Tapsearch Com EditorSuffering - Is life worth living (LINK)
March 30th 2008 19:44
Keep your eyes on the Prize
Terry Pluto, a top sports writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer who also writes about spiritual things, has a new article. (March 29, 2008 Plain Dealer) about suffering.
Father Jonathan Morris, a young 36 year old priest, who was a theological advisor to Mel Gibson in the making of the file - The Passion, has just released his book THE PROMISE- God's purpose and plan when life hurts. Father Jonathan also been a commentator on several domestic and international news channels including CNN and BBC. He currently is regular contributor to FOX News. He usually speaks from Rome where he is the vice rector of the Legionaries of Christ Seminary. His site is at www Father Jonathan.com We will review his book as soon as we finish reading it here at The Rationale Com
Here are some of the first reviews:
Raymond Arroyo, Author of the New York Times bestseller Mother Angelica:
"With true compassion Father Jonathan Morris tackles a reality we will all confront sooner or later...His specific advice shows all of us how to turn tragedy and pain into spiritual gifts that can actually heal us in unexpected ways. Here's a Promise worth keeping, and sharing with others."
Steve McEveety, producer of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ:
"The Promise will be for the book world what The Passion was for film--a watershed moment of inspired creativity capable of transforming lives from the inside out. Don't believe me? Ask my wife, she read it too and is already passing it on to family and friends."
Terry Pluto says one of his favorite passages in the bible is from Matthew 26:38 - " My soul is overwhelmed to the point of death." That's what Jesus said to his three close friends the night before he was arrested and executed. There are times - those Garden of Gethsemene moments in hospital beds and waiting rooms, in courtrooms and lonely bedrooms - when we feel our souls being overwhelmed to the point of death. Terry tells about the phases he went through after his father suffered a stroke. After praying for a healing etc. he start praying the ideal prayer - "OK, God , get me through this." And He did.
( In our times for many, the Cross comes in the Bankruptcy Court with many losing everthing they spent a lifetime saving.) ( Work and Labor are now being challenged down to the core with a terrible separation of classes economically. )
When I was in my early thirties many years ago, a fellow co-workers was in deep anquish for a long time about many sad things happening his his life. At the time I was enjoying a tremendous consolation after a conversion experience. I prayed that I could take over some of his suffering for awhile. The Lord answered by prayer but I lasted only three hours before I pleaded to the Lord for it to call it off. After that experience, I knew more about how deeply Christ suffered for us.
For every Easter Sunday, we hve a personal Good Friday, and before that, a Thursday night in the garden - where Jesus said, "My soul is overwhelmed to the point of death."
We tend to ignore this until it happens. We are suprised and leave this part of out of our Life Ideal. The Lord is our Shepherd and guides us through many darken paths in our lives but we seem to avoid the fact we were not made for this world. We are wanderers from another place. St Paul talked about it. He said he experienced the third heaven and he did not know if he was in the body or outside the body. I think many experience this in a near death experience.
I suggest praying for the power of holy indifference center on the fact we are in a foreign place and a new place awaits our coming and the coming of those we love. Perhaps we can touch heaven at special times in our lives after this sinks in.
It seems we do not take in the full power of the Resurrection while we are still on earth. We need to find ways to live the Resurrection as Jesus did for 40 days on earth. He spent time with those He loved and the meals together seemed to be a major part of his time on earth after He died on the Cross. He just shared His life with others in simple ways. After Good Friday comes Easter. Easter is the whole reason why we believe. If Jesus just died and did not rise, there would be no Faith. Jump over to the other side whenever you can while still in the body. Share your Love for God with others in simple ways of leisure.
I was overwhelmed reading the latest biography of Mother Theresa. After being in union with God and in His consolation, she was stripped of all this and drifted into the dark night of the soul. She finally recalled that she told God she would give up all so that she could serve the poorest of the poor not thinking that His presence would be one of those things.
Yet, she served the poorest of the poor and her ministry grew in global proportions with Jesus being a stranger in the night.
God deals with us as His children one by one and just as a shepherd gives his all in saving just one sheep- He is there for us no matter what. Terry Pluto's prayer "OK God get me through this", can apply to almost everything in life. Live the Resurrection as you say this prayer. Pray for the power of Holy Indifference to handle both the highest levels of consolation and the lowest levels of the dark night.
