July 2009 Blog Posts (45)

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Sayings of the Desert Fathers: God is for all 3

from:http://www.thenazareneway.com/paradise_of_the_desert_fathers.htm



There was an old man living in the desert who served God for so many years and he said, "Lord, let me know if I have pleased you." He saw an angel who said to him, "You have not yet become like the gardener in such and such place." The old man marvelled and said, "I will go off to the city to see both him and what it is that he does that surpasses all my work and toil of all these years."



So he went to… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on July 31, 2009 at 8:53am — No Comments

Sayings of the Desert Fathers: God is for all 2

from:http://www.thenazareneway.com/paradise_of_the_desert_fathers.htm



Abba Pambo said, "If you have a heart, you can be saved."



Some thoughts:



Not much of a prerequesite is it? Sounds to me the same thing as saying "if one is human, one can be saved." Pretty straight forward, isn't it? Puts us all on the same track, the same tier, the same level. It's completely egalitarian.



It ought also to be the sentence that puts to an end all the disputes within… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on July 30, 2009 at 8:40am — No Comments

Sayings of the Desert Fathers: God is for all 1

from: http://www.thenazareneway.com/paradise_of_the_desert_fathers.htm



God is the life of all free beings. He is the salvation of all, of believers or unbelievers, of the just or the unjust, of the pious or the impious, of those freed from passions or those caught up in them, of monks or those living in the world, of the educated and the illiterate, of the healthy and the sick, of the young or the old. He is like the outpouring of light, the glimpse of the sun, or the changes of the… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on July 29, 2009 at 9:10am — No Comments

Sayings of the Desert Fathers: Love 5

from: http://www.thenazareneway.com/paradise_of_the_desert_fathers.htm



A soldier asked abba Mios if God accepted repentance. After the old man had taught him many things, he said, "Tell me, my dear, if your cloak is torn, do you throw it away?" He replied, "No, I mend it and use it again." The old man said to him, "If you are so careful about your cloak, will not God be equally careful about His creature?"



some thoughts:



A lovely metaphor, is it not? Of course,… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on July 28, 2009 at 10:10am — No Comments

Sayings of the Desert Fathers: Love 4

from: http://www.thenazareneway.com/paradise_of_the_desert_fathers.htm



Abba Agathon said, "If I could meet a leper, give him my body and take his, I should be very happy." That is perfect charity. It was also said of him that when he came into the town one day to sell his goods, he met a sick traveller lying in the public place with no one to care for him. The old man rented a room and lived with him there, working with his hands to pay the rent and spending the rest on the sick… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on July 27, 2009 at 10:41am — No Comments

Fear of the Lord

In an idle moment, I have often wondered about the "fear of the Lord", as in Prov 1: 7 and 9:10.. If "fear of the Lord" is the beginning of wisdom, then it sounds desirable. OTOH, "if perfect love casts out all fear"as in I jon 4:18, what's going on? I have long suspected that it is the English is at fault and not the Hebrew or the Greek.



So I took advantage of my discovery of http://www.blueletterbible.org/index.cfm to do a bit of quick word study.



The Hebrew word for… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on July 26, 2009 at 12:16pm — No Comments

Sayings of the Desert Fathers: Love 3

from: http://www.thenazareneway.com/paradise_of_the_desert_fathers.htm



Abba Antony said, "I no longer fear God, I love him; for love casts out fear."



Some thoughts



In Proverbs 1:7,it is written that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Which I have always understood to be a deep deep respect or veneration and not fear as in "I'm afraid of spiders." I have often wished I knew Hebrew because I am confident that if I did I would see for myself that… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on July 26, 2009 at 11:33am — No Comments

Rule of St. Benedict Reading for July 26, 2009

March 26, July 26, November 25

Chapter 46: On Those Who Fail in Any Other Matters

When anyone is engaged in any sort of work,

whether in the kitchen, in the cellar, in a shop,

in the bakery, in the garden, while working at some craft,

or in any other place,

and she commits some fault,

or breaks something, or loses something,

or transgresses in any other way whatsoever,

if she does not come immediately

before the Abbess and the community

of… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on July 26, 2009 at 10:38am — No Comments

Sacred Cocktails in the Castro

When any of you are in the San Francisco area join us every Monday night at the Lookout Bar in the Castro for "Sacred Cocktails" from 8-9 PM



Finding church a bit un-welcoming these days? Come hang out and discuss religion and spirituality from an affirmative, pro-LGBTQ perspective.



We're Christian and we're open to all. Each week features a guest speaker, followed by time to hang out and chat about religion, spirituality, and sexuality. We're starting a new conversation --… Continue

Added by Tommy Dillon on July 25, 2009 at 2:46pm — No Comments

Sayings of the Desert Fathers: Love 2

from: http://www.thenazareneway.com/paradise_of_the_desert_fathers.htm



One of the beloved of Christ who had the gift of mercy used to say, "The one who is filled with mercy ought to offer it in the same manner in which he has received it, for such is the mercy of God."



