Radical Grace - Quotations

[Rowlf]

One of my most helpful teachers has been an american Franciscan Priest, named Richard Rohr. He speaks incredibly clearly on, what I would describe as, adult christianity. I've been listening to his talks on tape and CD for years. One set, called Breathing Under water', on 12-step spirituality, has taken on rather more relevance since joining TTF! :D

He runs a daily mediation email mailshot, which can be just spot on at times. I thought I'd share some of the recent post that have had a large resonance with me, in case they speak to you as well.....

[Rowlf]

John of the Cross said approximately the identical thing about the soul that physics say about nature, "nature abhors a vacuum". Whenever there is a vacuum, nature somehow has to fill it up. Whenever you provide God with space, God will fill it.
A spirituality of perfection trained you to fill up your space with commandments, rituals, good behavior, stars and so forth. You've so filled it yourself there is no vacuum for God to fill.
There must be room for Another inside of you, and all you can keep doing is providing God with emptiness.

from The Little Way

I think the admitting addictive patterns open us enough to have a little bit of space within. Practicing PA allows no space within..

[Rowlf]

Simone Weil said, "It is grace that forms the void inside of us and it is grace alone that can fill the void."
Without grace we will not enter into the void, and without grace the void will not be filled. All we can do is try to keep our hands cupped and open and ask God to teach us how to keep our hands cupped and open. The events and experiences of life teach us how.
Great religion seeks utter awareness and full consciousness, so that we can, in fact, receive all.
Everything belongs and everything can be received. We don't have to deny, dismiss, defy, or ignore.
What is, is okay. What is, is the great teacher.

from Everything Belongs

[Rowlf]

Sin is a great teacher. Of course, we all have sinned as Romans makes very clear. One of the wonderful discoveries as you work with Jesus is that he is never upset at sinners. Go through the four Gospels, it is very clear in the text.
It's amazing the energy we put into ferreting out sinners, punishing and excluding them, and yet Jesus is only upset at people who don't think they are sinners.

from The Little Way

[Daniel]

Sin is a great teacher. Of course, we all have sinned as Romans makes very clear. One of the wonderful discoveries as you work with Jesus is that he is never upset at sinners. Go through the four Gospels, it is very clear in the text.
It's amazing the energy we put into ferreting out sinners, punishing and excluding them, and yet Jesus is only upset at people who don't think they are sinners.

from The Little Way

Excellent Rowlf.

Paraphrasing "He dines with drunkards and gluttons" ... and "He is a friend of sinners."

That is really good stuff.

Here's another observation that sprang into my mind, I don't think you need to hear it necessarily but for some reason I need to write it down...


On inner peace and forgiveness, something that was a breakthrough for me was the thought that I have really really messed up as a PA AND I AM FORGIVEN for these sins.

If the Living Lord of the universe, the One who spoke and the universe leapt into existence,
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
(!!!)

If God can, will, does forgive me, who am I to not forgive myself?

Forgiving myself was a big step in the right direction..

[Rowlf]

“How blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs”
(Matthew 5:3)

What an opening line! I always say it’s the opener of Jesus’ inaugural address. “How happy are the poor in spirit.” It’s crucial, a key to everything Jesus is teaching.

Poor in spirit means to live without a need for your own righteousness. It’s inner emptiness; no outer need for your own reputation. If you’re poor in spirit it won’t be long before you’re poor. In other words, you won’t waste the rest of your life trying to get rich because you’ll know better.

[Daniel]

Good stuff Rowlf!

I don't have time right now to put it in, but Ephesians 6:10-20 is probably my all-time favorite -identifies the enemy and provides the solution. Now if I can only DO IT!

Let the Good Times Roll,

Daniel

[Rowlf]

I haven't been reading Richard's daily posts for a while and then when I looked today this came up!

PRAYER: ATTUNEMENT TO CONSCIOUSNESS

Question of the Day:
How can I improve my “receiver station”?

The traditional and most universal word to describe a different access to truth was simply “to pray about something.” But that lovely word “prayer” has been so deadened by pious use and misuse that we now have to describe this different mental attitude with new words. I am going to introduce a different word here, so you can perceive in a fresh way, and perhaps appreciate what we mean by contemplation. The word is “resonance.”

Prayer is actually setting out a tuning fork. All you can really do in the spiritual life is get tuned to receive the always-present message. Once you are tuned, you will receive, and it has nothing to do with worthiness or the group you belong to, but only inner resonance and a capacity for mutuality (Matthew 7:7-11). The Sender is absolutely and always present and broadcasting; the only change is with the receiver station.

From The Naked Now, pp. 101-102

I think PA or any addiction causes us to lose the ability to be a receiving station. When we stop, we can once again resonate to the message.....