Fr. Serpa made me cry today

[Miserissima]

I’m not one to disuss SSA, because it’s not a topic I am usually interested in unless it affects me directly.

Yet I love reading AAA, and lifted a profound comment from one of Fr. Serpa’s answers here:

For the Christian, solitude is not just the absence of the commotion and activity of the crowd. It is the state of being alone while realizing that one is not alone. It comes from confronting loneliness by going inside and finding that God has been there all along. This is what the contemplative does.

[For example:] Reflecting on Good Friday and confronting the pain that our Savior endured for us is to begin to know what it means to be loved. It is to know the Companion of our lives who never leaves us excluded and alone. I encourage you to spend time before the tabernacle in His Eucharistic presence.

I don’t know how to discuss this much further, but this answer hit me very, very hard. We are never, ever alone. That was once a scary thought - “Don’t do that sin, for God will see!” but now, it’s more of a comforting idea. I know He sees, so I don’t do that sin – but I try not to sin not out of fear of retribution, but out of respect and love for Him.

That’s an ironic twist, there.

Anyone else recognize that small but important measure of spiritual maturity?

 

[Simon_X]

Thanks for pointing this one out Mis.

Same here on not one to really go to the SSA topics. But Father Serpa’s comments certainly very good and solid spiritual food. Comments that we can all use!

 

[MarieVeronica]

I’m not one to disuss SSA, because it’s not a topic I am usually interested in unless it affects me directly.

Yet I love reading AAA, and lifted a profound comment from one of Fr. Serpa’s answers here:

I don’t know how to discuss this much further, but this answer hit me very, very hard. We are never, ever alone. That was once a scary thought - “Don’t do that sin, for God will see!” but now, it’s more of a comforting idea. I know He sees, so I don’t do that sin – but I try not to sin not out of fear of retribution, but out of respect and love for Him.

That’s an ironic twist, there.

Anyone else recognize that small but important measure of spiritual maturity?

Hi Miserissima. Oh thank you for posting this! And thanks, also… to Fr. Serpa (whose commentaries I really enjoy, in “This Rock”).

And, for the profound thoughts on lonliness. You said you didn’t know how to discuss it… “much further”. But you didn’t have to. You expressed it, beautifully in a few short words.

In retrospect… I can see times… where I went through similar stages (with lonliness). And thanks be to God… believe I’ve now arrived at a stage… where much of the time… I sense God’s Presence within my heart and soul… and therefore, I don’t feel lonely… too often. Did that make sense? lol.

I think you know what I’m gettin’ at. Sure is a comfort, to have it explained by Fr. Serpa (and YOU Miserissima). God bless.

 

[sawman]

Dear Miserissima,

I know what you mean. There are times when I think God lets me see somehow through His wounded eyes. I seem to be transported to His time of suffering and He gives me His sight for just a flash. How He paused for an eternal moment to offer His suffering for me, all the blood, sweat, bruises and gore. His abandonment by all, the absolute rejection of Him by his own.
And in that moment He wills my eyes to see me as He does in that time of suffering. He loves me, though for so long I have loved Him not. He gave Himself for me, to suffer what I could not.
How could I sin against that offering, that giving?

Going to Adoration tonite, pray for Me. I’ll pray for you! God bless you!

 

[water]

so I don’t do that sin – but I try not to sin not out of fear of retribution, but out of respect and love for Him.

That’s an ironic twist, there.

Anyone else recognize that small but important measure of spiritual maturity?

That is what I heard couple of days ago about “fearing the Lord”. It is not about us being so fearful of Him but about us being respectful and loving Him and leading us to do this to honor Him.

It is certainly a big step in spiritual growth.

 

[Miserissima]

I think I am going to do as others have done and start a journal/notebook and use the following lines as an opener:

For the Christian, solitude is not just the absence of the commotion and activity of the crowd. It is the state of being alone while realizing that one is not alone. It comes from confronting loneliness by going inside and finding that God has been there all along. This is what the contemplative does.

