May 24, 2013 PART 3 Piety the fifth of the Sevenfold Gifts, St. Bonaventure Fifth, grant us piety, by which we may acquire compassionate hearts. Appearing pious and acts of piety are two different things. It was Aristotle who reminded us of how a pious attitude is the tool of those who want to blow smoke (that’s my language). He wrote: “A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon
May 24, 2013 PART 2 Piety the fifth of the Sevenfold Gifts, St. Bona venture Fifth, grant us piety, by which we may acquire compassionate hearts. Aristotle: For though we love both the truth and our friends, piety requires us to honor the truth first. Karl Barth, the great theologian, wrote that faith is never identical with piety. Even at its purest form, piety is an occurrence of faith. I
May 24, 2013 PART 1 Piety the fifth of the Sevenfold Gifts, St. Bonaventure Fifth, grant us piety, by which we may acquire compassionate hearts. Scripture: Luke 14:27 Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Thought for the Day: The author and speaker, Dallas Willard (who died a few weeks ago), said that “the greatest challenge the church faces today is to be authentic
May 23, 2013 PART 2 Knowledge the fourth of the Sevenfold Gifts, St. Bonaventure Fourth, grant us knowledge, by which we can distinguish what is good from what is wicked. The passages: “Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known” (1st Corinthians 13:12b) and “…even the hairs on your head are all counted” (Matthew 10:30b) describe to us
May 23, 2013 PART 1 Knowledge the fourth of the Sevenfold Gifts, St. Bonaventure Fourth, grant us knowledge, by which we can distinguish what is good from what is wicked. Scripture: Proverbs 22:3 The clever see danger and hide; but the simple go on, and suffer for it. Thought for the Day: The Hebrew word for see is Ra’ah. Though my Hebrew depends on the knowledge of others, it appears that
May 22, 2013 PART 1 Courage: the third of the Sevenfold Gifts, St. Bonaventure Third, grant us courage, by which we may ward off the attack of evil. Scripture: Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Thought for the Day: E.B. White once wrote, “I can’t decide whether to enjoy the world or improve the world; that
May 22, 2013 PART 2 Courage: the third of the Sevenfold Gifts, St. Bonaventure Third, grant us courage, by which we may ward off the attack of evil. I’ve always appreciated the words of Eleanor Roosevelt who said, “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this
May 21, 2013 PART 3 Counsel the second of the Sevenfold Gifts, St. Bonaventure Second, grant us counsel, by which we may follow in your footsteps on the path of righteousness. Have you ever been in one of those moments when the right words came to you? Have you been in one of those situations when the perfect words came to you 2 1/2 hours later than you needed
May 21, 2013 PART 2 Counsel the second of the Sevenfold Gifts, St. Bonaventure Second, grant us counsel, by which we may follow in your footsteps on the path of righteousness. Spiritual Exercise: Seeking God’s counsel requires us to listen to God. Take a few minutes to quiet yourself with this exercise: Fill my lungs (inhale slowly) With the Breath of Life (exhale slowly) Fill my spirit (inhale slowly)
May 21, 2013PART 1 Counsel the second of the Sevenfold Gifts, St. BonaventureSecond, grant us counsel, by which we may follow in your footsteps on the path of righteousness. Scripture: Psalm 106:12-14Then they believed his words; they sang his praise. But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel. But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness, and put God to the test in