that he did in the Garden of Gethsemane. Believe in God's providential care for you, no matter what has happened in your life in the past or present.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, p. 82.)
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The Power of the Cross: Second Week of Lent, Thursday - The Cross of Christ Unites Those Who Suffer for Justice
Ask — What does God ask me to do for those who suffer?
Seek — Look for opportunities to help someone who needs it (and who cannot help you back). Stand up for someone who is being brought low.
Knock — Meditate on Romans 8:18. As members of the body of Christ, if one member suffers the entire body suffers. How can you make that suffering redemptive?
Transform Your Life — Read the accounts of the martyrs, those who gave the supreme witness to the gospel with their lives. Many monastic communities read about the lives of the martyrs every day, to inspire those seeking to grow in the Christian life.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, p. 77.)
Seek — Look for opportunities to help someone who needs it (and who cannot help you back). Stand up for someone who is being brought low.
Knock — Meditate on Romans 8:18. As members of the body of Christ, if one member suffers the entire body suffers. How can you make that suffering redemptive?
Transform Your Life — Read the accounts of the martyrs, those who gave the supreme witness to the gospel with their lives. Many monastic communities read about the lives of the martyrs every day, to inspire those seeking to grow in the Christian life.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, p. 77.)
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The Power of the Cross: Second Week of Lent, Wednesday - The Cross of Christ Unites in Liberty
Ask — What continues to enslave me?
Seek — Ask God to point out areas of slavery that still exist in your life. As you go through your day, catch yourself not being true to who you really are, and ask yourself: Who are you serving now?
Knock — Meditate on Romans 7:22-25. Paul talks about delighting in the law of God but finding himself at war with other parts of himself. Spend time reflecting on what delights you about God's law. Ask Christ to save you.
Transform Your Life — Thomas Merton wrote about what he called a person's True Self. Prayer, Merton argued, helps us to discover our True Self: the person God created us to be, totally free from the expectations and demands of others. By contrast, the False Self is enslaved; he cannot be himself, but only what he thinks others want him to be. Starting today, ask God to redeem you from the slavery of the False Self.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, p. 73.)
Seek — Ask God to point out areas of slavery that still exist in your life. As you go through your day, catch yourself not being true to who you really are, and ask yourself: Who are you serving now?
Knock — Meditate on Romans 7:22-25. Paul talks about delighting in the law of God but finding himself at war with other parts of himself. Spend time reflecting on what delights you about God's law. Ask Christ to save you.
Transform Your Life — Thomas Merton wrote about what he called a person's True Self. Prayer, Merton argued, helps us to discover our True Self: the person God created us to be, totally free from the expectations and demands of others. By contrast, the False Self is enslaved; he cannot be himself, but only what he thinks others want him to be. Starting today, ask God to redeem you from the slavery of the False Self.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, p. 73.)
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Power of the Cross: Second Week of Lent, Tuesday - The Cross of Christ Unites in Humility
Ask — In what areas of my life do I have the most trouble with pride?
Seek — Say the litany of Cardinal Merry del Val (below). What parts of the litany do you find it most difficult to say? Take concrete steps to defer to others throughout the day, to die to yourself in little things.
Knock — Meditate on Philippians 2:5-11 and pray that God will give you the mind of Christ. Try to imagine what it was like for Jesus to take upon himself our humanity, with all its limitations. What must it have been like for him to suffer the humiliations of the cross? Now think about your own situation. Are you more like Christ, or our first parents, seeking to "be like God"?
Transform Your Life — Jesus tells his disciples that those who humble themselves will be exalted! Humility is the surest path to real success in the kingdom of God. Pray for humility throughout every day.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, p. 68.)
The Litany of Humility (by Rafael Cardinal Merry de Val (1865-1930), Secretary of State for Pope St. Pius X)
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved ...
From the desire of being extolled ...
From the desire of being honored ...
From the desire of being praised ...
From the desire of being preferred to others ...
From the desire of being consulted ...
From the desire of being approved ...
From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being despised ...
From the fear of suffering rebukes ...
From the fear of being calumniated ...
From the fear of being forgotten ...
From the fear of being ridiculed ...
From the fear of being wronged ...
From the fear of being suspected ...
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I ...
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease ...
That others may be chosen and I set aside ...
That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...
That others may be preferred to me in everything ...
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should ...
Seek — Say the litany of Cardinal Merry del Val (below). What parts of the litany do you find it most difficult to say? Take concrete steps to defer to others throughout the day, to die to yourself in little things.
