Is this impossible or is this The Way?

[b_justb]

What if we put ourselves into a mind set that we had no rights? What if we looked at everything we had or received as an extension of the grace of God? If we did that we would never take offense, we would never become angry. We would be happy and content in all circumstances. If we held no expectations, anything we received would be accepted as just. Is this impossible or is this The Way?

 

[Spirithound]

What if we put ourselves into a mind set that we had no rights? What if we looked at everything we had or received as an extension of the grace of God? If we did that we would never take offense, we would never become angry. We would be happy and content in all circumstances. If we held no expectations, anything we received would be accepted as just. Is this impossible or is this The Way?

I think this would certainly be an awesome act of humility, but before you embark on this kind of venture, make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into.
Have you read “Story of a Soul”? This sounds like Ste. Therese’s lifestyle.
It sounds like a laudable choice, but it might be more suited for monastic living.
So, I’d say it’s not impossible, just really really difficult. Ste. Therese talks alot about how much her little sacrifices cost her.

 

[GoldenArrow]

What if we put ourselves into a mind set that we had no rights? What if we looked at everything we had or received as an extension of the grace of God? If we did that we would never take offense, we would never become angry. We would be happy and content in all circumstances. If we held no expectations, anything we received would be accepted as just. Is this impossible or is this The Way?

Sounds good to me.

Then again, I’m very much Theresian (St. Therese of Lisieux) in my spirituality.

God Bless!

 

[littleone]

What if we put ourselves into a mind set that we had no rights? What if we looked at everything we had or received as an extension of the grace of God? If we did that we would never take offense, we would never become angry. We would be happy and content in all circumstances. If we held no expectations, anything we received would be accepted as just. Is this impossible or is this The Way?

I believe that you can only think that is God is touching you, giving you a touch of His thought patterns. This is the way the saints think. I am not a saint and every day I lov,e even though I don’t know people, I smile at them, help them out, wish them well, bless them, in the name of Jesus Christ. Reason, because that is the way God has touched me, to know that all for me is in the way God created it to be, in love with it’s creater.

God bless
littleone

 

[baltobetsy]

I think along these lines whenever I hear a commercial that promises the advertiser will give me the good service (or whatever) that I deserve.

I hope they don’t give me what I truly deserve, which would be to burn in hell. Whatever good that comes to me, I view as a bonus - unmerited - a gift from God.

Betsy

 

[Keikiolu]

What if we put ourselves into a mind set that we had no rights? What if we looked at everything we had or received as an extension of the grace of God? If we did that we would never take offense, we would never become angry. We would be happy and content in all circumstances. If we held no expectations, anything we received would be accepted as just. Is this impossible or is this The Way?

That is not the way.

Why?

Because we have been told that we do have the right to believe our catholic faith and to live and show the fruits of that faith.

Our goal is not to be “happy and content” in all things, but to martyr ourselves (live our faith to the exclusion of all else) in our suffering for the exercise of that faith.

We may “actively expect” to get the worst possible result from everything we do, which would make all our suffering less “annoying”, but must not forget that our offering our suffering to God IS what suffering is for, and that we should not strive for a lessening (or elimination) of our suffering.

We are not Buddhists.

We don’t want to “leave the wheel” into nothingness.

We want “stay on the path” to our destination.

 

[b_justb]

Thanks to all for your remarks. I’d like to address this one:

Keikiolu:

That is not the way.

Why?

Because we have been told that we do have the right to believe our catholic faith and to live and show the fruits of that faith.

Our goal is not to be “happy and content” in all things, but to martyr ourselves (live our faith to the exclusion of all else) in our suffering for the exercise of that faith.

We may “actively expect” to get the worst possible result from everything we do, which would make all our suffering less “annoying”, but must not forget that our offering our suffering to God IS what suffering is for, and that we should not strive for a lessening (or elimination) of our suffering.

If a government in place, or came to be in place, that denied a persons rights to freely express his religious faith, then that right would cease to be for that land (like in Saudi Arabia for example). When Christians openly practice their faith in Saudi Arabia they do not exercise their rights, they break secular law and pay the price for doing so. If a Christian in that land stood before the magistrate and claimed he was merely standing up for his right to freely exercise his religion he’d be laughed at because that right does not exist. However, if he stood there in court and said no matter what the law says I will follow the Lord come what may, then his martyrdom is certain and his acceptance of it most meritorious.

St. Paul tells us he learned to be content in all circumstances; I don’t think that lesson is unimportant (cf Phil. 4:11).

I am unsure of your ideas on suffering. If I suffer because of my own actions or choices (refusal to seek needed medical attention for example), and I offer that to God; what is God going to say? Why don’t you get your butt to the doctor, I would hope.

I think I am seeing your overall view. But I still lean towards thinking that dying to self is in line with not demanding my rights. As a Christian in the Unites States that is counter to the American mind set, we all love our rights and the free exercise thereof. I don’t think that, “do not demand your rights” can be a maxim, however. Maybe a guideline or conscience check in a given situation.

 

[littleone]

I think along these lines whenever I hear a commercial that promises the advertiser will give me the good service (or whatever) that I deserve.

I hope they don’t give me what I truly deserve, which would be to burn in hell. Whatever good that comes to me, I view as a bonus - unmerited - a gift from God.

Betsy

Your right we don’t deserve anything from God, and yet He keeps on giving to His lost sheep. I wrote some points earlier and the bottom part is wrong I should have read it properly, we have expectations because God saved us and our expectations are that God’s mercy will turn us back to God even though we faulter repetedly. It’s a little hard but it’s all governed by the graces mercy and love God has for us not anything we have.

God bless
littleone