- What does it mean to have a promise of God’s blessings? Is this synonymous with health and prosperity?
- St. Francis tells St. Jane to hold hope because “all will be well in the end.” Does this mean God simply expects us to endure pain and suffering because he dangles this carrot of Heaven before us daily?
- Why is helpful to express our difficulties to others? Shouldn’t we just keep them to ourselves?
- Why does St. Francis say: “I do not remember that he has ever spoken where there are flowers, but his voice has often been heard in deserts and thorny bushes”? Why do we hear God’s voice more clearly in bad times than in good?
- How can we be of good cheer during times of difficulty?
Dawn (Guest): hi Carol!
Sep 25, 7:33 PM
Carol (Guest): Hi Everyone!
Sep 25, 7:35 PM
Dawn (Guest): Did you take your profession?
Sep 25, 7:35 PM
Carol (Guest): Next week
Sep 25, 7:35 PM
Dawn (Guest): wonderful. I am happy for you.
Sep 25, 7:35 PM
Dawn (Guest): Hi Ruth!
Sep 25, 7:36 PM
Carol (Guest): Hi Ruth
Sep 25, 7:37 PM
Dawn (Guest): So I will begin with our first reflection question.
Sep 25, 7:37 PM
ruth (Guest): Hello everyone. — nice that you are getting things started Dawn.
Sep 25, 7:38 PM
Dawn (Guest): 1) What does it mean to have a promise of God’s blessings? Is this synonymous with health and prosperity?
Sep 25, 7:38 PM
Carol (Guest): It can mean material blessings-a comfortable home , good job, etc. I think it means more the virtues
Sep 25, 7:39 PM
ruth (Guest): Definitely not synonymous although that COULD be the meaning.
Sep 25, 7:39 PM
John (Guest): It might be; blessings tailored to your needs
Sep 25, 7:40 PM
John (Guest): God is not opposed to us being prosperous
Sep 25, 7:40 PM
ruth (Guest): and sometimes we do not even know exactly WHAT our real needs are.
Sep 25, 7:41 PM
Dawn (Guest): st FDesales says ….may his cross be our glory and our consolation
Sep 25, 7:42 PM
Gloria (Guest): Everything that God send us is a blessing.
Sep 25, 7:42 PM
John (Guest): yes
Sep 25, 7:42 PM
John (Guest): and to Dawn, crosses are his choicest blessings
Sep 25, 7:43 PM
Carol (Guest): Everything we have is really due to grace. But material wealth is not the sign of favormanynthunknit is
Welcome to our Living Jesus Chat Room. Just sign in, using any of the methods below.
Sep 25, 7:44 PM
Dawn (Guest): yes
Sep 25, 7:44 PM
ruth (Guest): Agree, Gloria. That is why the martyrs considered their gruesome deaths blessings. some even prayed FOR martyrdom.
Sep 25, 7:44 PM
Gloria (Guest): Is it not about external things.
Sep 25, 7:45 PM
Carol (Guest): I see I am hitting random letter instead of the space bar again. Sorry!
Sep 25, 7:45 PM
Dawn (Guest):
Sep 25, 7:45 PM
Dawn (Guest): How are you Ruth?
Sep 25, 7:46 PM
Dawn (Guest): tonight you are simply Ruth. not Ruth 1 or 2. nice.
Sep 25, 7:48 PM
Dawn (Guest): reflection 2. St. Francis tells St. Jane to hold hope because “all will be well in the end.” Does this mean God simply expects us to endure pain and suffering because he dangles this carrot of Heaven before us daily? 7:50 PM
Carol (Guest): That sounds so harsh
Sep 25, 7:50 PM
Dawn (Guest): because we learn to suffer, drawing closer to Jesus, we can hope to be with him in heaven
Sep 25, 7:50 PM
Gloria (Guest): If Jesus suffered for us, we too can do the same.
Sep 25, 7:51 PM
Visitation Sr (Guest): Yes I agree we try to be one with Our Lord and His life
7:51 PM
Dawn (Guest): Hello Sr. hope all is calm
Sep 25, 7:51 PM
John (Guest): I think st. Francis was holding out hope even in that present time
Sep 25, 7:51 PM
Visitation Sr (Guest): More or less
p 25, 7:52 PM
Visitation Sr (Guest): Julian of Norwich always also reopeated all will be welll (Guest): It will all be well. I don’t think Jesus wants us tonsuffer for sufferings,sake, but to grow virtue in us
Sep 25, 7:53 PM
ruth (Guest): I’m okay, thank you, Dawn. But I still need your prayers.
, 7:54 PM
Gloria (Guest): I will keep you in my prayers. ep 25, 7:54 PM
John (Guest): or to change our faults Carol54 PM
Dawn (Guest): Let us pray unceasingly and yes for you Ruth and Sr and all the sisters, all of our chat group25, 7:55 PM
Gloria (Guest): I think this journey is not easy but with Jesus everything is much easier. :56 PM
ruth (Guest): suffering sure helps us grow closer to the Crucified Christ, and that is a good “ place” to be. :56 PM
Gloria (Guest): Definitely. 25, 7:56 PM
Carol (Guest): Never let go
7 online
7:56 PM
Dawn (Guest): Amen. 5, 7:57 PM
Gloria (Guest): Amen.
