Spirituality for Beginners

Fr. Bede's almost-daily reflections. When it comes to the spiritual life, we're all beginners. I also send these out by email. Contact me at bcamera@anselm.edu. God bless!





Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Let the feeling pass

The same theme came up in several sources I’ve been reading and hearing today. I’ll present them to you hear, and hope that you will weave them together in a way which is most helpful to you. Remember to take what resonates with you and leave the rest behind for now:

 From the Imitation of Christ: All of us are subject to a constant flow of changing feelings, and what we need to do is arise above them and keep our eyes on Christ and our hearts on the goal which awaits us.

From the Letter of Paul to the Romans: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as compared to the glory to be revealed for us. (Rom 8:18)

From the martyred Oscar Romero: . . . the glorification that we’ll one day be given, superior to all the pains and sufferings that can be felt on this earth. . . I knew a man who was being tortured: as he suffered, he said ‘The hope I have and the glory I await are greater than this suffering.’   Recorded in Give Us This Day in the reflection for October 27, 2015.

From mindfulness training (which we have spoken about in several previous reflections): Consider that  You are not your feelings. You are the one who has the feelings which continually arise and pass through you if you do not attach yourself to them.


From Thomas Keating, O.C.S.O.: “Once you disidentify with your feelings, you know that you can change them. You are not your feelings.” “It is important to keep reminding [ourselves] to face the truth of our feelings without identifying with them, acting them out, or objectifying them and blaming them on other people.” Divine Mercy and Addiction, pp. 26-27.

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