EASTER SIX

a verse or two

“The test of observance of Christ's teachings is our consciousness of our failure to attain an ideal perfection. The degree to which we draw near this perfection cannot be seen; all we can see is the extent of our deviation.” Leo Tolstoy

Spiritual Walk and Musings: “Rereading the Sermon on the Mount”

A few years back when sailing to Port Vila from Auckland I decided to take only one book to read. I thought that spending nine to eleven days on a small 32 foot yacht with a few hours between each shift would give me ample time to read the New Testament. I hadn’t counted on the bad weather or the Sermon on the Mount. I would sit down, swaying about, read a verse or two and be caught up in the complexity and profundity of Jesus’ sermon. Each small section goes to the very heart of a matter. “You have heard that it was said…But I tell you…” Jesus repeated words exhorting us all to live the spirit of the law and not just the letter of the law – a call to a right heart attitude when trying to obey the law. Be encouraged to reread the Sermon on the Mount. Just note that like my sailing trip – it might take quite a while to read Matthew 5, 6 and 7.

To Pray and Ponder: The paradox of prayer

Last week I mentioned the late, well-known Catholic priest Henri Nouwen and his choice to help the “man-child” Adam instead of pursuing academic fame and prestige. A choice that was very much a sermon-on-the-mount type of choice. The following is a quote I read on the internet by Nouwen about the ‘paradox of prayer’, read it and ponder the depths of what he is saying. “The paradox of prayer is that it asks for a serious effort while it can only be received as a gift. We cannot plan, organize or manipulate God; but without a careful discipline, we cannot receive Him either.”

May God bless you in your prayer life this week.
May you have the discipline to converse with God
May you be blessed to hear God’s small still voice
And the grace to receive God’s voice as a gift.

God Bless, Jon.