Once again, I offer the depths and riches of Carmel to shed a little light on the path as we find ourselves in these uncertain and complicated times.
John of the Cross himself was no stranger to uncertainty and complexity in his own life and in offering these little sayings of light and love he would have been very aware of it in the lives of those he was writing for.
He so beautifully reminds us that when evening comes, as the sun is setting, we will be examined in love. Examined in love, by a God who loves us, who loves in us, who loves through us, who like us longs to be loved and at the same time teaches us to love.
We are invited in the spirit of Carmel to a contemplative way of being in the world, in love or put another way to be a loving presence in the world. How might we do this, John of the Cross is very clear;
‘ Take God for your Bridegroom and friend and walk with Him continually and you will learn to love.’
We all seem to be doing a lot of walking in these lock down days, and walking continually with God is not breaking the rules as we are allowed to meet one other!!
Finally, some good news, Fr Matt is doing some more lockdown talks, Praying in difficult times, they are on Mondays the first was last week and can be found recorded on;
YouTube ‘Kensington Carmelite Church.’
with love and prayers as we walk on…
Gillian
THINK NOT
THAT PLEASING GOD
LIES SO MUCH
IN
DOING A GREAT DEAL
AS IN DOING IT WITH
GOOD WILL.
John of the Cross
Sayings of light and love 59
WHEN EVENING COMES
YOU WILL EXAMINED
IN LOVE.
LEARN TO LOVE,
AS GOD DESIRES TO BE LOVED
AND ABANDON
YOUR OWN WAYS OF ACTING.
John of the Cross
Sayings of light and love 60
SEE THAT YOU DO NOT INTEFER IN THE AFFAIRS OF OTHERS,
NOR EVEN ALLOW THEM TO PASS THROUGH YOUR MEMORY;
FOR PERHAPS YOU WILL BE UNABLE TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR OWN TASK.
John of the Cross
Sayings of light and love 61
IN TRIBULATION,
IMMEDIATLEY
DRAW NEAR TO GOD
WITH TRUST
AND YOU WILL RECEIVE
STRENGTH,
ENLIGHTENMENT
AND INSTRUCTION.
John of the Cross
Sayings of light and love 66
P. S. from Sr. Patricia Carmelite wisdom undercuts so much of our spirituality—it gets right to the heart of the matter. Don’t think you’ve already heard Fr. Matt’s message. He is ever fresh speaking to a new day about new insights with new grace. I just finished watching the first talk from Fr. Matt at Kensington. Don’t be put off by the low tech equipment. About 4 mins. In Fr. Matt arrives. As he speaks he lights up until you know the Spirit has taken over. He is addressing this time and these difficulties and he is so encouraging. Let him convince you that you are already praying and when you move into a space of expressing that prayer you will grow and grow always enlarging your capacity for love.
