53 posts tagged “christianity”

In his book A New Earth, Eckhart Tolle quoted Krishnamurti talking about his secret, the essence of his life’s teaching: “I don’t mind what happens” (198).

This is essential practice for one to deal with suffering. Eventually, through an awakening helped by study and meditation, one can see the causes of suffering for what they are in the present reality. Once this happens, the need to cling to these causes of suffering dissipates.

Matthew 5:38-42.

You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

It takes radical and complete faith to completely adopt the teaching Jesus is offering here. This faith comes from a person not minding what happens. For example, since I don’t cling to a belief of revenge or retaliation, I don’t mind offering both sides of my face to my attacker. Again, since I don’t cling to possessions, I don’t mind if they are taken from me.

Why do you blog about books and religious passages?
Submitted by Syafira.

Blogging helps me understand what I read. Rather than put all of the time into reading something only to forget about it after I close the book, I prefer to interact with the text through writing. That way, the information has been evaluated twice and has a better hold inside of my head. Why go through the trouble of learning something only to forget it after you are done with it?

Matthew 5:1-12 (NAB)

When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Jesus flips everyone's worldview upside down. I love to think about how shocking this message must have been back in the day. Heck, this is so shocking that many Christians today cannot bear to listen, learn, and follow. They prefer to listen and follow Paul instead because he tells them what to think, do, and believe. Paul is easy. Jesus' message is more difficult and demanding--he demands thought, reflection, and action. When one thinks and meditates on this reading, the path to the Divine is clear. The next time you see someone in need and you forget everything else in the Bible, remember this passage and this one as well.

Genesis 1:27 (NAB)

God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them.

The person in need was created in the Divine image. Rather than withhold yourself, go help because you are dealing with a person that has the same Divine spark inside as you do.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 16,13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 1,57-66.80

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, "No. He will be called John." But they answered her, "There is no one among your relatives who has this name." So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name," and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, "What, then, will this child be?" For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Origenes (around 185-253), Priest and Theologian
Homilies on St. Luke, no. 4, 4-6

“The Lord called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.” (Isa 49:1)

The birth of John the Baptist is full of miracles. An archangel announced the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus; similarly, an archangel announced the birth of John (Lk 1:13) and said: “He will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb.” The Jewish people did not see that our Lord did “signs and wonders” and healed their illnesses, but John leapt for joy when he was still in his mother’s womb. It was impossible to hold him back, and when the mother of Jesus arrived, the child already tried to come out of Elizabeth’s womb. “The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby leapt in my womb for joy.” (Lk 1:44) Still in his mother’s womb, John had already received the Holy Spirit…

Scripture then says: “Many of the sons of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God.” (Lk 1:16) John brought back “a large number”; the Lord brought back not a large number but everyone. For it is his task to bring all men back to God the Father…

I for my part think that the mystery of John is being fulfilled in the world until the present. The spirit and the power of John must first fill the soul of whoever is destined to believe in Christ Jesus, “to prepare for the Lord a people well-disposed” (Lk 1:17) and to “make ready the way of the Lord, [to] clear him a straight path” (Lk 3:5) in the roughness of their heart. Not only at that time were “the windings … made straight and the rough ways smooth”; rather, the spirit and the power of John still go before the Lord and Savior’s coming today. Oh greatness of the Lord’s mystery and of his plan for the world!

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 6,24-34

No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?' All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.

