tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648512.post5076094227351814870..comments2009-02-24T05:26:41.024+01:00Tom Reagannoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648512.post-46477075089365137272009-02-24T05:26:00.000+01:002009-02-24T05:26:00.000+01:00Thank you Tom. I am in my second year assisting with RCIA. I was asked by our leader to present the "two greatest commandments". I was pleased to find your insights here.<BR/><BR/>When I let Him, God will lead me!<BR/><BR/>God bless you with yours studies.<BR/><BR/>DeboraDeboranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648512.post-36728039553410249242007-02-21T11:02:00.000+01:002007-02-21T11:02:00.000+01:00Aunt Ren,<BR/><BR/>Really, the only simpler way to put it would be the command "Love!"<BR/><BR/>But that would have been lost on most of us.<BR/><BR/>TomTom Reaganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752171772010486720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648512.post-91493115376276492222007-02-21T03:08:00.000+01:002007-02-21T03:08:00.000+01:00Tom,<BR/><BR/>Hope all is well.<BR/><BR/>I'm struck very much by your choice of biblical quotes - the two commandments. This quote has long struck me as a marvelous example of the originality and authority of Jesus' teaching showing through.<BR/><BR/>Not only does Jesus unify the first three commandments into one and the remaining seven into one more, he also completely changes the goals of mankind and mankind's relationship with our Creator without changing the content of the Creator's commandments. Who else could do so much, so convincingly and so invitingly, with so few words?<BR/><BR/>No longer is the goal to avoid doing wrong ("Thou shall not....."), but rather the new goal is to cling to the pursuit of the love of God and neighbor! No longer shall we settle for avoiding the abyss. Now the goal is to leave the abyss behind and rush toward God with every step. <BR/><BR/>This reinforces the uniqueness of Jesus. He is able to completely change the intent of the original commandments without changing the commandments themselves. Who else could do such a thing?<BR/><BR/>Profound.Your favorite Auntnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648512.post-50278038463207442072007-02-20T23:26:00.000+01:002007-02-20T23:26:00.000+01:00Kathryn,<BR/><BR/>Peace be with you too!<BR/><BR/>I think you hit the nail on the head about doing what we are called to do. (Thus the hopefully almost-subtle request about praying about what we are to do.)<BR/><BR/>As for the personal nature of what we are going to do this Lent being personal: I think that's great, assuming we do not need somebody else to help keep us accountable. I personally have a few people I told one-on-one here in Rome for the purposes of them keeping me accountable to what I decided to do. Not that I shouldn't be accountable myself, because I should.<BR/><BR/>Instead of lying and saying "I don't know," maybe you could tell people that you are in fact doing something but that it's very personal?<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the comment!<BR/>TomTom Reaganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17752171772010486720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14648512.post-28041930918934013872007-02-20T21:57:00.000+01:002007-02-20T21:57:00.000+01:00Hey Tom,<BR/><BR/>Peace be with you! This is a great post about lent and what we are called to do....and this is exactly what it is, a "calling." God has brought us to a certain point in our faith journey and He wants to lead us further, but we are holding on to something. It is different for each person.<BR/><BR/>Over the last few weeks, a group of my girlfriends and I have been discerning what God is specifically challenging us to do during these 40 days in the desert. We started out reading some writing on St. Augustine, John Henry Newman, and St. Clare. As a result, I could list a least 20 things I "could" do, but what is God calling me to uniquely do to lead me and others closer to Him? This is a difficult question. Rather than seriously praying and discering this question, I suppose I could attempt do all 20 things, but this would be just me trying to cover all possiblities and in some ways it is legalistic. I would probably get burned out on the depravation and miss the point. But worse, I would be dependant on myself to meet these sacrifices rather than God - naturally since I did not consult Him seriously on the question when making the initial choice.<BR/><BR/>Instead through prayerful discernment, my lenten sacrifice is a contract and a love relationship with God. When Augustine wrote about fasting, he suggest that our observance be a secret between only God and ourselves...how beautiful and intimate! Of course, we do not usually broadcast what we are doing, but during this time some people, especially Cathlics, may ask "what are you giving up for lent?" How great would it be if it was just between the Creator and ourselves? <BR/><BR/>btw: I just had a non-Catholic ask me at a seminar a couple of hours ago. I said, "I do not know." Is lying worse? ...well, I was not lying because I am still prayerfully discerning, but I wonder what I will say tomorrow?!<BR/><BR/>God be with you! Enjoy Rome - it is the mothership.<BR/><BR/>KathrynKathrynnoreply@blogger.com