12 Step Catholic Spirituality Series. Introduction to Series.

WELCOME TO MY 12 STEP CATHOLIC SPIRITUALITY SERIES.

Introduction to Series.

 

Welcome to my 12 Step Catholic Spirituality Series.  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. 

This series can be used in whatever way it suits you. You may decided to initiate a group in your parish or prefer a personal journey with the Lord. However, to be able to complete Step 5 another human being needs to be involved. More about that later, but you might like to think about who that special priest/spiritual director might be.

This programme can be completed over 12 weeks if you wish to complete each step every week. You may prefer to journey along with the series, since I have chosen a monthly process for each step with the new step being introduced on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. I have used the word selfishness to cover a range of sins/ addictions/ behaviour patterns. You may wish to choose your own word suitable to your own situation since we are all individuals with different issues.

12 STEPS

So what are the 12 steps? They are as follows:

1.            We admit that we cannot realise our fullest human potential by living a life of 

''selfishness''.

2.            We confess that Jesus Christ can lead us to the fullness of life.

3.            We decide to term our lives over to Jesus Christ.

4.            We make a searching and fearless moral inventory.

5.            We admit to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6.            We declare ourselves ready to love God, remove all our defects of character.

7.            We humbly ask God to remove all our shortcomings.

8.            We make a list of all persons we have harmed, and determine to make amends to them.

9.            We make direct amends to those we have harmed, except when to do so would injure them.

10.         We continue to take personal inventory and promptly admit when we are wrong.

11.         We seek through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry on.

12.         Spiritually awakened as a result of these Steps, we are determined to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all areas of life.

These steps might seem daunting at first, but day by day, step by step with God''s loving assistance, these steps become a great tool towards deeper spiritual growth. We cannot successfully embark on this journey without 

·                     asking God's assistance as we start and progress through these 12 steps.

·                     spending time with Him asking Him to shed light on our darkness/selfishness.

·                     setting our personal goals on what we hope we might achieve before we embark on this journey.

·                     reviewing our goals as we progress through the 12 steps.

·                     realising that these 12 steps are an ongoing journey- so in one sense we never quite complete the programme.  However, we can make every effort to complete it to the best of our ability where we are at this present moment in our lives.

PREPARING FOR THE JOURNEY.

To prepare for step 1, we may wish to

·                     Get a journal where we can record our journey. We may need to decide on a safe                   place so that it is between God and myself only. Putting a journal where we know                  other family members can find it is unwise and unhelpful.

·                     Pray to God this week for assistance as we prepare to start this journey.

·                     Write down your goals of what you hope to achieve through these 12 step journey.                You may wish to choose a particular issue/ difficulty/ sin/pattern of behaviour that                  you specifically wish to work on during these 12 months and chart your progress.

·                     Reflect on during the week how Step 1 speaks to you.

Now there is a framework, we will journey along for the next 4 weeks on step 1.

Happy preparation for the journey.

Who am I for you? Chapter 8:27-30).

GOSPEL OF MARK SERIES

The Bible: Gospel of Mark Series.

 

During the remainder of 2018, each week, I will write a weekly post about the Gospel of Mark, as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark. I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season.
In today's post, we explore chapter 8: 27-30 which is called Who am I for you?

Who am I for you? Chapter 8:27-30).

These few verses usher in the first climax in Mark's Gospel, which was said the beginning to be about Jesus as Christ and Son of God.  Her He is name the Christ or Messiah. Only after His death will He be publicly named Son of God. (15:39).

Jesus is still outside Israel, travelling among the villages to the north near Caesarea Phillipi where the Jordan river rises from the mountains.  The 'way' used by Mark here and several times in the next part of his Gospel, can mean not only to the physical roadway, but may also symbolise 'the way'.  Jesus is teaching His disciples to walk as true disciples, the theme of the next part of his Gospel (8:1-10:52).

Jesus first asks what outsiders, people who are not disciples, say about him.  Various answers are given which identify him with great figures from Israel's past, for like the blind man they do not see clearly yet.  Then Jesus asks his disciples, ''But who do you say that I am?".

Earlier, Jesus silenced the demons who named Him (1:34, 3:12) and also the people whom He cured (7:36, 8:26).  His disciples asked among themselves in astonishment and in terror, who is this man (4:25)?  Now Jesus himself asks his disciples to name Him, as He asked each of us, not from any book knowledge but from an experience of being touched by Him in one's own life.

