Pope Francis has come out with his first Encyclical
We will go through this document as a spiritual exercise and meditation. Please join us in sharing your thoughts and comments |
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We've gone through the Encyclical and would like to share what struck us. Below are the words that stood out during our studies. We hope that they touch you as they have us...
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Reflection on Paragraph 19:
Isn't it amazing how today's psychology and teachings tell people to look inwards, to find 'themselves' and here we have Pope Francis telling us something totally different. To be open to something prior to ourselves. It is difficult, isn't it...to understand that God is in all time - the past, the present and the future. All we can do is ponder on these things - as Pope Francis states, we just need to be open to the idea; Grace will do the rest. |
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Reflection on Paragraph 20:
This statement just struck me as beautiful. |
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Reflection on Paragraph 26:
Truth and love are never at odds...if it is, it is only our own limitations hindering our understanding. I am struck by how faith, true faith, is a transforming action upon our soul. It is not superficial where we talk a certain way and act how Christian's are meant to act. To be open to God's love within our soul does transform us, does make us a new creature, we are 'born again' to a life where we ask for God's help and guidance and trust that He will deliver us to eternal life. |
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Reflection on Paragraph 27: Self-centredness - this struck me. Do you feel that we live in a world where we are bombarded with getting what we want, when we want it and because we want it, we are told it is OK. Many commercials in the last week have come out with a statement like "because you deserve it". It makes me think, do I deserve it and what about all the other people who are unable to purchase that item, why do they not deserve it? Our faith is built on love (take a look at Romans 13). Love is the fulfillment of the law. I would also equate our faith with always being a balance...truth and love, mercy and justice...one cannot exist without the other. If these virtues should become separated just as Pope Francis reminds us - they would become cold, impersonal and be oppressive. |
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Reflection of Paragraph 38:
Wow...this is a great paragraph! It is packed with spiritual insight. Pope Francis makes us aware how our faith is not individual but built upon a relationship. A relationship with a God who is One in Three (Trinity). But it doesn't stop there...our faith continues to be built on community relationships with the Church being the witness throughout each generation. This really hit a core in my soul. The Church teaches us the 'language of faith'. It is not dependent on one person but the Holy Spirit being present...not just now but in the past and will be there in the future. We are Catholics - universal...not just in an earthly nature but in a supernatural nature with God and with all those who have gone before us and those who will go ahead of us into the future. With this knowledge, we realize that we are contemporaries of Jesus...just as Pope Francis reminds us. Jesus speaks to us directly through all our senses and through all His creation. I know I shouldn't be...but I am continually astonished at the depths of our faith. The more I attempt to learn, the deeper insight and understanding is available. It is as though there is no limit to the vastness, beauty and love of our Lord. |
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Reflections of Paragraph 39: This paragraph really struck me making me realize that our faith is not a singular "me to God" thing but must encompass everyone around me. Pointing out that God is a relationship, a communion of three persons and that He calls us to honour him as well as our neighbour makes how we live our faith a challenge. It would be easy, but wrong, to ignore people and just concentrate on self...the idea that our salvation is just dependent on "us". |
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Reflections on Paragraph 40: The Church hands down the living faith to every generation. This paragraph really made me stop and think what this all means. Every generation is a new generation having a choice to believe or not in God, in Jesus and in the faith. When we are baptised, we see that there is more to our being than the material. A beyond this world is realized and life takes on a new meaning, a new vision is realized. What a beautiful faith we have! |
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Reflections on Paragraph 41: For some unknown reason I chuckled when I read this paragraph. The Pope identifies something so basic but which is lost to most people. Building upon how our faith requires communion, the Pope brings out the fact that Baptism requires participation in fellowship with the Church and those around us. We do not stand alone in our faith; we have to be willing to receive blessings, a helping hand and everything that happens with having a relationship. What a challenge! |