Chatting about: God’s Love in the Treatise, Book 5

Ruth (Guest): Greetings everyone. I guess I need to get here before 7:30 to be “in” on the whole conversation.

Ruth (Guest): One thing I had trouble with was the expression “complacent love.“ The word “complacent” usually has negative connotations. And here is the reason: Df

Ruth (Guest): com·pla·cent
kəmˈplās(ə)nt/Submit
adjective
adjective: complacent
showing smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements.
“you can’t afford to be complacent about security”
synonyms: smug, self-satisfied, self-congratulatory, self-regarding, conceited; gloating, triumphant, proud; pleased, satisfied, content, contented
“in this competitive field we can’t afford to be complacent”

Ruth (Guest): As if it is the opposite of “humble”

Ruth (Guest): However, if we look at the ORIGIN of the word –– and another spelling of a word that sounds like the way Francis uses it we find:

Ruth (Guest): Origin

mid 17th century (in the sense ‘pleasant’): from Latin complacent- ‘pleasing,’ from the verb complacere . AND com·plai·sant
kəmˈplāsənt/Submit
adjective
adjective: complaisant
willing to please others; obliging; agreeable.
“when unharnessed, Northern dogs are peaceful and complaisant”
synonyms: willing, acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, cooperative, accommodating, obliging Ah ha!

Ruth (Guest): I don’t think we use that word very often. The example they give is appropriate though. It is spelled that way when that is the meaning intended. Maybe the trouble again is in the translating.

Ruth (Guest): I think he means that the delight one has –– first in God’s creation, and then as we grow in the Creator Himself –– leads us to want to please Him, just like a little child WANTS to please a loving mother/father who gives her what she needs –– many good things and lots of affection.

Ruth (Guest): Here: Let’s restate the questions. Are these the most up-to-date? Questions to ponder

Given the definition of complacence, which actually means pleasing in this case, how do you define this kind of pleasing love?
How does complacence, or pleasing love, become a transforming force in the soul making it like unto God?
What is compassion, condolence, commiseration, and pity, as St. Francis mentions?
How does complacence, or pleasing love, grow into compassion, as the saint mentions?

Ruth (Guest): Opps I should have numbered them.

Ruth (Guest): And I’m always a bit behind the thread. Sorry.

Ruth (Guest): It is said (by whom?) the delight /glory of God is a human being FULLY ALIVE.

Ruth (Guest): So, yes, what makes us more FULLY ALIVE is what He wants for us AND tends to GIVE us. But often we or others or even some “natural” processes e.g. infections, disasters get in the way of receiving what He offers us.

Ruth (Guest): I don’t care for the “force” part, Sister, because our God is a PERSONAL God and “force” sounds to me far too much like the “NewAge” stuff that confuses people; and –– though it may provide a good or at least interesting allegorical content –– it also reminds far too much of “The Force” in Star Wars.

Ruth (Guest): Thank you. I don’t like to be critical (or do I? I do it pretty often, I’m afraid) but I do think it so important to remember that our God is so PERSONAL that he sent his Son to SHOW us something of his nature: Jesus says, “He who sees me sees the Father.“

Ruth (Guest): He also tells us that we will do the WORKS he does, and even greater! Whhoo!

Ruth (Guest): That means, among other things, that we will HEAL people –– as he did.

Ruth (Guest): And raise the dead! ?

Ruth (Guest): Judy, I think the video is TRYING to cover an awful lot of territory in a short time.

Ruth (Guest): But some of the pictures please me.

Ruth (Guest): What about that kid leaping –– arms outstretched, with I love Jesus on her T-shirt?

Ruth (Guest): Joy, delight, and approbation.

Ruth (Guest): That’s part of the reason I chose a similar picture for my Face Book “profile picture.“

Ruth (Guest): Yes, Sister.

Ruth (Guest): That may be part of the reason doctors and social workers often “burn out.“ I was once told by a supervisor, when we were supposedly learning how to interact with patients, that my compassion would make it impossible for me to do the job of a physician. I think it does the opposite; but it DOES slow me down a bit.

Ruth (Guest): I bring it all to Jesus; HE helps me carry the burden of deep identification with the sufferings of patients –– AND friends.

Ruth (Guest): So helpful, Carroll V!

Ruth (Guest): Consoling the Heart of Jesus –– a book title, by

Ruth (Guest): Fr. Michael Gaitly –– the same priest who wrote 33 Days to Morning Glory

Ruth (Guest): Good Carroll V! Preparation for The Consecration to Jesus through Mary according to St. Louis de Montfort?

Ruth (Guest): Judy, you admonished me, appropriately I suspect, about ACCEPTING disabilities; but there is another aspect. God WANTS us well. Surely spiritually; probably, physically, too. AND he is omnipotent. So –– we get “stuck” with the question: Then why don’t I get well?

Ruth (Guest): AND there are some “Faith-healers” who will BLAME the lack of faith or the unwillingness to accept healing on the part of those they pray for when they do not get well. This is, or can be, usually is, a SERIOUS DISservice, even a deeper offense against God, for heaping up ashes on the wounds of others/

Ruth (Guest): That, by the way, is what we often see played out, very really, in more “primitive” cultures, e.g. in the lowest casts of Hinduism –– which gets in the way of accepting modern medical care, clean water supply, healthful food, e.g. even when offered for free.

Ruth (Guest): Sister, I have a problem with that. JESUS says ASK!

Ruth (Guest): Oh! I’m just getting “wound up” and it is time to say Good Night!

Ruth (Guest): Thank you, everyone. And have a blessed Lenten week. God bless!