Peter, like the blind man when he sees clearly, names Him the Messiah, which means Christ, the one anointed by God for the divine task of revealing His power to Israel.  Peter is thinking of the popular expectation of a worldly and political Messiah.  At the same time, it may be Peter's best word to identify the most wonderful person he has ever met.

This episode serves as a bridge passage which concludes the first half of Mark's Gospel and begins the second.

In our journal and/or our discussion group we may wish to reflect on this passage as follows:

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

•  Name the key points that you have learnt about the person of Jesus in this              passage of scripture.
•   Imagine that you are one of the disciples What do you see and hear and feel?          . What can I learn from this? 
•  How does the question of Jesus in this passage resonate with you?  What would you say?
•  Why did Jesus ask the disciples not to tell others of His identity?  
•  How would we respond to Jesus regarding our blindness and sight in relation   to His identity?  
• Reflect on my relationship with Jesus and this teaching in the light of this gospel         passage.  
•  What impact does Jesus’ teaching have on you (8:27-30)? 
•  How has this passage spoken to you- what does it say to you personally?  ·  
• If you were to meet a fellow parishioner who was interested in reading gospel of Mark, what would you say to him/her about this passage? 
•  If a fellow parishioner had read this passage, what might he/she say about this            passage?

Collect for 22nd Sunday of Year B:

COLLECT SERIES

The Mass: Collect Series Icon.

COLLECT

The Collect for the 22nd Sunday of Year B reads as follows:

God of might, giver of every good gift,

put into our hearts the love of Your name,

so that, by deepening our sense of reverence,

You may nurture in us what is good,

and by Your watchful care,

keep safe what You have nurtured.

 REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible for during the week, the following reflection questions emerged:

1.Name the good gifts God has given you this week/fortnight/month.  (This is particularly useful when we are feeling down and/or life feels on top of us.  It is also useful to do to nurture grace of gratitude.).

2. What does the name of God mean to you?

3. How do you feel when I misuse the name of God and when others misuse it?

4. What can I do when God's name is misused?

5. What does a sense of reverence mean to me- are you fearful what others may think of you when you have a sense of reverence?

6. Name the areas in your life that God has nurtured good in you?  How do you want Him to continue to nurture these areas?

7. How can God keep safe what He has nurtured that is good in me?

GOSPEL REFLECTION

When it comes to God's name being used irreverently, we may feel that we have to keep quiet and cannot speak out.  We may fear what others might say to us if we politely correct them.  So, before you embark on improving this aspect and highlighting in your circle of friends, family, parishioners, colleagues, strangers etc. you may wish to listen carefully to oneself first.  How often do I take the name of the Lord in vain- do i even give it a thought?  Expressions such as OMG comes to mind.

Listen to yourself over a day or two and see what happens? What are the expressions I use myself which are irreverent to God?

During this coming week, why not join me in an experiment:  listen to conversations that we have, with ourselves, family, colleagues at work, watch the TV, read the paper, notice billboards and count up the number of times the name of God and the things of God are spoken or written about irreverently.  Perhaps if this seems too much just focus on one of these areas. 

Then for every time that God's name is irreverently used,  say a prayer- a Glory Be would be great as it praises God or Our Father or Hail Mary or your own prayer. Any prayer that praises God said with love and reverence offers reparation for the sin.  Remember the second commandment

 "' You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.(Deut 5:11) 

Jesus reminds us also  when He said  ''You have heard that it was said to the men of old, "You shall not swear falsely. . But I say to you, Do not swear at all.(Mt 5:33-34).

Jesus in today's Gospel of Mark that we forget the commandments of God and hold on to human traditions. You may wish to check out my thoughts on this Gospel chapter 7 from my Mark Series.  The Gospel also used 14-15,21-23 from chapter 7.

The second reading of James invites us to be doers of the word.  Like James, I invite us to join together to be doers of the word this week in whatever way we can.

Once we have examined our own use of God's name, we may wish to read Compendium of the Catholic Church and revise the Second Commandment.  Examine how it affects you personally as you read it.  Then be prepared to find your own ways to give God's name honour and reverence.