Knock — Meditate on Philippians 2:5-11 and pray that God will give you the mind of Christ. Try to imagine what it was like for Jesus to take upon himself our humanity, with all its limitations. What must it have been like for him to suffer the humiliations of the cross? Now think about your own situation. Are you more like Christ, or our first parents, seeking to "be like God"?
Transform Your Life — Jesus tells his disciples that those who humble themselves will be exalted! Humility is the surest path to real success in the kingdom of God. Pray for humility throughout every day.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, p. 68.)
The Litany of Humility (by Rafael Cardinal Merry de Val (1865-1930), Secretary of State for Pope St. Pius X)
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved ...
From the desire of being extolled ...
From the desire of being honored ...
From the desire of being praised ...
From the desire of being preferred to others ...
From the desire of being consulted ...
From the desire of being approved ...
From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being despised ...
From the fear of suffering rebukes ...
From the fear of being calumniated ...
From the fear of being forgotten ...
From the fear of being ridiculed ...
From the fear of being wronged ...
From the fear of being suspected ...
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I ...
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease ...
That others may be chosen and I set aside ...
That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...
That others may be preferred to me in everything ...
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should ...
Monday, March 09, 2009
The Power of the Cross: Second Week of Lent, Monday - The Cross of Christ Unites Those Divided by Sin
Ask — Whom do I treat as an outsider in God's kingdom?
Seek — As you go about your daily activities, think about how often you see someone else as "one of them" rather than "one of us". Of course, people are all unique and different. However, the gospel calls us to break down artificial barriers that prevent us from expressing the unity God desires.
Knock — Meditate on 1 Peter 2:21-24 while holding a crucifix in your hands. Think of the example of Jesus on the cross. How might you concretely imitate and model your life on Jesus?
Transform Your Life — Make discernment rather than judgment the goal of your life's decisions. Ask yourself, "What does God want me to do at this moment?" and, "What is God trying to teach me through this?" Strive to be open to his guiding presence. Learn from all whom you meet this day and every day.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, pp. 61-62.)
Seek — As you go about your daily activities, think about how often you see someone else as "one of them" rather than "one of us". Of course, people are all unique and different. However, the gospel calls us to break down artificial barriers that prevent us from expressing the unity God desires.
Knock — Meditate on 1 Peter 2:21-24 while holding a crucifix in your hands. Think of the example of Jesus on the cross. How might you concretely imitate and model your life on Jesus?
Transform Your Life — Make discernment rather than judgment the goal of your life's decisions. Ask yourself, "What does God want me to do at this moment?" and, "What is God trying to teach me through this?" Strive to be open to his guiding presence. Learn from all whom you meet this day and every day.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, pp. 61-62.)
Sunday, March 08, 2009
The Power of the Cross: Second Week of Lent, Sunday - The Cross of Christ Unites the Temporal and the Eternal
Ask — How does the "light" of Christ shine into the darkness of my world?
Seek — At every moment of the day say with St. Peter, "Lord, it is good that we are here!" Realize that when we follow Jesus we see the cross in a new light; we see everything anew where once we could only curse the darkness.
Knock — Meditate on 2 Peter 1:16-19. What is the "power" that St. Peter speaks of as it relates to the Transfiguration? What would happen if you followed his advice to keep the Transfiguration before you as a "lamp shining in a dark place"?
Transform Your Life — May times we think of our lives as a combination of missed opportunities and mistakes with a few good choices. Applying the lesson of the Transfiguration challenges us to not be so quick to judge negatively but to take a more accepting view of the cross in our own lives. "It is good that we are here" right now, where we are — no matter how it might seem to us at the moment.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, pp. 57.)
Seek — At every moment of the day say with St. Peter, "Lord, it is good that we are here!" Realize that when we follow Jesus we see the cross in a new light; we see everything anew where once we could only curse the darkness.
Knock — Meditate on 2 Peter 1:16-19. What is the "power" that St. Peter speaks of as it relates to the Transfiguration? What would happen if you followed his advice to keep the Transfiguration before you as a "lamp shining in a dark place"?
Transform Your Life — May times we think of our lives as a combination of missed opportunities and mistakes with a few good choices. Applying the lesson of the Transfiguration challenges us to not be so quick to judge negatively but to take a more accepting view of the cross in our own lives. "It is good that we are here" right now, where we are — no matter how it might seem to us at the moment.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, pp. 57.)
The Power of the Cross: First Week of Lent, Saturday - The Cross of Christ Teaches Us How to Love
Ask — Do I allow God to love through me?
