Joan Chittister Archives - Shepherd of Faith

Lent is just one week away. Any plans? — Lent: Prayer, fasting and almsgiving

Lent is just one week away. What are your plans to make it a great one? In the past I have shared some ideas. Please make sure to type in “Lent” in the search bar to the right to read some old posts or simply click above on “ideas” and the link will take you there. Today, I just wanted to share some titles I thought you may be interested in using during Lent. I think these titles will help focus your attention on our Lord and His Word. They are:

Gospel Reflections by Bishop Barron – here you will find the daily Gospel readings, Bishop Barron’s thoughts and then room for your own reflection. Sadly as I check the Word on Fire website, it seems the book is sold out. However, you can sign up on the site to receive Bishop Barron’s Gospel Reflections via email. Bishop Barron is a treasure, I would definitely recommend signing up for his daily reflections.

Sacred Space 2019 by the Irish Jesuits – here you will find a weekly theme to ponder, along with daily Gospel readings and inspiration points to go further in your thoughts about what you just read.

Mary, A Beacon to Light the Way by Joan Chittister – if you have a deep devotion to Mary, you may want to check this out. It contains one reflection for each of the Sunday Gospels and draws on the various facets of Mary.

Wishing you a Spirit-filled, blessed Lent! God bless you.

Gratitude!

My last two posts have been about contemplation and its effect on our lives. In true majestic fashion, the Spirit continues to guide me and provide food for thought. First my own thoughts, then a meditation from Richard Rohr and then came this – an email with Joan Chittister’s weekly e-newsletter Vision and Viewpoint. The topic? You guessed it – contemplation!

Life’s essential goodness

We so often think that those who refuse under any conditions to deny the essential goodness of life are mad. Look at the suffering. Look at the evil. Be real, we say. We are so often inclined to think that those who continue to see life where life seems to be empty and futile are, at best, foolish. Be sensible, we say. But we may be the ones who are mad. The truth is that contemplation, the ability to see behind the obvious to the soul of life, is the ultimate sanity. The contemplative sees life as it really is under all the struggle and pain: imbued with God, glowing with eternity, full of energy, and so overflowing with good that evil never totally triumphs.

Contemplation keeps the inner eye focused on Goodness. The desert monastics put it this way: As he was dying, Abba Benjamin taught his disciples his last lesson. “Do this,” he said, “and you will be saved: Rejoice always, pray constantly, and in all circumstance give thanks.”

In the end, joy, praise and gratitude live in the hearts of those who live in God. It is not the joy of fools. The contemplative knows evil when it rears its head. It is not the praise of the ingratiating. The contemplative knows struggle when difficulties come. It is not the gratitude of the obtuse. The contemplative recognizes the difference between chaff and grain. The contemplative knows that grain is for bread, but the contemplative also knows that chaff is for heat. The contemplative realizes that everything in life has for its purpose the kindling of the God-life within us. And so the contemplative goes on with joy and resounds with praise and lives in gratitude. Always.

—from Illuminated Life by Joan Chittister (Orbis)