I can tell you a personal story of how I approached it myself.  I take an older lady shopping regularly.  She is not a catholic.  At first, I noticed how many times she used bad language and irreverent use of God's name. I used to cringe and wanted to say something, but thinking that she is not a Catholic and she is an elderly lady, I decided it was inappropriate.  First mistake: Every time someone misuses God''s name, it is belittling God, and the things of God. I , as a Catholic should stand up for what I believe and hold dear.

This went on for some time as I felt weak to say something.  Then one day, I decided, after some prayer on the matter, to say something.  I calmly said "' I would prefer you not to use God's name that way as it is offensive to my beliefs''.  She looked at me with great surprise- I felt sick but also happy. Then the biggest surprise of all- she said "' thank you for stopping me- I have got into a bad habit and have not been able to stop it''.

Years later, I still take that lady shopping and I seldom get an irreverent word from her- an occasional one slips out from time to time. There is always a very quick apology.

So, if we as Catholics do not stand up for what we hold dear ( provided of course we do), then we cannot expect society to take us seriously either.  We must stand up and be counted.

Start of course with ourselves of course because it is often easier to find the splinter in the eye of another and not the plank in our own as Jesus warns us.  However with God's help, this plank can be removed and with our constant love for Him and our efforts through the grace of God.

Perhaps you might like to start something like this or a version of this in your parish- pick an issue which as as parish you can work on together.  It starts with one person- and the ripple effect will take hold.

19th Sunday of Year Collect

COLLECT SERIES

COLLECT

The Mass: Collect Series Icon.

The Collect for the 19th Sunday of Year B reads as follows:

Almighty and ever-living God,

whom, taught by the Holy Spirit,

we dare to call God our Father,

bring, we pray, to perfection to our hearts,

the spirit of adoption as Your sons and daughters,

that we may merit to enter into the inheritance 

which you have promised.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this Collect Prayer tangible the following reflection questions emerged:

1.What does calling God our Father mean to me?

2.Why do I want to pray for the spirit of adoption as God's children?

3. What does it mean to me to be a son or daughter of God? What difference will it make in my life this coming week?

4.Why do I want to merit Heaven as the inheritance to which I have been promised?

5. What area in my life will I change this week with God's help ? How I will be a better person by next Sunday?

GOSPEL REFLECTION

Today's readings are very helpful to us.  In the first reading, Elijah had reached his limit. He had had enough and told God so. He just wanted to die.  I dont know about you, but there are plenty of times in my life where i have said almost those same words "God, I have had enough". I may not have voiced the second phrase, but there are times when dying would have been a great way out at the time.

However, as we see in the reading, and hopefully in our lives as well, that God provides for our weakness, provides us with strength and courage to continue when things are tough and at times places the right person in our path to help us. We need to be faithful and persevere and know that God is with us in every moment of every day. We are a child of God who has been promised the inheritance.  Are we going to merit it or give up?

We don’t need to give up or lose courage.  Jesus tells us in the Gospel today, that He is the bread of life.  In other words, Jesus provides us with food for the journey- not just any food but Himself under the appearance of bread and wine.  We can go to Mass daily or as often as we can to hear the word of God and to receive Him in communion.

At Mass, the readings provide the word of how we are to live. Take for instance the second reading today. It is quite clear that we are not meant to call each other names or be jealous. No, we are to walk in love with Jesus by our side.  We do not need to be afraid, lose heart, lack courage as Jesus loves us and, as His children God will provide for all our needs.  Not only, that, when we receive Jesus in communion, we are together with Him - in union.  If we are in union with God every time,we receive Eucharist at Mass, then all of our weaknesses, flaws, anxieties, fears etc can be given to Him.  We can walk in courage and faith knowing in hope that Jesus is there always.  

So put Jesus first place in your life every day.  Make Jesus your no 1 of your heart and mind.

May you continue to walk the journey in love and when discouragement and problems come, call out to God, knowing that He will give your courage and encouragement. God will provide.

May you have a blessed week

14th Sunday Collect Year B

COLLECT SERIES

COLLECT

The Mass: Collect Series Icon.

