This reflection was given by Deacon James Keating during the “The Light Shines in the Darkness” Insititute for Priestly Formation 2016 Advent Retreat at Christ the King Church, in Omaha, NE on December 2016. Deacon Keating was joined by Fr. Mauritius Wilde OSB. This if the first of two talks.
Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is the director of Theological Formation for the Institute for Priestly Formation, located at Creighton University, in Omaha.
37. “If anyone should affirm to me that to find the bottom of the abyss is to be immersed in humility, I would not contradict him. However, it seems to me that to be plunged into humility is to be plunged into God, for God is the bottom of the abyss. This is why humility, like charity, is always capable of increasing.”
Anthony Lilles, S.T.D. is an associate professor and the academic dean of Saint John’s Seminary in Camarillo as well as the academic advisor for Juan Diego House of Priestly Formation for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. For over twenty years he served the Church in Northern Colorado where he joined and eventually served as dean of the founding faculty of Saint John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver. Through the years, clergy, seminarians, religious and lay faithful have benefited from his lectures and retreat conferences on the Carmelite Doctors of the Church and the writings of St. Elisabeth of the Trinity.
In 1531—hardly a decade after the Spanish conquest—an enthusiastic convert, who had taken the Christian name Juan Diego, was hurrying down the hill to hear Mass in Mexico City. Suddenly the Blessed Virgin appeared to him. She gave him a message for the bishop: “Go to the palace of the bishop of Mexico. Tell him it is my great desire to have a temple built to me here. Tell him everything you’ve seen and heard. You can be sure that I will be very grateful and will reward you.” Bishop Zumárraga didn’t believe Juan Diego at first. As he was returning home, the Blessed Virgin met him again. “Obviously he thinks I made up my story,” Juan Diego told her. “So I beg you, my Lady, send someone more worthy, someone well respected, so that they’ll believe him. I’m nobody, just a little rope, the very end, a leaf.” “Listen, my dear little son,” Mary replied, “I have many messengers I might send, but it is important that you yourself carry this message.” She commanded him to go again to the bishop, and Juan Diego promised that he would.
32. “See,” says St. John, “what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God’ and such we are….Now we are the children of God, and we have not yet seen what we shall be. We know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him makes himself holy, just as He Himself is holy.”
Anthony Lilles, S.T.D. is an associate professor and the academic dean of Saint John’s Seminary in Camarillo as well as the academic advisor for Juan Diego House of Priestly Formation for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. For over twenty years he served the Church in Northern Colorado where he joined and eventually served as dean of the founding faculty of Saint John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver. Through the years, clergy, seminarians, religious and lay faithful have benefited from his lectures and retreat conferences on the Carmelite Doctors of the Church and the writings of St. Elisabeth of the Trinity.
Likewise, he behaves as a chief bent on conquering and robbing what he desires: for, as a captain and chief of the army, pitching his camp, and looking at the forces or defenses of a stronghold, attacks it on the weakest side, in like manner the enemy of human nature, roaming about, looks in turn at all our virtues, theological, cardinal and moral; and where he finds us weakest and most in need for our eternal salvation, there he attacks us and aims at taking us.
In Acts 16, Paul and Silas visited the city of Philippi, so today we turn our attention to Paul’s beautiful letter to the Philippians. Written while in prison, Paul’s affection for the Philippians flows out through his words. Sharon begins with a panoramic historical view and then progressively narrows her focus, drawing us further in as the lecture progresses. To set the stage, Sharon takes us back to Daniel 2, showing us Daniel’s interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream which prophesied a succession of empires: Babylonian, Persian, Greek and ultimately Roman. Sharon then gives us a nice overview of the history of Roman emperors who ruled just before, during and following the time of Christ. Knowing this history enriches our understanding of not only Paul’s letter to the Philippians, but of the entire Bible and the initial 400 years of the Church. Sharon then turns her attention to Paul’s letter to the Philippians, which overflows with profound passages, rich in wisdom and theological significance. Working her way through this amazing epistle, Sharon periodically pauses and focuses on various important passages. The climax of the lecture is a wonderful teaching on Philippians 2:5-11, a beautiful hymn about Christ’s humility, obedience, humanity and divinity.
