Recently, I was struck by this excerpt from Joan Chittister?s comments on the section of the Rule of Benedict that speaks about discipline within the community. ?The ancients tell the story of the distressed person who came to the Holy One for help. ?Do you really want a cure?? the Holy One asked. ?If I […]
Recognizing Soul Hunger for God
?Thus every part of us is, at its core, a desire for love?s fulfillment. Though we seldom recognize it, our senses seek the beauty, the sweetness, the good feelings of God. Our mind seeks the truth and wisdom of God. Our will seeks to live out the goodness, the righteousness of God. Our memory and […]
Discerning Unholy Desire
The theme of discerning desire comes out of my experience of the Ignatian exercises on my eight-day silent retreat a few years ago in the Boston area. The passage that I?ve increasingly been drawn to is Galatians 5. There is plenty of desire language there?holy and unholy. Looking at the New Living Translation: 16 So […]
Living Above the Fickle Crowd
One way to reflect on a passage of scripture is to read it with this question at heart: ?What am I feeling, wanting, and desiring as I reflect on this text?? We often engage scripture with our minds, but perhaps less often with our hearts. A while back, I took some time to ask this […]
