Brad4d Savasana Beth

Embark on a transformative journey of spiritual reflection with this guided audio meditation, drawing inspiration from Ignatian imaginative prayer. This immersive experience focuses on the sacred scene from the Gospel of Luke, vividly bringing to life the profound moment when Mary and Joseph welcome the birth of Jesus. Allow your mind to wander through the rich tapestry of this biblical event, fostering a deep connection with the characters and their divine surroundings. As you engage in Ignatian contemplation, envision the tender moments, the whispers of angels, and the quiet majesty of the stable. This audio meditation serves as a serene pathway to explore the profound spiritual significance of the Nativity, inviting you to encounter the timeless story of love, hope, and the miracle of Christmas in a uniquely personal and meaningful way.

The world can easily sweep us away with its collective anger and anxiety. It feeds on our own anxiety and anger, gathering strength to destroy whatever peace and compassion that might exist. It’s up to us to take moments every day to sit in stillness to reconnect with virtues that serve God and his creation. This gives us the energy and mindset to effect positive change in the world.

If we hold everything in the Bible close to our hearts, which translation do you use? Some translations of the Bible are rigid, and others use language that we don’t use today. Let’s face it, that turns people off. That’s why it’s important to understand that our faith and love are beyond words and language. The book I quote is from Neil Douglas-Klotz, “Revelations of the Aramaic Jesus.”

A lot of self-help and self-care strategies emphasize finding yourself or finding your authentic self. While some methods are helpful in stripping away attitudes and behaviors that hurt us and others, others might be strengthening our persona, our ego, or our superficial self. We eventually learn that we must dissolve any concept of self, any ideas of I, me, and mine, to experience connection with the Divine.

In today’s political arena, it’s hard to find Christian leaders. Many will say they’re Christian with their lips yet their behavior says otherwise. Very few act with humility but many act with pride and vainglory. Yet these leaders should be subjected to a higher standard because they serve as role models in our society. If a U.S. Senator, Congressman, or presidential candidate uses vile or proud language and behavior to try to one-up other people, it’s time to serve them their walking papers. We need better role models who serve with humility and integrity.

Whether we’ve accomplished little or accomplished a lot in our lives, we’re all loved by God. To compare ourselves or herald others as “better” is just the ego talking. All that can easily be stripped away in an instant, but that doesn’t mean our souls lose value.