Sharon Doran serves as the teaching director of “Seeking Truth.” An experienced Bible Study teacher, Sharon has a passion for scripture that will motivate and challenge you to immerse yourself in God’s Word and apply His message to your everyday life.
“Seeking Truth” is an in-depth Catholic Bible Study, commissioned by the Archdiocese of Omaha in response to John Paul II’s call to the New Evangelization as well as Pope Benedict XVI’s exhortation for all Catholics to study scripture. To learn more go to:www.seekingtruth.net
The Lutherans and the Anglicans tried to retain some semblance of traditional Christian doctrine and worship. But if—as Luther claimed—the individual interpretation of Scripture was to be the only standard for Christianity, then the result was predictable. Other sects arose, and soon Protestants were split into dozens of sects and subsects, each one based on a particular interpretation of Scripture—often just a few verses in Scripture.
30. Let us lovingly eat this bread of the will of God. If sometimes His will is more crucifying, we can doubtless say with our adored Master: “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass me by,” but we will add immediately: “Yet not as I will, but as You will”; and in strength and serenity, with the divine Crucified, we will also climb our calvary singing in the depths of our hearts and raising a hymn of thanksgiving to the Father.
Anthony Lilles, S.T.D. is an associate professor and the academic dean of Saint John’s Seminary in Camarillo as well as the academic advisor for Juan Diego House of Priestly Formation for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. For over twenty years he served the Church in Northern Colorado where he joined and eventually served as dean of the founding faculty of Saint John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver. Through the years, clergy, seminarians, religious and lay faithful have benefited from his lectures and retreat conferences on the Carmelite Doctors of the Church and the writings of St. Elisabeth of the Trinity.
“The Lord opened her heart.” With these beautiful words, we learn about Lydia, a wealthy woman from Philippi and dealer of purple cloth. The story of Lydia serves as a springboard of encouragement for us to open our own hearts to the Lord, who is always knocking at but never forcing His way into our hearts. Sharon then gives us some fascinating details about the production of purple dyes and the political/social significance of this precious fabric. We also learn more about Timothy, who accompanies Paul during this part of his ministry and is later installed as the bishop of Ephesus. Sharon gives us insight into the cultures of Philippi and Ephesus, which helps us better understand the pastoral issues that Paul and Timothy addressed in their letters to these Christian communities. The chapter ends with an amazing jailbreak: secured by stocks, Paul and Silas witness to their fellow prisoners, only to be freed through a miraculous earthquake. The despondent jailer is about to take his own life, but Paul and Silas convince him otherwise, preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ, and the jailer along with his entire household are baptized.
Sharon Doran serves as the teaching director of “Seeking Truth.” An experienced Bible Study teacher, Sharon has a passion for scripture that will motivate and challenge you to immerse yourself in God’s Word and apply His message to your every day life.
“Seeking Truth” is an in-depth Catholic Bible Study, commissioned by the Archdiocese of Omaha in response to John Paul II’s call to the New Evangelization as well as Pope Benedict XVI’s exhortation for all Catholics to study scripture. To learn more go to:www.seekingtruth.net
Likewise, he acts as a licentious lover in wanting to be secret and not revealed. For, as the licentious man who, speaking for an evil purpose, solicits a daughter of a good father or a wife of a good husband, wants his words and persuasions to be secret, and the contrary displeases him much, when the daughter reveals to her father or the wife to her husband his licentious words and depraved intention, because he easily gathers that he will not be able to succeed with the undertaking begun: in the same way, when the enemy of human nature brings his wiles and persuasions to the just soul, he wants and desires that they be received and kept in secret; but when one reveals them to his good Confessor or to another spiritual person that knows his deceits and evil ends, it is very grievous to him, because he gathers, from his manifest deceits being discovered, that he will not be able to succeed with his wickedness begun.
This reflection was given by Deacon James Keating during the “The Light Shines in the Darkness” Insititute for Priestly Formation 2016 Advent Retreat at Christ the King Church, in Omaha, NE on December 2016. Deacon Keating was joined by Fr. Mauritius Wilde OSB. This if the first of two talks.
Episode 16 – The Fourteenth Rule:
