12 STEP CATHOLIC SPIRITUALITY SERIES : STEP 2
I started this series in September 2018
and will continue with the series this year. If you have not read the
first posts, click here to read. This series is based on the 12 Steps
of AA and could have easily been called 12 Step Christian Anon programme.
However, I prefer to think of it as a 12 Step guide to Catholic spirituality
Today we continue on with Step 2: We Confess that Jesus Christ can lead us to the fullness of life.
COMPLETING STEP 2:PERSONAL REFLECTION (STEP 2 CONTINUED)
It is
now time towards completing step 2 by looking at what we have learnt about
ourselves and through personal reflection.
This 12 step guide to catholic spirituality is very personal because we
are all unique in our spirituality. So
what I offer in the personal reflection section are some suggestions. If they don’t work for you, then find another
solution. The important thing is to not
give up, but to keep moving forward in a quest to becoming as God made us, that
is, in His image and likeness.
PERSONAL REFLECTION.
1. 1. Begin
with the New Testament reading it slowly.
When you come to sections you do not understand, make a list of
questions for discussion with a priest and/or another Catholic. The aim is to get an understanding about
Jesus proclaimed in the gospels. If you
already have this perspective on Jesus in the gospels, then you might like to
venture into other New Testament writings.
2. I also suggest that you choose wisely the priest and/or catholic with whom you ask your questions and discuss these matters. It is very important to choose someone who is very knowledgeable in the faith and can discuss these matters in keeping with the catholic church, not their version of what the Catholic Church should teach or worse still, a misguided version of what they hope the Church might teach in the future. Sadly there is a huge difference and not every Catholic or priest is well formed, so ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to the right person who can help you and lead you to the truth of God.
2. If you
are not currently worshipping, then I encourage you to find catholic community,
experience their worship and get a feel for it.
Ask yourself and Holy Spirit ‘’ Do I feel like I belong here?’’.
3 3 If you
are already a catholic and attend mass regularly in your parish, then you may
wish to review how you feel about your parish, not to walk away from it, but to
discern how you feel about your parish.
Is it your spiritual home? If so,
what are the reasons for it? If not,
then what will need to change within yourself to made it so? Answering these questions can be very
enlightening.
44. Having
made a list of questions that you wish to discuss, you may wish to consult with
the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Although
this book is an excellent reference, it can be confusing to understand. I highly recommend the compendium of the
catholic church, since it is set out with questions and answers which a short,
concise and easy to read. I have also have
a series called compendium of the catholic church where I discuss one question per
week. In this series, I like to personalise
what I have learned and make the practical for my life. You may wish to check out my series using the above link.
55. Having
asked the Holy Spirit to guide you to the right priest and/or another Catholic, make an appointment to discuss the
questions that you have. Be ready to
listen to this person as well as the Holy Spirit speaking within you. Be discerning. If they give your answers that our contrary
to what you have already read in the compendium of the catholic church, then it
may be wise to move on and find somebody more suitable. Your faith is not only important but it is to
be treasured carefully. It is the pearl
of great price.
6. Hear Jesus asking you ‘’ or who do you say I am?’’ What is your response?
66.Why
not consider spending some money to install Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN)-
where you can get the catholic station from America 24/7. The programs give the true Catholic perspective.
Financially, you’re paying for the
installation but there is ongoing fee. The website is also very helpful
GROUP DISCUSSION.
1. Ask
each member to give their answer to the Jesus’ question “ who do you say I am?’’
22. Why is
the resurrection such an important Christian belief?
33. What
is the problem of focusing on the resurrection only and not including the
suffering and death of Jesus on the cross? Why is it fundamentally flawed?
44. What
do you believe about the resurrection?
55. How
did Jesus reveal God to us?
66. What
do Catholics and Christians believe about Christ’s redemption?
Hopefully
by now, you will feel ready to move to step 3: ‘’ we decide to turn our lives over
to Jesus Christ’’. I will begin step 3 next week.
Remember, in step 2, our objective is to confess that Jesus Christ can lead us
to the fullness of life. When working
through such a programme, we can feel that we are never quite ready to move
forward. The advantage of such a
programme is that we can come back to it and deepen our faith as we begin again through the 12 steps.
I have done this a number of times and always given the benefit of it because I have commenced the programme from a place of faith at that time. It is important to remember that our faith never stays still. We are either progressing are regressing at any given time. Hopefully, we are progressing in our faith and love for God.
However,
if you need more time to work through step two, then take that time. Do not feel pressured to move forward. The Holy Spirit will guide you when you are ready to make that
next step. Be guided by the Holy Spirit. My blog posts will be there when you are
ready to read them.
Next
week: step 3: we decided to turn our lives over to Jesus Christ
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