The Collect of the 14th Sunday Year B reads as follows

O God, who in the abasement of Your Son,

have raised up a fallen world,

fill Your faithful with holy joy,

for on those you have rescued from slavery to sin

you bestow eternal gladness.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible for during the week the following reflections questions emerged:

1. What does the obedience of Christ as Son mean for my life this week?

2. How will I co-operate with Christ by raising my fallen world this week?

3.  What are the areas of my life that are fallen and need to be raised by Christ?

4. What are the areas of darkness from which I need Christ to free me?

5. How will I live from the freedom of sin? What steps will I take this week?

6. How can I bring the joy that last fro ever into my internal and external world this week.

GOSPEL REFLECTION

Today's Gospel of Mark 1-6, reminds us that a prophet is despised only in his own country. Click on the link to read more about today's Gospel.  The crowds key questioning in their hearts related to the source of His teaching for they saw Him grow up in their own town and to the nature of His wisdom for it comes with a divine power to heal and re-create.

Let us think of ourselves for a moment.  Is there someone perhaps in a work situation or parish situation who is wise and forward thinking and has many great ideas?  What happens?  Instead of the group embracing the wisdom, jealousy and power play take over and inevitably the person is cast out like a leper from the group.  I know, I have had this experience often enough and have tried to stop others from experiencing it.

People generally have a perception of another person and have them in a box. It makes them feel safe and they know how to relate to them.  To a certain extent, this is healthy as we need some boundaries.   Where it becomes a problem is when people do not allow others to grow and blossom. They often do not want to grow themselves out of fear but for the person who steps out and does do the emotional and spiritual work, they may even admire the change but are not prepared to acknowledge it in a crowd situation. They fear that they may lose their status in the group. Sometimes they oppose what they themselves would actually like to do.  For some people, it is easier to tear down than build up.

So how much more would Jesus received this resistance and opposition?   Being different and having this wisdom which had a divine power to heal and recreate would have been a real struggle for people to accept especially when it was in the confines of a box of their making, from which they were not prepared to allow Jesus to emerge.

Perhaps we resist and oppose God in our relationship with Him.  He wants us to be the best version of ourselves- the person He created us to be.  Yet, we through Luke warmness, fear and resistance, bumble along without any signs of real growth in our relationship with God and with others.

So as we hear this gospel today,  let us decide on one area of our lives where we know needs change and ask God to help us not resist or fear the work required to make the change. Ask Jesus to help  us  and to let down our guards.  Give us strength to blossom forth and tap into His divine power to heal and recreate.

We may also resolve to encourage others instead of resisting and opposing them in a group. It takes courage to stand up and be counted but this is what is really required.  Let us check our emotions for negativity, jealousy and power play  and resolve to be what God intends for us.

13th Sunday of Year: Collect

COLLECT SERIES

 

The Mass: Collect Series Icon.

COLLECT

The Collect for the 13th Sunday of Year B reads as follows:

O God, who through the grace of adoption

chose us to be children of light

Grant we pray,

that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this Collect tangible for our lives this coming week, the following reflection questions emerged:

1. What does it mean to me to be a child of God?

2. What is the grace of adoption?

3. What does it mean for me to a child of light?  

4. How will being a child of light be evident in my life this week?

5. Think of a present before it is opened. It may please the receiver with its pretty paper and bow. However, inside the gift itself is wrapped (covered) and as such is in the dark.  

How is my gift of myself right now?

6. What areas of darkness of error do I tend to fall into regularly. What will I do about it/them?

7. Receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation restores us to a child of light.  Why not use the sacrament this coming week. Be a child of light this week.

 GOSPEL REFLECTION

The Gospel from Mark chapter 5 has a lot to offer us.  Why not read this post.

However the key to both stories which Mark weaves in so well is ultimately of faith- faith in the face of adversity.  In relation to the woman who suffered the haemorrhage for 12 years, Mark tells us that her condition was getting worse and she had spent all she had trying different treatments. She told herself that if she could just touch his hem of his cloak, she would be healed.  She was brave because with her condition at that time, blood was a sacred thing- life giving and only meant for the temple.  She was not only putting herself at risk of exclusion but also Jesus.

We can relate to the hope-disappointment and desperation cycle of this woman.  Anyone who has a condition which has no known cure is willing to try something new and with that comes hope. Then the treatment/cream or tablets after some time of diligence on our part does not make the condition any better, perhaps slightly, but definitely not the cure we hoped. Here comes the disappointment.

