Showing all posts in December 2020

The birth of the Lord in us, Part 6

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The reflections of this week lead us step by step into the encounter with contemplation.

There is a rich tradition in our holy church which describes the deeper encounter of the soul with God and also invites us to embark on such a journey. We know of communities which are completely devoted to contemplative prayer and which in this way bring the concerns of the Church and the world to God. They withdraw completely from the world and let the flame of love for God burn in their hearts. Read More

The birth of the Lord in us, Part 5

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In this week’s reflections so far, we have considered the meditation of the Word of God, the Rosary and the prayer of the heart, and we have briefly mentioned the reception of Holy Communion in the celebration of Holy Mass. On the latter topic, a few more thoughts. Read More

The birth of the Lord in us, Part 4

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Already in 2019 I have written down three revised reflections on the prayer of the heart practised in the Eastern Church and recommend reading them in our archives (http://en.elijamission.net/?s=prayer+of+the+heart), as well as searching for further literature if one wants to get to know this precious prayer and its history better[1]. Read More

The birth of the Lord in us, Part 3

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Today, on this wonderful feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, it is very appropriate to talk about the Rosary, because it is a classical Christian meditation and is especially associated with the Virgin Mary.

It was she who carried the Lord under her heart and in her heart. If we want to take Jesus deeper into our hearts, she will gladly come to our aid as a spiritual mother. Read More

The birth of the Lord in us, Part 2

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The internalization of our faith is a decisive moment in how much the grace God has given us unfolds in our lives. At the very beginning of my journey of following Christ, I read a sentence by a protestant mystic named Angelus Silesius. He wrote: “And if Jesus had been born a thousand times in Bethlehem and not in you, you would still be lost”. Read More

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When we talk about the coming of the Lord, we think of a triple coming of Jesus: the historical coming with the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the birth of the Lord in us and the coming of the exalted Lord at the end of times.

In this second week of Advent we contemplate the presence of Jesus in our hearts. It is crucial that Jesus also lives in our hearts, because this is where the transformation of man takes place: To let Jesus into our hearts means to give Him shelter, to give space in our souls to the love of God. Read More

The Long Road to Bethlehem, Part 6

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“But when the completion of the time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born a subject of the Law to redeem the subjects of the Law, so that we could receive adoption as sons.” (Gal 4:4-5).

The archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary in Nazareth and it was a decisive hour in the history of salvation. God’s love chose the person from among his people to whom he wanted to entrust his son. It was a woman who, as we know for certain from the teachings of the Catholic Church, was kept free from original sin. Read More

The Long Road to Bethlehem, Part 5

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God keeps the longing for salvation alive in His people.

The tragedy of the experience of one’s own sin, the imperfection of life, the longing for fulfilment, searching for a real life that God has planned for us, to search for God himself, is maintained by the prophets. He will come who redeems Israel and the nations. Read More

The Long Road to Bethlehem, Part 4

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It would be so easy if all people would submit to the loving rule of God, let themselves be filled by His Spirit and live a full and holy life in this intimate love relationship with God and with each other.

Is this a dream? Is it something that lives only in our desires and in our imagination, because we want to escape a reality that often looks so very different? An illusion?

No, it is not a dream! Read More

The Long Road to Bethlehem, Part 3

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God’s love finds those who do not close their heart. Not all turn away from Him, not all walk indifferently through their time on earth, not all remain asleep and keep their ears closed to the call of God. There are also the faithful!

God finds Abraham, the father of believers! Read More