Seek — Keep before you the image of Jesus forgiving those who nailed him on the cross and see everyone with whom you come into contact through Christ. Think about how Christ died for those people and how precious they are as children of God, the same God who loves you.
Knock — Meditate on 1 John 4:11-12. Are there people whom you do not love? Ask God to fill you with his love. What does the Father see in these people that you don't? Ask God to heal you of any painful scars that you still suffer from what others might have done to you. Ask Jesus to touch his wounds from his crucifixion to your own woundedness, that it may become a source of blessing.
Transform Your Life — Put God first in your life. Realize that you can love your spouse, your children, your friends, and your enemies only to the degree that you keep God first. We tend not to expect others to be perfect if we worship the only One who is perfect.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, pp. 49.)
Seek — Keep before you the image of Jesus forgiving those who nailed him on the cross and see everyone with whom you come into contact through Christ. Think about how Christ died for those people and how precious they are as children of God, the same God who loves you.
Knock — Meditate on 1 John 4:11-12. Are there people whom you do not love? Ask God to fill you with his love. What does the Father see in these people that you don't? Ask God to heal you of any painful scars that you still suffer from what others might have done to you. Ask Jesus to touch his wounds from his crucifixion to your own woundedness, that it may become a source of blessing.
Transform Your Life — Put God first in your life. Realize that you can love your spouse, your children, your friends, and your enemies only to the degree that you keep God first. We tend not to expect others to be perfect if we worship the only One who is perfect.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, pp. 49.)
The Power of the Cross: First Week of Lent, Friday - The Cross of Christ Teaches Us Reconciliation
Ask — Is there anyone I do not love? In what way can I allow the love of Christ to control me?
Seek — Allow the image of the cross of Christ, the price Jesus paid to redeem all creation, to dominate your thoughts when you find yourself growing angry at someone. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to be reconciled to those who have hurt you.
Knock — Meditate on 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. What controls you? What motivates you from the moment of your rising to the point when you take your rest at night? Dwelling on Paul's words, ask the Lord to fill you with his love so that it may be the controlling force in your life.
Transform Your Life — Jesus told his disciples to be reconciled before coming to the altar with their sacrifice. If we carry anger or sin we need to be reconciled to Christ before coming to receive him in the Eucharist. This may mean making contact with people whom we have hurt and asking their forgiveness. We should also go to confession regularly, so that Holy Communion is a true sign of communion with God and all his creatures.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, pp. 45.)
Seek — Allow the image of the cross of Christ, the price Jesus paid to redeem all creation, to dominate your thoughts when you find yourself growing angry at someone. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to be reconciled to those who have hurt you.
Knock — Meditate on 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. What controls you? What motivates you from the moment of your rising to the point when you take your rest at night? Dwelling on Paul's words, ask the Lord to fill you with his love so that it may be the controlling force in your life.
Transform Your Life — Jesus told his disciples to be reconciled before coming to the altar with their sacrifice. If we carry anger or sin we need to be reconciled to Christ before coming to receive him in the Eucharist. This may mean making contact with people whom we have hurt and asking their forgiveness. We should also go to confession regularly, so that Holy Communion is a true sign of communion with God and all his creatures.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, pp. 45.)
Thursday, March 05, 2009
The Power of the Cross: First Week of Lent, Thursday - The Cross of Christ Teaches Us How to Trust and Give Thanks
Ask — What do I need from God to follow Jesus more closely?
Seek — As the day progresses, when you find yourself impatient, unloving, judgmental, lustful, or anything that strikes you as against the gospel of Jesus, ask God for the gift that will help you to be more like Christ.
Knock — Meditate on James 1:17. Review the course of your life and try to discern the goodness of God. Spend some time giving thanks to God for how he has led you, even "through the valley of the shadow of death" to this moment.
Transform Your Life — Try to make it a practice to "ask, seek, and knock" in your relationship with God. See that relationship as something that happens with every breath you take. Speak to God often!
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, pp. 40.)
Seek — As the day progresses, when you find yourself impatient, unloving, judgmental, lustful, or anything that strikes you as against the gospel of Jesus, ask God for the gift that will help you to be more like Christ.
Knock — Meditate on James 1:17. Review the course of your life and try to discern the goodness of God. Spend some time giving thanks to God for how he has led you, even "through the valley of the shadow of death" to this moment.
Transform Your Life — Try to make it a practice to "ask, seek, and knock" in your relationship with God. See that relationship as something that happens with every breath you take. Speak to God often!
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, pp. 40.)
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
The Power of the Cross: First Week of Lent, Wednesday - The Cross of Christ Teaches Us About Repentance
Ask — Where do I need to repent most in my life?
