Reflections (Page 2)

Jesus said, "You're not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation--the 'wind hovering over the water' creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life--it's not possible to enter God's kingdom. When you look at a baby, it's just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can't see and touch--the Sprit--and becomes a living spirit.

"So don't be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be 'born from above'--out of this world, so to speak. You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it's headed next. That's the way it is with everyone 'born from above' by the wind of God, the Spirit of God." John 3: 5-8, Peterson, The Message at 189.

[T]hrough work, a human being becomes a giver, a contributor to life. By creating man so that his deepest pleasure is derived from his own efforts, G-d bestowed the greatest gift of all: the capacity to become G-dly, an equal partner in the creation and development of the universe. . . . Work is not a burden that must be wearily borne, but the very fabric of who we are and how we contribute to life. Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Toward a Meaningful Life: The Wisdom of the Rebbe at 95.

[K]eep good company inside and maintain a good inner state. For this good state, this good company, we must awaken our inner energy. Otherwise, when we hear or see something outside that upsets us, we bring it inside, and we live a miserable life. When we keep good company inside, we have supreme discrimination. . . . [W]e should allow all lust, anger, pride, greed and infatuation to sink in the ocean of God's name. When you keep good company, both on the outside and on the inside, you are not carried away by all these emotions. You become the color of the Truth. Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, Kindle My Heart at 80.

Only he who surrenders to God with all his heart and also does good, will find his reward with his Lord, and will have no fear or regret. Al-Quar'ãn 2 The Cow #112.

Be happy in the moment, that's enough. Each moment is all we need, not more. Be happy now and if you show through your actions that you love others, including those who are poorer than you, you'll give them happiness, too. It doesn't take much--it can be just giving a smile. The world would be a much better place if everyone smiled more. So smile, be cheerful, be joyous that God loves you. Mother Teresa, A Simple Path at 181.

[Jesus said,] "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat--I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? Luke 9:23-25, Peterson, The Message at 141.

[An anti-social child] . . . stands outside the mainstream of society, attempting to impose on the world his view that life is a one-way street. He is oblivious of the injury that he inflicts on others and, in fact, does not even have a concept of injury. When his pursuit of excitement goes awry, he lies and blames others. The result ultimately is that he remains an outsider to human affairs. Toward all the people who believe in him, who recognize his potential, who would like to help him, his attitude is one of disdain. Without effective intervention, the antisocial youngster will remain isolated and see human relationships solely as avenues for conquests and triumphs." Stanton E. Samenow, Before It's Too Late: Why Some Kids Get into Trouble and What Parents Can Do About It at 121.

Glossary

Yahweh:: Jewish tradition prohibits using the name of God. That name is known to orthodox Jews as "the tetragrammaton". The tetragrammaton consists of four consonants, transliterated in English as: YHWH (yud-hey-vuv-hey). The correct vowels that go with these consonants have been lost. One guess at the vowels is that the name is "Yahweh". The New Jerusalem Bible (Catholic, translated from the French) states, in Exodus 3:13 (footnote g):
The Yahwistic tradition dates the worship of Yahweh from the origins of humanity, Gn 4:26, and uses this divine name throughout the history of the Patriarchs. According to the Elohistic tradition, to which this text belongs, the name of Yahbweh was first revealed to Moses as the name of the God of the Ancestors. The Priestly tradition, 6:2-3, is in agreement with this, merely giving the added information that the name of the God of the Ancestors was El Shaddai; see Gn 17:1b. . . .
Return to text.

E-mail|reflection archive|