Saint Seraphim of Sarov (1759-1833), Russian monk
Conversation with Motovilov (Balamand Monastery)

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides”

[Saint Seraphim and Motovilov were plunged into a dazzling light and an extraordinary sweetness. Seraphim said to him,] My friend, the grace of God is meant to dwell within us, in our heart, because the Lord said, “The Kingdom of God is within you” (Lk. 17:21). By the Kingdom of God the Lord meant the grace of the Holy Spirit. This Kingdom of God is within us now, and the grace of the Holy Spirit shines upon us and warms us from without as well. It fills the surrounding air with many fragrant odours, sweetens our senses with heavenly delight and floods our hearts with unutterable joy. Our present state is that of which the apostle Paul speaks when he says, “The Kingdom of God is not a question of food and drink, but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17)… See, my son, what unspeakable joy the Lord God has now granted us! This is what it means to be “in the fullness of the Holy Spirit”… With this fullness of his Holy Spirit the Lord has now filled us poor creatures to overflowing. So there is no need now, dear friend, to ask how people come to be in the grace of the Holy Spirit…

The fact that I am a monk and you are a layman is utterly beside the point. What God requires is true faith in himself and his only begotten Son. In return for that the grace of the Holy Spirit is granted abundantly from on high. The Lord seeks a heart filled to overflowing with love for God and our neighbour; this is the throne on which he loves to sit and on which he appears in the fullness of his heavenly glory. “Son, give me your heart,' he says, 'and all the rest I myself will add to you” (Prov. 23:26; Matt. 6:33), for the Kingdom of God can be contained in the human heart. The Lord commanded his disciples, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 6,19-23

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.

Saint Ambrose (around 340-397), Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church
On Nabaoth, 58

“Do not lay up for yourselves an earthly treasure… Make it your practice instead to store up heavenly treasure.”

You who bury your gold in the ground (Mt 25:25), you are its servant and not its master. “Where your treasure is, there your heart is also.” In burying that gold, you have buried your heart. Rather, sell your gold and buy salvation; sell what is of stone and acquire the kingdom of God, sell your field and buy for yourself eternal life.

When I say that, I’m telling the truth, for I am basing my words on the very word of the one who is Truth: “If you seek perfection, go, sell your possessions, and give to the poor. You will then have treasure in heaven.” (Mt 19:21) Don’t become sad when you hear these words, for fear that the same thing will be said to you as was told the rich young man: “Only with difficulty will a rich man enter into the kingdom of God.” (Mt 19:23) Even more, when you read that sentence, consider that death can tear you away from these goods, that a powerful person’s violence can take them away from you. In the end, you will only have tried for tiny goods instead of great wealth; these are only monetary treasures instead of being treasures of grace. By that very fact, they are corruptible rather than remaining forever.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 6,1-6.16-18

(But) take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.

Saint Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo (North Africa) and Doctor of the Church
2nd Discourse on Psalm 33, §8; PL 36,312

“Whenever you pray, go to your room, close your door, and pray to your Father in private.”

Going to your room is to return to your heart. Blest are they who rejoice at returning to their heart and who find nothing bad there…

They are greatly to be pitied who, returning home, have to fear that they will be chased away because of bitter fights with their family. But how much unhappier are they who do not dare to return to their conscience for fear of being chased away through remorse for their sins. If you want to return to your heart with pleasure, purify it. “Blest are the pure of heart for they shall see God.” (Mt 5:8) Remove from your heart the stains of covetousness, the spots of miserliness, the ulcer of superstition; remove the sacrilege, the evil thoughts, the hatred. I’m not only speaking of that against your friends, but even of that against your enemies. Remove all that, then return to your heart and you will be happy.

From Daily Gospel

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 5,38-42

You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

Saint Cyprian (around 200-258), Bishop of Carthage and Martyr
On the Virtue of Patience

“What I say to you is: offer no resistance to injury.”

“Bear with one another lovingly and make every effort to preserve the unity which has the Spirit as its origin and peace as its binding force.” (cf. Eph 4:2f.) It is not possible to maintain unity or peace if the brothers don’t make every effort to remain tolerant of one another and to keep the bond of harmony, which comes from patience…

How can a person succeed in accomplishing that if he is not firm in patience and tolerant? That is what Saint Stephen did when, far from crying out for revenge, he asked that his executors be forgiven, saying: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (Acts 7:60) That is how the first martyr for Christ behaved. He was not only a preacher of the Lord’s passion, but he also imitated his extreme gentleness.

