Sunday August 27: Fools for Love

To Practice

• What call to love have you felt in your life that makes you feel like a holy fool? Can you find the wisdom in this call and take a new step in that direction? Without judgment, notice and learn through this self-inquiry. When you can remember, return your attention to the area of your heart in stillness and spaciousness.
• Watch this 15-minute video from Thomas Keating about a family’s holy foolishness. Does this help you recognize where you have been or could be more of a holy fool?

If you would like to re-read this week’s full email reflection, you may do so here:https://mailchi.mp/coutreach/word-of-the-week-aug27

“It’s just one breath at a time…. “ Pat Johnson picked me up at the airport in Snowmass May 2015 for a post intensive retreat. Such a model for humility and present moment practice. She had kitchen helpers by this time, but she had us all in her care throughout the retreat. Her ‘office’ for private conference was a walk in linen closet, where she felt very at home. Just to be…. Fr. Thomas would use the phrase is-ness or no-thing- ness. Simple, but certainly a life’s work. So, in the midst of the crazy heat, media alerts wanting our attention, and so many other distractions may I become a holy fool, returning to my breath practice and have gratefulness in my heart.

I remember the mother of a large family at a school where I worked. she was holding a child in her arms who was profoundly handicapped, without the capacity for cognition. She had other children in special education. She talked about what a gift he was, to be treasured as long as she had him.

Doing lectio with today’s reading, where Jesus tells Peter to “get behind me, Satan.” after Peter disagreed that Jesus had to suffer. Thinking of a couple of acquaintances who provoke anxiety (for their well-being) in me. what I am hearing is that sometimes people aren’t ready to move on from attitudes and behaviors that are clearly causing them lifelong pain. By trying to “help”, I see that these characteristics form a badly needed protection for the person. Best to await God’s timing.
In another case, a person reached out for support, then went silent. Again, it is not for me to put my foot in the door to prevent it from closing.
Compassion is a foremost value for me, but I have to ask: is this really some kind of ego need, where I am trying to usurp God’s place in tending to the other?

Such a fine line to walk, but God is at my side.

New step in direction of holy foolishness is to reaffirm belief of a call to writing. This morning I spent several hours organizing research, a step the seemed too overwhelming. I commit to practical love each day towards fulfilling this “foolish” idea. <3 linda

I realized at mass that the lectio recoding I listened to went a few verses farther than the official gospel lectionary for today. Just in case there is some confusion.
Linda, I am glad your calling and  path to follow  surfaced. Always good to receive the will and the way in one fell swoop.

On the subject of foolishness. Over the last month of constant houseguests, I have entertained myself making a church out of a cardboard box and collage. It has a little Marian Shrine to accompany it, and my favorite saint, Joseph of Cupertino, is  flying over. The high point (literally) is Christ on the cross as a clown. It seems disrespectful, I suppose, but to me it is very serious and goes back countless years.

I can’t abide  a faith without joy.

Kathleen: This gentleman wrote in with his post/reply to you instead of posting it directly.  I share if here on his behalf:

In response to Ms. Kathleen Kelly, may I humbly suggest that divine providence can put you in a situation in which you may choose to act for one in need? The opportunity to act is an invitation to do something other than observe and leave the action to God, who you might consider is not within you. But Jesus says that the realm or power of heaven is within you, and whatever you do for the least of God’s creatures, you do to Christ, in Christ’s need. One could even do some deed as little as a cup of cold water, which Sir Philip Sidney, dying on the battlefield, was offered, but he refused it, saying, “Thy need is greater than mine.” St. James in his Letter says something similar. Don’t just pray for one in need; if you can, act to help. Aquinas wrote that to love is to wish another good and see it done. As a Franciscan associate, I wish Ms. Kelly and all readers, “Peace and all good.” – George Marsh

 

I feel like a holy fool with my grandchildren. We are losing them. All our 4 children were brought up Catholic, church every Sunday. I know that my children as parents tried to do the same. Yet we are losing our grandchildren to the pagan, Internet world that has taken over their lives. Now we have artificial intelligence coming. My grandchildren are not being exposed to the garden of goodness, the garden of St. Monica that saved St. Augustine. Instead they are being immersed in the pit of evil on the Internet. If Hollywood is the home of evil, then the Internet is a thousand times worse. And I use the Internet for good everyday, so I know that too. I have used artificial intelligence and I know that too. I have used Contemplative Outreach and I know that is the answer to this evil that surrounds our grandchildren. I feel like St. Monica trying to save my grandchildren from the pit of evil that is entangling them. Like St. Monica my wife and I pray and pray. We go one on one with them and play the fool but their hearts are hardened. They don’t want to go to church. They don’t want to go to a college that is Catholic. So like St.Monica we play the fool. Through Lectio Divina we can put it in God’s hands knowing the conversion of St. Augustine is possible and with Faith probable. It is not important what the world says of Jesus. It is only important what I say when Jesus asks the question of me in the silence of my time with Him.

A few advents ago, I began trusting God for showing me “the next best thing”.  I spend lots of time discerning -for example, reading The ethics of Discernment , about Bernard Lonergan’s theology. But , just responding to God moment by moment by moment by moment….that is how I am living these days.
I see all the love and care shown in these postings and have no doubt that God is present and active for each of us as we are walking our walk.

Reflecting on what George said: I relate to Jesus crying over Jerusalem , crying over all the suffering, lost souls,, not trying , or able to “fix”.
the other. The image I have is how Zorba tried to “help” a butterfly emerge from a crysallis. The butterfly did not survive.

It is easier to demonstrate everyday kindness, though it requires awareness of what a person may need at that moment

Watched “The Sarah Story”–just Wow–the devotion of her parents, her family, and the Snowmass Community that this profoundly ‘handicapped’ woman inspired.

“Just breathe–one breath at a time.” Amen.

Just one breath at a time.   I am grateful to hear Sarah’s Story again – I live with a chronic condition & remembering this is a great help on difficult days.
Great thanks to Pamela & the WotW team for including it in this week’s email.  🙏🏼

 

My attention to periphery seekers has been that of a holy fool. In the past I followed the invitation to move on “so to speak”. At each move there were kindred spirits. Now living this reality is more solitary. The beckoning wisdom  is to embrace the vulnerability of emptying,  one breathe at a time, a deeper level of willingness. Besides the Welcome Prayer,  the body gestures of consenting, namely, await, allow, accept, attend, are my companions this week and for some time now. Interestingly the figures in the image are headless. For me “abyss living” holds the key  of holy fool  emptying the head cannot grasp.

The sharings here in writing and those of the Wednesday group are also my valued companions in my daily life.

I recall a large family’s matriarch from a school where I worked. She was holding in her arms a child who was profoundly disabled and lacked the capacity for cognition. She had additional children with special needs. She described him as a gift to be cherished as long as she had him.

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