Comments on: Sunday Week 4 of Easter Year B http://rmarsh.com/2006/05/07/sunday-week-4-of-easter-year-b/ Spirituality and Theology Sun, 11 Jul 2010 11:10:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: cathy http://rmarsh.com/2006/05/07/sunday-week-4-of-easter-year-b/comment-page-1/#comment-220 cathy Wed, 31 May 2006 10:47:03 +0000 http://rmarsh.com/2006/05/07/sunday-week-4-of-easter-year-b/#comment-220 Father Thanks foryour response. I think i was feeling somewhat apathetic with life when I came across that first quote. Sometimes it is easier to belive that what we choose in life makes no difference because then we don't have to make a change. i.e., it is easier to go with the flow than swim upstream. Your answer reminds me that what I say and do truly do matter and that even if we choose to do nothing in certain situations that choice will have consequences. Hope that makes sense Peace Father
Thanks foryour response. I think i was feeling somewhat apathetic with life when I came across that first quote. Sometimes it is easier to belive that what we choose in life makes no difference because then we don’t have to make a change. i.e., it is easier to go with the flow than swim upstream.

Your answer reminds me that what I say and do truly do matter and that even if we choose to do nothing in certain situations that choice will have consequences.

Hope that makes sense
Peace

]]> By: crystal http://rmarsh.com/2006/05/07/sunday-week-4-of-easter-year-b/comment-page-1/#comment-219 crystal Fri, 12 May 2006 20:21:27 +0000 http://rmarsh.com/2006/05/07/sunday-week-4-of-easter-year-b/#comment-219 Not all instances of suffering are God's Will? Can you expalin more about how to tell the difference? Thanks. Not all instances of suffering are God’s Will? Can you expalin more about how to tell the difference? Thanks.

]]> By: Rob http://rmarsh.com/2006/05/07/sunday-week-4-of-easter-year-b/comment-page-1/#comment-218 Rob Fri, 12 May 2006 14:13:15 +0000 http://rmarsh.com/2006/05/07/sunday-week-4-of-easter-year-b/#comment-218 Cathy: I'm finding it hard to comment on the Pavese quote without some more context. And I guess that's the issue. Jesus chooses at many points in his life to avoid suffering or to confront its causes but at this passionate point he enters into it freely laying down his life. Why now and not before? When is suffering and sacrifice an evil to be opposed wholeheartedly and when is it only to be disarmed by choosing it? I think there are two modes of answering that: one can look for general answers or particular ones. At the first level I'd want to wonder what the alternative is? What choices are open to me and what are not? Jesus suffers politically and religiously--he is put to death for a cause and unjustly--and he chooses to embrace that rather than revolt, or raise an army, or run away, or recant. The God he loves is at stake. Too often embracing suffering is encouraged in a way that reinforces the status quo rather than undermining it. Jesus words are clear--that he lays down his life to take it up again. That embracing suffering and hardship must always be an act of life and an act of love. The second level of answer is about discernment. There are no convincing general rules. What it comes down to is what, in this particular, contingent circumstance is God's desire and hope for me and my life. And can I desire it too. I don't mean some fatalistic acceptance of 'God's Will' but some active engagement with the depths of my heart and God's heart that opens up a path of life which compels me. I suspect I've not really answered your query... Cathy: I’m finding it hard to comment on the Pavese quote without some more context. And I guess that’s the issue. Jesus chooses at many points in his life to avoid suffering or to confront its causes but at this passionate point he enters into it freely laying down his life. Why now and not before? When is suffering and sacrifice an evil to be opposed wholeheartedly and when is it only to be disarmed by choosing it?
I think there are two modes of answering that: one can look for general answers or particular ones. At the first level I’d want to wonder what the alternative is? What choices are open to me and what are not? Jesus suffers politically and religiously–he is put to death for a cause and unjustly–and he chooses to embrace that rather than revolt, or raise an army, or run away, or recant. The God he loves is at stake. Too often embracing suffering is encouraged in a way that reinforces the status quo rather than undermining it. Jesus words are clear–that he lays down his life to take it up again. That embracing suffering and hardship must always be an act of life and an act of love.
The second level of answer is about discernment. There are no convincing general rules. What it comes down to is what, in this particular, contingent circumstance is God’s desire and hope for me and my life. And can I desire it too. I don’t mean some fatalistic acceptance of ‘God’s Will’ but some active engagement with the depths of my heart and God’s heart that opens up a path of life which compels me.
I suspect I’ve not really answered your query…

]]> By: Cathy http://rmarsh.com/2006/05/07/sunday-week-4-of-easter-year-b/comment-page-1/#comment-217 Cathy Thu, 11 May 2006 16:26:13 +0000 http://rmarsh.com/2006/05/07/sunday-week-4-of-easter-year-b/#comment-217 Good Day Father, Trying to make sense of suffering and sacrifice in my life lateley. Your homily was very comforting. I was wondering if you see any truth in the first quote and if you could comment on how it may parallel the second, from John's gospel. Thanks Cathy To choose a hardship for ourselves is our only defense against that hardship. This is what is meant by accepting suffering. Those who, by their very nature, can suffer completely, utterly, have an advantage. That is how we can disarm the power of suffering, make it our own creation, our own choice; submit to it. Cesare Pavese (1908-1950) Italian poet, critic, novelist, and translator. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father. John 10:17-18 Good Day Father,

Trying to make sense of suffering and sacrifice in my life lateley. Your homily was very comforting. I was wondering if you see any truth in the first quote and if you could comment on how it may parallel the second, from John’s gospel.

Thanks Cathy

To choose a hardship for ourselves is our
only defense against that hardship. This is
what is meant by accepting suffering.
Those who, by their very nature, can suffer
completely, utterly, have an advantage.
That is how we can disarm the power of
suffering, make it our own creation, our
own choice; submit to it.

Cesare Pavese (1908-1950) Italian
poet, critic, novelist, and translator.

This is why the Father loves me,
because I lay down my life in order to
take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down
on my own.
I have power to lay it down, and power to
take it up again.
This command I have received from my
Father.

John 10:17-18

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