What can we say concerning anger, discord, hypocrisy? They have no place in the life of a Christian. He must have patience in his heart; thus none of the vices will be found there. The apostle Paul warned us of this: “Do nothing to sadden the Holy Spirit… Get rid of all bitterness, all passion and anger, harsh words, slander, and malice of every kind.” (Eph 4:30-31) If the Christian becomes established in peace, in Christ’s harbor, he must allow neither anger nor discord to enter his heart; he is neither allowed to return evil for evil nor to conceive hatred.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 7,36-50.8,1-3

A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner." Jesus said to him in reply, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days' wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?" Simon said in reply, "The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven." He said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The others at table said to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" But he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.

Saint Ambrose (around 340-397), Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church
On Repentance, II:8

"Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

"Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.” (Mt 9:12) Show, then, your wound to the physician that he may heal it. Even if you do not show it, he knows it, but waits to hear your voice. Clean your wounds by yours tears. This is what the woman in the Gospel did, to be free from sin and from its stench; she washed away her guilt, when she washed the feet of Jesus with her tears.

Lord Jesus, let me cleanse your feet of the stains which I by my deeds have caused on your steps!... But where can I obtain living water, with which to wash your feet? If I have no water I have tears. While with them I wash your feet, may I also cleanse myself. How can I hear you say to me; "His many sins are forgiven, because he has loved much"? I confess that I owe more, and that more has been forgiven me who have been called to the priesthood from the tumult and strife of the law courts and of public administration. Therefore I fear that I may be found ungrateful, if I, to whom more has been forgiven, love less.

But all are not able to equal that woman, who was deservedly preferred even to Simon the Pharisee, who was giving the feast to the Lord. She gave a lesson to all who desire to gain forgiveness, by kissing the feet of Christ, washing them with her tears, wiping them with her hair, and anointing them with ointment… And yet, if we are unable to equal her, the Lord Jesus knows also how to aid the weak. When there is no one who can prepare the feast, or bring the ointment, or carry with her a spring of living water (Jn 4:10), he comes himself.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 2,41-51

Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety." And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.

Saint Amedeus of Lausanne (1108-1159), Cistercian monk, then Bishop
Homily on Mary, 4

“His mother kept all these things in memory.”

Often, it seems to us, Mary forgot to eat and to drink, keeping vigil in order to think about Christ, to see Christ in his flesh. She burned with love of him and passionately loved to serve him. She often did what the Song of Songs sings about: “I was sleeping, but my heart kept vigil.” (Song 5:2) Even when she was resting, she continued to dream of him who filled her thoughts throughout the day. Whether she was keeping vigil or resting in peace, she always lived in him, was always occupied with him.

Where her treasure was, there also was her heart (Mt 6:21); where her glory was, there also was her mind. She loved her Lord and her Son with all her heart, with all her mind, with all her strength (Mt 22:37). She saw with her eyes, touched with her hands the Word of Life (1 Jn 1:1). How blessed was Mary, to whom it was given to embrace him who embraces and nourishes everything! How happy was she who carried him who carries the universe (Heb 1:3), she who nursed a Son who gives her life, a Son who nourishes her and all beings on earth (Ps 145:15).

The one who is the wisdom of the Father put his arms around her neck, the one who is the strength that gives movement to everything sat on her arms. He who is the rest of souls (Mt 11:29) rested on her motherly breast. How gently he held her in his hands, peacefully looked at her, he whom the angels wish to contemplate (1 Pet 1:12), and he gently called her, he whom every being calls upon when in need. Filled with the Holy Spirit, she held him close to her heart… She never had enough of seeing him or of hearing him, whom “many prophets and kings wished to see… but did not see.” (Lk 10:24) Thus Mary grew ever more in love, and her mind was unceasingly attached to divine contemplation.