Fr. Serpa’s words stretch way beyond the question.

I can say that I an not as a contemplative as I was, anymore. I let life get in the way, not as I used to. Now, I usually contemplate what dress to wear, what choices to make at work, and what to make at dinner, heh.

I think I am going to start a journal again (not enough time for a scarpbook) of profound things I read, not necessarily of a religious nature, either. I’m not sure if it will be answering questions or just snippets of sentences. But it will definately start with Fr. Serpa’s answer.

 

[InLight247]

Fr. Serpa’s words stretch way beyond the question.

I can say that I an not as a contemplative as I was, anymore. I let life get in the way, not as I used to. Now, I usually contemplate what dress to wear, what choices to make at work, and what to make at dinner, heh.

I think I am going to start a journal again (not enough time for a scarpbook) of profound things I read, not necessarily of a religious nature, either. I’m not sure if it will be answering questions or just snippets of sentences. But it will definately start with Fr. Serpa’s answer.

Indeed Fr. Serpa’s answer was way beyond the original question.
Life is a solitude, but in this solitude we always have the Solitude to be with. We are never alone. We can always be with the Alone when we are alone if we seek after Him.

It is a good idea to write Journal. To me, it is one of the ways to be in touch with my inner self. I make my journal a spiritual journal; therefore, it is also a way of sorting my reflection of the day.

Do not allow the daily busyness impede your precious contemplative living. Like the Ignatius spirituality teaches, we can be “contemplative in action”. Like Brother Lawrence taught, we can practice the presence of God in everything we do.

With you, my friend.

 

[Stylteralmaldo]

I read Fr. Serpa’s AAA response today and although it didn’t make me cry, it made me want to reflect on my feelings of being alone that have been difficult for me to come to terms with. This is the section I found particularly Spirit-filled:

One can be surrounded be people and be lonely. On the other hand, one can live alone and not be lonely. The key lies in the difference between loneliness and solitude. People try to flee from loneliness, but actually seek solitude.

At times I feel lonely and feel that I should not have these feelings because I am surrounded by people who love me. I sometimes feel downright selfish for having such feelings.

Yet, Christ touched my heart a couple weeks ago at Eucharistic adoration that helped me understand that Jesus felt alone on the cross even though He was never really alone.

There’s a difference between feeling alone and* being* alone. When I read Fr. Serpa’s message, it clicked for me that although I have a cross of being alone in some aspects in my life that I may not be able to change, what I could do with my situation is to seek solitude within it instead of trying to get away from it.

I can chose to try and flee from lonliness which may not be escapable or I could embrace the opportunity for solitude which Christ desires me to experience.

 

[Simon_X]

I read Fr. Serpa’s AAA response today and although it didn’t make me cry, it made me want to reflect on my feelings of being alone that have been difficult for me to come to terms with. This is the section I found particularly Spirit-filled:

At times I feel lonely and feel that I should not have these feelings because I am surrounded by people who love me. I sometimes feel downright selfish for having such feelings.

Yet, Christ touched my heart a couple weeks ago at Eucharistic adoration that helped me understand that Jesus felt alone on the cross even though He was never really alone.

There’s a difference between feeling alone and* being* alone. When I read Fr. Serpa’s message, it clicked for me that although I have a cross of being alone in some aspects in my life that I may not be able to change, what I could do with my situation is to seek solitude within it instead of trying to get away from it.

I can chose to try and flee from lonliness which may not be escapable or I could embrace the opportunity for solitude which Christ desires me to experience.

Thanks for posts Miserissima and Stylteralmaldo,

Don’t know how familiar either of you are with Thomas Merton, but Father Serpa’s quote from above is very close in spirit and content with some of his writings. Been a long time since I ve seen anything close to Merton’s writings outside of his books.

Nice to know some Contemplatives out there willing to share their thoughts. I am thinking of actually printing out this thread when it’s done. There’s so much here worth meditating on. Hope you all can keep adding to it, very insightful and appreciated!