After all, the stranger in the night around the next corner may be your brother - The Glorified Christ waiting for you in a one on one encounter of Perfect Love.
Keep your eyes on the Prize - the Super Bowl of all Super Bowls!
Terry Pluto, a top sports writer for the Cleveland Plain Dealer who also writes about spiritual things, has a new article. (March 29, 2008 Plain Dealer) about suffering.
Father Jonathan Morris, a young 36 year old priest, who was a theological advisor to Mel Gibson in the making of the file - The Passion, has just released his book THE PROMISE- God's purpose and plan when life hurts. Father Jonathan also been a commentator on several domestic and international news channels including CNN and BBC. He currently is regular contributor to FOX News. He usually speaks from Rome where he is the vice rector of the Legionaries of Christ Seminary. His site is at www Father Jonathan.com We will review his book as soon as we finish reading it here at The Rationale Com
Raymond Arroyo, Author of the New York Times bestseller Mother Angelica:
"With true compassion Father Jonathan Morris tackles a reality we will all confront sooner or later...His specific advice shows all of us how to turn tragedy and pain into spiritual gifts that can actually heal us in unexpected ways. Here's a Promise worth keeping, and sharing with others."
Steve McEveety, producer of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ:
"The Promise will be for the book world what The Passion was for film--a watershed moment of inspired creativity capable of transforming lives from the inside out. Don't believe me? Ask my wife, she read it too and is already passing it on to family and friends."
Terry Pluto says one of his favorite passages in the bible is from Matthew 26:38 - " My soul is overwhelmed to the point of death." That's what Jesus said to his three close friends the night before he was arrested and executed. There are times - those Garden of Gethsemene moments in hospital beds and waiting rooms, in courtrooms and lonely bedrooms - when we feel our souls being overwhelmed to the point of death. Terry tells about the phases he went through after his father suffered a stroke. After praying for a healing etc. he start praying the ideal prayer - "OK, God , get me through this." And He did.
When I was in my early thirties many years ago, a fellow co-workers was in deep anquish for a long time about many sad things happening his his life. At the time I was enjoying a tremendous consolation after a conversion experience. I prayed that I could take over some of his suffering for awhile. The Lord answered by prayer but I lasted only three hours before I pleaded to the Lord for it to call it off. After that experience, I knew more about how deeply Christ suffered for us.
For every Easter Sunday, we hve a personal Good Friday, and before that, a Thursday night in the garden - where Jesus said, "My soul is overwhelmed to the point of death."
We tend to ignore this until it happens. We are suprised and leave this part of out of our Life Ideal. The Lord is our Shepherd and guides us through many darken paths in our lives but we seem to avoid the fact we were not made for this world. We are wanderers from another place. St Paul talked about it. He said he experienced the third heaven and he did not know if he was in the body or outside the body. I think many experience this in a near death experience.
I suggest praying for the power of holy indifference center on the fact we are in a foreign place and a new place awaits our coming and the coming of those we love. Perhaps we can touch heaven at special times in our lives after this sinks in.
It seems we do not take in the full power of the Resurrection while we are still on earth. We need to find ways to live the Resurrection as Jesus did for 40 days on earth. He spent time with those He loved and the meals together seemed to be a major part of his time on earth after He died on the Cross. He just shared His life with others in simple ways. After Good Friday comes Easter. Easter is the whole reason why we believe. If Jesus just died and did not rise, there would be no Faith. Jump over to the other side whenever you can while still in the body. Share your Love for God with others in simple ways of leisure.
I was overwhelmed reading the latest biography of Mother Theresa. After being in union with God and in His consolation, she was stripped of all this and drifted into the dark night of the soul. She finally recalled that she told God she would give up all so that she could serve the poorest of the poor not thinking that His presence would be one of those things.
Yet, she served the poorest of the poor and her ministry grew in global proportions with Jesus being a stranger in the night.
God deals with us as His children one by one and just as a shepherd gives his all in saving just one sheep- He is there for us no matter what. Terry Pluto's prayer "OK God get me through this", can apply to almost everything in life. Live the Resurrection as you say this prayer. Pray for the power of Holy Indifference to handle both the highest levels of consolation and the lowest levels of the dark night.
After all, the stranger in the night around the next corner may be your brother - The Glorified Christ waiting for you in a one on one encounter of Perfect Love.
Keep your eyes on the Prize - the Super Bowl of all Super Bowls!
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