Sunday October 5: Stir into Flame the Gifts of God

To Practice: 

• Prayerfully re-read (or listen to) these passages again in the manner of Lectio Divina, perhaps aloud to engage more of your senses and to feel the vibrations in your body. Gaze upon the image. What do you receive for your journey now? 

• Watch this video with Fr. Thomas Keating on “The Exercise of Faith,” (less than two minutes) here. And this video “Faith Beyond Concepts” (less than one minute) here.
• In The Monk Within, Beverly Lanzetta writes in her chapter “Wisdom of Vows,”: “All of our lives involve some type of commitment, whether performed consciously or not. We are each vowed to someone or something. …. These represent a set of values that compel us to act – or refrain from action – according to a more humane and heightened sense of responsibility and harmony.” Vows or a rule of life are ways we can live into our values and intentions. What helps you to stir up the inner flame of Love within? A twice-daily commitment to Centering Prayer and an annual silent retreat might be a place to start. On days when time is short, you can still meditate for a short time. You may also be interested in these examples of vows and rules of life here and here.
• What has challenged your faith recently? Have you experienced any of the list of doubts Fr. Devaraj included above? Perhaps, rather than doubt, you have neglected Spirit for a while? How have you engaged with doubts or struggles in faith? How can you again stir up the flames of love and faith?

If you wish, you may re-read the full email reflection here: https://mailchi.mp/coutreach/2025_word-of-the-week-oct1

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