Rounds and Rounds of this leads to desperation.  This woman had a haemorrhage for 12 years. If you were in her shoes, would you have risked everything for that final hope of healing through Jesus?

The other question of thought that I would like to consider as we hear this gospel is for us to consider what our illness is.  It may not be physical but it may be mental/emotional or spiritual.  Why not write a list of areas in your life that need urgent attention?   Are you willing to risk everything to take this list to Jesus and reach out for healing- will you touch His hem of His garment this week?
None of us are perfect and as the Collect says wrapped in error.

We may not be able to physically touch His garment but Jesus, through the Sacrament of Reconciliation gives us that opportunity to reach out in faith and be healed.  In this sacrament we are no longer wrapped in error but become clothed as children of light.
If you have not received the sacrament for a long time, do not worry or be anxious. Tell the priest your circumstances, make an appointment so you do not feel worried that you are taking too long and others may be waiting.  Reach out to Jesus and touch His hem this week.

If you receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly, then keep receiving it. It builds up grace within us and helps us to be a child of light.  When temptations come, those same sins/faults etc that keep coming up, we are able to keep working on them, whilst acknowledging the grace that Jesus gives us.  Have you ever noticed that a particular fault/sin becomes less... perhaps it is a sharp word withheld that would have previously been said. It is in that moment that you realise the grace of the sacrament working in you.  Thank God for it.  You have touched His hem in that moment.

Walk as a child of light this week and let that light shine

Birth of John the Baptist

COLLECT SERIES

The Mass: Collect series icon.

COLLECT

The Collect (Mass during the day) for the Nativity of St John the Baptist reads as follows:

O God who raised up St John the Baptist,

to make ready a nation fit for Christ Our Lord,

give Your people we pray,

the grace of spiritual joys,

and direct the hearts of all the faithful

into the way of salvation and peace.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son,

who lives with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God for ever and ever.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged:

1.            Why does the Church celebrate the Nativity of John the Baptist?

2.            How can I make myself ready for Christ this coming week?

3.            How can I bring another person to Christ?

4.            Why should I pray for the grace of spiritual joys?

5.            What is the way of salvation and peace?

6.            How can I be led into the way of salvation and peace this coming week?

7.            What is my personal plan in this Year of Grace for this coming week?

GOSPEL REFLECTION.

The Church celebrates 3 birthdays throughout the Year- Birth of Christ (holy day of obligation), Birthday of Mary (8 September) and Birth of John the Baptist. Both Mary and John the Baptist are significant in our faith for the Birth of Christ. Mary, of course is Mother of Jesus and John the Baptist is the last prophet who announces Christ to his followers. After that, he steps away and allows Christ to continue the ministry to which He had been called.   He is also a relative of Jesus as well. 

In today's Collect, it says that God raised up St John the Baptist to make ready a nation fit for Christ the Lord.  In today's Gospel, which is Luke's account of the Nativity of John the Baptist, we sense the neighbours joy for Elizabeth and Zechariah, since having children was considered a blessing and to give birth to a child late in life raised the stakes of interest even further amongst the neighbours.

These neighbours would have remembered what they have been told about Zechariah when the angel appeared to him nine months before the baby's birth, (Lk 15:23) and now when the child is to be named, there is a break from tradition and he is called John, which his father communicated by writing. Then his power of speech returns and he praises God.  St Luke creates the awe and wonder experienced by the neighbours so well.  A birth of a child always creates interest from loved ones, friends and neighbours. But how much more interested would these neighbours been as they watched St John the Baptist grow and mature.

So, we are not Zechariah and Elizabeth's neighbours.  How does this gospel scene speak to us?

This gospel passage may encourage us to:

·     Be aware of the presence of God in our lives and the lives of others and in experiencing        it, express our gratitude to God.

·       Appreciate the gift of new life in a birth of a child and experience and share the joy
    with the new parents.

·       Pray for the new born child asking God to help him/ her to grow with His blessing.

·     Understand that the naming of a child is important as it often indicates personality traits and future career path. If you are expecting a child, you may wish to ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in the naming of your child.

·    Remain faithful to what we believe to be true especially if we have had some spiritual confirmation/experience.

May the celebration of the nativity of St John the Baptist 

give you encouragement to bring others to Christ 

and to be faithful to your vocation to which God has called you.