Some thoughts



This Saying always moves me to tears. You may be asking why. The reason is that every single day, I see the opposite. I see those who have been blessed withhold that same blessing… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on July 25, 2009 at 1:35pm — No Comments

Rule of St. Benedict Reading for July 25, 2009

March 25, July 25, November 24

Chapter 45: On Those Who Make Mistakes in the Oratory

When anyone has made a mistake

while reciting a Psalm, a responsory,

an antiphon or a lesson,

if he does not humble himself there before all

by making a satisfaction,

let him undergo a greater punishment

because he would not correct by humility

what he did wrong through carelessness.



But boys for such faults shall be whipped.





Some… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on July 25, 2009 at 1:23pm — No Comments

Open Letter to Bishop Tom Wright

I recently sent the following letter to Bishop Wright, in response to his recent editorial in the Times regarding the actions of General Convention (can be retrieved at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6710640.ece)



Dear Bishop Wright,



My name is Patrick Hall and I am a twenty-seven year old priest serving in the Diocese of Texas. Your books have changed everything about my journey with Jesus - You have helped me think… Continue

Added by Patrick Hall on July 24, 2009 at 11:12am — No Comments

Sayings of the Desert Fathers: Love 1

from:http://www.cin.org/dsrtft13.html



Abba Poemen said, "There is no greater love than that a man lays down his life for revenge; then you are laying down your life for your neighbour."



Some thoughts



Help me out, please. This Saying continually mystifies me. Was there some sort of paradigm shift in world view about the role of revenge that makes it impossible for me to understand what is going on here?



What does revenge have to do with love? Did Jesus… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on July 24, 2009 at 11:06am — No Comments

Sayings of the Desert Fathers: Joy 3

from: http://www.cin.org/dsrtft12.html



When abba Apollo heard the sound of singing from the monks who welcomed us, he greeted us according to the custom which all monks follow... He first lay prostrate on the ground, then got up and kissed us and having brought us in he prayed for us; then, after washing our feet with his own hands, he invited us to partake of some refreshment.



One could see his monks were filled with joy and a bodily contentment such as one cannot see on… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on July 23, 2009 at 8:44am — No Comments

'moveon.org' for TEC> into mission

It is now time for TEC to move on! Read here And i'm all about TEC moving forward in mission. Evangelical outreach is what we need to re-focus on to get our unique witness to the Christian Gospel out there in the public square. Thanks Brian McLaren for helping on this as well. The rest is up to us TEC folk to 'move on'… Continue

Added by Karen Ward on July 18, 2009 at 1:30pm — 7 Comments

Sayings of the Desert Fathers: Joy 2

from: http://www.cin.org/dsrtft12.html



Abba Hyperichius said, "Praise God continually with spiritual hymns and always remain in meditation and in this way you will be able to bear the burden of the temptations that come upon you. A traveller who is carrying a heavy load pauses from time to time and draws in deep breaths; it makes the journey easier and the burden lighter."



Some thoughts:



Reminds me of St Paul and praying constantly. I always wondered how I was… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on July 17, 2009 at 10:30am — No Comments

Rule of St. Benedict Reading for July 17, 2009

March 17, July 17, November 16



Chapter 38: On the Weekly Reader



The meals of the sisters should not be without reading.

Nor should the reader be

anyone who happens to take up the book;

but there should be a reader for the whole week,

entering that office on Sunday.

Let this incoming reader,

after Mass and Communion,

ask all to pray for her

that God may keep her from the spirit of pride

And let her intone the following… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on July 17, 2009 at 10:15am — No Comments

Sayings of the Desert Fathers: Joy 1

from:http://www.cin.org/dsrtft12.html



Amma Syncletica said, "In the beginning there are a great many battles and a good deal of suffering for those who are advancing towards God and, afterwards, ineffable joy. It is like those who wish to light a fire. At first they are choked with smoke and cry, until they obtain what they seek. As it is written, "Our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:24); so we also must kindle the divine fire in ourselves through tears and hard… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on July 15, 2009 at 10:24am — No Comments

Rule of St. Benedict Reading for July 15, 2009

March 15, July 15, November 14

Chapter 36: On the Sick

Before all things and above all things,

care must be taken of the sick,

so that they will be served as if they were Christ in person;

for He Himself said, "I was sick, and you visited Me" (Matt 25:36),

and, "What you did for one of these least ones, you did for Me" (Matt.25:40).

But let the sick on their part consider

that they are being served for the honor of God,

and let them not annoy their… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on July 15, 2009 at 9:33am — No Comments

Rule of St. Benedict Reading for July 13, 2009

March 13, July 13, November 12

Chapter 35: On the Weekly Servers in the Kitchen

Let the brethren serve one another,

and let no one be excused from the kitchen service

except by reason of sickness

or occupation in some important work.

For this service brings increase of reward and of charity.

But let helpers be provided for the weak ones,

that they may not be distressed by this work;

and indeed let everyone have help,

as required by the size of… Continue

Added by Sister Gloriamarie Amalfitano on July 13, 2009 at 10:40am — No Comments

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