Seek — Monitor your thoughts and hold them up against the standard of the gospel. Do your love and forgiveness have limitations or conditions? Ask the Lord to teach you true repentance of mind and heart.
Knock — Meditate on 1 Corinthians 1:22-24. How might you experience the power and wisdom of God in the cross by embracing the gospel more completely?
Transform Your Life — Make a daily examination of conscience, paying special attention to your attitudes throughout the day, and asking the Holy Spirit to make you more like Christ.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, pp. 36.)
Seek — Monitor your thoughts and hold them up against the standard of the gospel. Do your love and forgiveness have limitations or conditions? Ask the Lord to teach you true repentance of mind and heart.
Knock — Meditate on 1 Corinthians 1:22-24. How might you experience the power and wisdom of God in the cross by embracing the gospel more completely?
Transform Your Life — Make a daily examination of conscience, paying special attention to your attitudes throughout the day, and asking the Holy Spirit to make you more like Christ.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, pp. 36.)
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
The Power of the Cross: First Week of Lent, Tuesday - The Cross of Christ Teaches Us How to Pray
Ask — How can my prayer better reflect what is going on in my life at the present moment?
Seek — Try praying for ah extended period of time in the orans position. Ask our Lord to teach you this lesson from the cross, so that your prayer might always be heartfelt.
Knock — Meditate on Hebrews 5:7. How might your prayer become more like the prayer of Christ?
Transform Your Life — Foster a sense of God's presence before you begin any prayer. Speak to God from your heart, then listen. God is the most important being with whom you will ever speak.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, pp. 31-32.)
Seek — Try praying for ah extended period of time in the orans position. Ask our Lord to teach you this lesson from the cross, so that your prayer might always be heartfelt.
Knock — Meditate on Hebrews 5:7. How might your prayer become more like the prayer of Christ?
Transform Your Life — Foster a sense of God's presence before you begin any prayer. Speak to God from your heart, then listen. God is the most important being with whom you will ever speak.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, pp. 31-32.)
The Power of the Cross: First Week of Lent, Monday - The Cross of Christ Teaches Us to Live the Gospel
Ask — Where have I encountered Christ "in the least of my brethren"?
Seek — Make an effort to see Christ in the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, or imprisoned. Try to reach out to those no one else notices.
Knock — Meditate on Romans 2:13-16. What are the secrets of your life that will be brought to judgment? How can you be more of a doer rather than just a listener of the Word of God?
Transform Your Life — Expect to meet Christ daily, first in the bread that is broken at Mass and then in the people who cross your path. See nothing as chance but everything as somehow fitting into the mysterious plan of God.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, p. 27.)
Seek — Make an effort to see Christ in the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, or imprisoned. Try to reach out to those no one else notices.
Knock — Meditate on Romans 2:13-16. What are the secrets of your life that will be brought to judgment? How can you be more of a doer rather than just a listener of the Word of God?
Transform Your Life — Expect to meet Christ daily, first in the bread that is broken at Mass and then in the people who cross your path. See nothing as chance but everything as somehow fitting into the mysterious plan of God.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, p. 27.)
Sunday, March 01, 2009
The Power of the Cross: First Week of Lent, Sunday - The Cross of Christ Teaches Us Our Mission
Ask — What temptations do I find hardest to resist? How might this reveal God's intended purpose for me?
Seek — Reject sin. Learn to see in your temptations a perversion of God's plan for you. Try to discern what it is that God might be calling you to do by looking at the areas of your life where you are most tempted.
Knock — Meditate on Numbers 22:32-35. How does Balaam's ass differ from the prophet with respect to discerning the path God wanted them to take? Are you more like the donkey or the prophet?
Transform Your Life — Sometimes we live as though God does not see us, yet we know that God is always present, whether or not we acknowledge him. Look over your life and try to see where God has revealed himself at various moments in your life. Then move confidently into the future, assured of God's providential care for you.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, p. 23.)
Seek — Reject sin. Learn to see in your temptations a perversion of God's plan for you. Try to discern what it is that God might be calling you to do by looking at the areas of your life where you are most tempted.
Knock — Meditate on Numbers 22:32-35. How does Balaam's ass differ from the prophet with respect to discerning the path God wanted them to take? Are you more like the donkey or the prophet?
Transform Your Life — Sometimes we live as though God does not see us, yet we know that God is always present, whether or not we acknowledge him. Look over your life and try to see where God has revealed himself at various moments in your life. Then move confidently into the future, assured of God's providential care for you.
(The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life, p. 23.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)