Meditation and Lectio Divina - Monday 7th. January 2007 - WHICH WORLD IS MY PARADIGM?

[BarbaraTherese]

The Readings today reminded me that my spirituality can run the danger of being entirely self focusing. It reminded me that everywhere in our world today there is a suffering dreadfully humanity either through human agency or through natural disasters. Very often there is nothing I can effectively do to alleviate all this and it was also a reminder that a heart like that of Jesus will feel all this suffering in the world and all it can do is suffer or be in solidarity with it in Union with Jesus’ Passion…it also reminded me that I am bound if I can to be of some assistance if I can. And if my heart is being fashioned into that of Jesus, I will be driven by my heart to seek ways if I can to alleviate all this suffering, or suffering wherever I come across it.

DAILY MASS READINGS
usccb.org/nab/010708.shtml

Lectio Divina for Today

• Lectio Divina will give (amongst other things)
  valuable and important historical context and background
  to today’s Readings.
  ocarm.org/lectio/annoA_eng/031eng.htm

Meditation
wau.org/meditations/meditations.asp?month=01&day=07&year=2008&x=11&y=6

Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God. (1 John 4:1) Think of how many different ways we analyze our thoughts and behavior in order to achieve the best results. Sales teams brainstorm both before and after their presentations in order to improve their sales strategy. Military leaders conduct war games so they can make difficult decisions when stressful situations come. Teachers assess how well their students are performing so they can change their methods to help students learn better.
Isn’t it odd that, while we are willing to evaluate our progress in so many different areas, we tend to be haphazard when it comes to our relationship with God? We want to serve him, but the world comes rushing at us, and we end up veering off course. What if we gave just a little more of the zeal we devote to our earthly well-being to spiritual growth? Surely we would find ourselves much more adept at separating the good from the bad, and keeping ourselves in step with Jesus.
A very effective way to see if you are on the right track is to examine your conscience during the day. Is anger lingering in your heart toward anyone? Are your motives pure as you speak, or are you looking to your own interests first? Do you let the Holy Spirit inform your judgments about people, or have you fallen in the rut of thinking in worldly categories such as liberal and conservative, or successful and unsuccessful? What are your spiritual vital signs telling you?

One word of warning: This self-examination is not only about looking for sin. If we look into our hearts, we’ll also be able to see the Spirit at work in us.

We’ll be able to see where he is producing his fruits in our lives, even as we find ways that he may be hindered by our sin. Our goal in this life is to become like Jesus, and the Holy Spirit can help us to get there. His fire will not only convict us but will help us to set the world on fire for him!

“Holy Spirit, let me see myself as you see me.
Help me to recognize how you have grown in me,
and what still hinders me in my walk with Jesus.
Lead me to your truth!”