Today, I am concluding what I hope will be the first of a number of mini-three-day retreats during the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday reflections. I will endeavor to use a topic from the texts of the readings from the liturgies of the weekly readings for those three days. The theme for each of the three reflections will focus upon journeys ... our own spiritual journeys throughout our lifetime.
Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays will be reserved for reflections on the life and teachings of St Paul. As you may or may not know, Pope Benedict announced that beginning June 29th just passed the Church would be celebrating a special Jubilee Year in honor of the great Apostle, Paul, from June 28, 2008 to June 29, 2009.
Thus far this week we considered worrying, preoccupation and the challenge of a 24/7 attitude allowing something or someone to carry us all over the place except being at home with God. Perhaps the first two days can be summed up with these words: "I have an address but cannot be found there" (H. Nouwen, Making All Things New, p 13). The thoughts of the previous days make clear that much of our time is taken up by distractions and necessary work that we feel spiritually empty.
Jesus, addressing the other side of our daily experiences, continually tries to call us to a genuine spiritual life that will be beneficial. Once we experience the inner freedom of an Apostle and confess to our homeless meanderings and how they have disheveled so much of our daily lives, we lay the foundations for a home where we find peace.
Perhaps these words of Jesus may be a fitting conclusion to the three reflections: "Do not worry.... Set your hearts on his kingdom first ... and all these other things will be give you as well" (Luke 12:28-31).
July 17, 2008
