Sustaining Ourselves in the Spiritual Life: Developing Faith and Community - Prof. Stephen, Study notes of World Religions

Download Sustaining Ourselves in the Spiritual Life: Developing Faith and Community - Prof. Stephen and more Study notes World Religions in PDF only on Docsity! SUSTAINING OURSELVES IN THE SPIRITUAL LIFE SUSTAINING  HOW DO WE DEVELOP THE HEART TO SUSTAIN OURSELVES ON THE LONG ROAD?  GIVEN THE PARTICULAR STRUGGLES OF OUR OWN TIME, WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES?  THE TIMES SEEM TO DICTATE SEVERAL DIRECTIONS. BEING CHRISTIAN  B.) PERSONAL FAITH DEPENDS UPON PRAYER  THERE IS NO WAY TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH ONE’S LIFE AND TO KEEP BALANCE THERE, OUTSIDE OF REGULAR PRAYER.  THIS IS NOT EASY. WE MUST TRY TO CONSISTENTLY SET ASIDE TIME TO BE WITH GOD. BEING CHRISTIAN  C.) PRAYER IS PONDERING  WHAT, ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE, DOES IT MEAN TO PONDER?  TO PONDER, BIBLICALLY, IS TO STAND BEFORE LIFE’S GREAT MYSTERIES AND TO CARRY THE TENSION OF THIS. BEING CHRISTIAN  WHAT IS THE VALUE IN CARRYING TENSION?  ONLY SOMEONE WHO CAN LIVE WITH THE TENSION OF AN UNFINISHED SYMPHONY WILL TRULY RESPECT OTHERS.  THIS ENABLES US TO GIVE BIRTH TO WHAT IS MOST NOBLE: COMPASSION, FORGIVENESS AND LOVE. EUCHARIST  AS A HUMAN FAMILY NEEDS TO SUSTAIN ITSELF BY SET, STRAIGHTFOWARD, REPETIVE, PREDICTABLE RITUALS, SO TOO CHRISTIANS.  TODAY, IT IS DIFFICULT TO SUSTAIN FAITH AND COMMUNITY. EUCHARIST  JESUS’ADVICE IS: GATHER THE PEOPLE, SHARE THE WORD AND BREAK THE BREAD.  WE JUST HAVE TO GATHER AROUND THE SIMPLE, CLEAR RITUALS HE GAVE US.  HE PROMISED TO DO THE REST. 3. SERVE THE RIGHT GOD  WHAT DOES GOD LOOK LIKE? WHAT KIND OF GOD DID JESUS REVEAL?  WHAT WE SEE OUTSIDE OF OURSELVES IS VERY MUCH COLORED BY WHAT IS INSIDE OURSELVES.  JESUS HAD WITHIN HIM A CONCEPT