Posted on by Kurt Bodling

at the close of the year

"If devout and thankful souls rejoice when God has permitted them to pass a week in safety, why should they not much more rejoice when under God’s protection they have lived through a whole year? How much suffering may come to us in a single day! how much more in a whole year! Consequently, when a devout Christian beholds the end of the year, he lifts his hands and heart and voice to heaven, and closes the year with praise, thanksgiving, and prayer. …

"Thy goodness and faithfulness have been with me from the beginning to the end of the year. Thy wisdom has led me; Thy love has guarded me; Thy help has gladdened me; thy grace has preserved me; Thy omnipotence has ever upheld me; Thy tender Father-hand has given me all things that I needed; Thine all-seeing eye has kept watch over me, guarded my going out and my coming in, and warded off all harm. …

"If at times Thou didst permit me to experience great distress, Thou didst deliver me again. …

“O Lord God, I now close the old year with thanksgiving and praise and prayer. Remain, I humbly beseech Thee, my Shield and gracious God in the new year also. Keep Thy guarding hand over me. Yea, let me be entrusted to Thy care and love and grace in all time to come. Amen.”

John Frederick Starck. Daily Hand-book in Good and Evil Days, containing all the meditations and prayers of the complete German original edition, together with an appropriate selection of standard English hymns for general use, for the afflicted, the sick, and the dying. Translated by Joseph Stump. Burlington, Iowa: German Literary Board, 1904, pp. 121, 124-125.

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the mind’s place in prayer

“As I have said before, I do not want anyone to feel bound by my words or thoughts. I only want to offer an example for those who may wish to follow it; let anyone improve it who is able to do so and let him meditate either upon all commandments at one time or on as many as he may desire. For the mind, once it is seriously occupied with a matter, be it good or evil, can ponder more in one moment than the tongue can recite in ten hours or the pen write in ten days. There is something quick, subtle, and mighty about the mind and soul.”

Luther, Martin. “A Simple Way to Pray” (1535) Luther’s Works Vol. 43. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1969, page 207.

comment: Luther on meditation, strongly advocating it, clearly declaring its benefits. And NOT wanting people to feel bound by his words, he basically says ‘this is the way I pray, but you should pray however works for you.’ I find his words here refreshing.

Posted on by Kurt Bodling

technology’s failure

“Though he now has the capacity to communicate anything, anywhere, instantly, man finds himself with nothing to say. Not that there are not many things he could communicate, or should attempt to communicate. He should, for instance, be able to meet his fellow man and discuss ways of building a peaceful world. He is incapable of this kind of confrontation.”

Merton, Thomas. “Symbolism: Communication or Communion?.” (1966) in Selected Essays. Edited with an introduction by Patrick F. O’Connell. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2013, p. 247.

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Comment: And he wrote this way back in 1966, years before cell phones, blogs, social media, and the 24-hour news cycle! What would Merton have said about all these things and our continuing incapability of building a peaceful world?

Posted on by Kurt Bodling

he who has ears to hear

“The ears with which one hears the message of the Gospel are hidden in man’s heart, and these ears do not hear anything unless they are favored with a certain interior solitude and silence.”

Merton, Thomas. Thoughts in Solitude. NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1958. (pbk ed 1999), Preface, pp. xii-xiii.

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the statements are important, but don’t forget the rest

"Christianity begins with revelation. Though it would be misleading to classify this revelation simply as a ‘doctrine’ and an ‘explanation’ (it is far more than that–the revelation of God Himself in the mystery of Christ) it is nevertheless communicated to us in words, in statements, and everything depends on the believer’s accepting the truth of these statements.

"Therefore Christianity has always been profoundly concerned with these statements: with the accuracy of their transmission from the original sources, with the precise understanding of their exact meaning, with the elimination and indeed the condemnation of false interpretations. At times this concern has been exaggerated almost to the point of an obsession, accompanied by arbitrary and fanatical insistence on hairsplitting distinctions and the purest niceties of theological detail.

“This obsession with doctrinal formulas, juridical order, and ritual exactitude has often made people forget that the heart of Catholicism, too, is a living experience of unity in Christ which far transcends all conceptual formulations.”

Merton, Thomas. “A Christian Looks at Zen.” (1967) in Selected Essays. Edited with an introduction by Patrick F. O’Connell. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2013, p. 347.

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satisfaction

“It is not for us to make satisfaction for our sins, for Christ alone has made satisfaction for our sins. This part of penance belongs to the forgiveness of sins and faith–we know and believe that our sins are forgiven us on account of Christ.”

Luther, Martin. “Instructions for the Visitors of Parish Pastors in Electoral Saxony” (1528) Luther’s Works Vol. 40. Philadelphia: Muhlenberg Press, 1958, p. 297.

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and so it was

"And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord’.” St. Luke, chapter 2.

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fear not

“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph; and the virgin’s name was Mary. … And the angel said unto her, ‘Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. he shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end’.” St. Luke, chapter 1.

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the poor in Bethlehem and here

“There are many who become inflamed with unreal devotion when they hear of such poverty of the Christ-child. They are almost filled with wrath against the citizens of Bethlehem; they condemn their blindness and ingratitude and are of the opinion, that had they been there, they would have rendered outstanding service to the Lord and his mother and they would not have stood for such miserable treatment. But they do not look around themselves to see how many of their immediate neighbors there are who could use their help and whom they are neglecting and leaving exactly as they are. … It is a plain lie and deception for you to think you would have done a lot of good for Christ, if you do not do it for these people. Had you been in Bethlehem, you would have paid just as little attention to him as did the others.”

Martin Luther. “Sermon on the Gospel for Christmas Eve.” Luther’s Works. Volume 52. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1974, page 26.

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Christmas angels

“Disregard the fantastic notions of the worldly-wise teachers concerning them; here the angels are pictured so well that they cannot be pictured any better. Even their hearts and thoughts may be discovered here. In the first place, by joyfully proclaiming in their song the honor of God, they indicate that they are full of light and fire. They recognize that all things are God’s and only God’s; they do not attribute anything to themselves, but with great fervor they bring honor to whom it belongs. Hence, if you wish to think of a humble, pure, obedient, joyful heart that praises God, then think of the angels.”

Martin Luther. “Sermon on the Gospel for Christmas Eve.” Luther’s Works. Volume 52. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1974, pages 29-30.