Sep 25, 7:57 PM
Visitation Sr (Guest): 3. Why is helpful to express our difficulties to others? Shouldn’t we just keep them to ourselves?
7 PM
Visitation Sr (Guest): 3. Why is helpful to express our difficulties to others? Shouldn’t we just keep them to ourselves?
Sep 25, 7:58 PM
John (Guest): Is a sorrow share, a sorrow halved?
7:58 PM
John (Guest): shared p 25, 7:58 PM
Gloria (Guest): It is better to share. It help us to grow too.
Sep 25, 7:58 PM
Dawn (Guest): that is good John
59 PM
Visitation Sr (Guest): Depends on why we share
Sep 25, 7:59 PM
Carol (Guest): It’s been my experience that for the deepest things, we need a well-established deep friendship
Sep 25, 7:59 PM
Visitation Sr (Guest): I think if it is just to complain, not the best motive but to receive true help, a better one?
Sep 25, 7:59 PM
Dawn (Guest): Sr…profound reply.
5, 8:00 PM
John (Guest): And doesn’t sharing require us to be prudent?
Sep 25, 8:00 PM
Gloria (Guest): Yes, that it is truth.
Sep 25, 8:00 PM
Visitation Sr (Guest): Oh yes I think so
8:01 PM
Dawn (Guest): before we share then we could exam ourself, our reason, so we do not fall into error :01 PM
Carol (Guest): That is a good help
Sep 25, 8:01 PM
John (Guest): Yes, what if everyone just vented all the time
:02 PM
Dawn (Guest): some do!
Sep 25, 8:02 PM
Gloria (Guest): No, that is not good either
Sep 25, 8:02 PM
Visitation Sr (Guest): Some things tho should be just between an individual and God
:02 PM
Visitation Sr (Guest): Some things tho should be just between an individual and God
Sep 25, 8:03 PM
John (Guest): And some things with a spiritual director
Sep 25, 8:03 PM
ruth (Guest): Before my 1st PET scan God “ gave “ me a reassuring verse from Jeremiah: I know my plans for you, they are plans for your well being and not your destruction. It sure was a comfort and a help.
Sep 25, 8:03 PM
Carol (Guest): I have been in places where people just vent all the time. People get hurt and nothing gets solved
Sep 25, 8:03 PM
Visitation Sr (Guest): and the more we grow in sanctity the less we may need to vent- tho I cannot be sure about that!
8:03 PM
Dawn (Guest):
Sep 25, 8:04 PM
Gloria (Guest): We can ask the Holy Spirit to give us the wisdom then.
Sep 25, 8:04 PM
Dawn (Guest): a beautiful scripture Ruth
6 PM
Visitation Sr (Guest): 4. Why does St. Francis say: “I do not remember that he has ever spoken where there are flowers, but his voice has often been heard in deserts and thorny bushes”? Why do we hear God’s voice more clearly in bad times than in good? 25, 8:06 PM
ruth (Guest): Good point Sr. And Carol. And John.
Sep 25, 8:06 PM
Dawn (Guest): yes Gloria. we can call upon so many to help us!
Sep 25, 8:07 PM
Carol (Guest): There is where we are more likely to know our need
Share
25, 8:08 PM
Visitation Sr (Guest): On a retreat tho when I was at peace I also felt God and sometimes when distressed all I am aware of is the distress not the Lord
Sep 25, 8:08 PM
Dawn (Guest): This reminds me of St Therese of Lis, saying ( not direct quote) he may want us to walk along a rocky path because the flowers may hold us back. the entire quote is more than this
ep 25, 8:09 PM
Visitation Sr (Guest): ah that is interesting Dawn 9 PM
ruth (Guest): I am always at a loss of how to respond when someone I think really cares, or should, and asks, “How are you?” or worse, “How are things going?” and I am struggling to not fall off a cliff ( figuratively) . . .
Sep 25, 8:11 PM
John (Guest): Let them know Ruth
Sep 25, 8:11 PM
Gloria (Guest): Yes. The Lord invite us to be poor in spirit. To depend on the Him at all times.
5, 8:12 PM
Visitation Sr (Guest): Be as honest as a child if possible or at least as direct
Sep 25, 8:12 PM
Gloria (Guest): I am sorry, I meant to depend on Him.
p 25, 8:12 PM
Dawn (Guest): I know that He is better pleased to see you stumbling in the night upon a stony road, than walking in full light of day upon a path carpeted with flowers, because the flowers may hold you back 25, 8:13 PM
Visitation Sr (Guest): beautiful! 8:13 PM
John (Guest): I believe I have read that in good times remember the bad and vice versa. to keep a balance — St. Ignatius
Sep 25, 8:13 PM
Dawn (Guest): it IS beautiful!
Sep 25, 8:14 PM
John (Guest): I like what you wrote Dawn
15 PM
Dawn (Guest): it is a quote from St Therese of Lisieux
Sep 25, 8:15 PM
Gloria (Guest): It is beautiful!.
Sep 25, 8:15 PM
Carol (Guest): To everything in life there is a balance. Good and bad
Sep 25, 8:15 PM
ruth (Guest): Nice, Dawn. But seeing, smelling, beautiful flowers also helps us glorify the Creator of everything that is truly beautiful.
p 25, 8:16 PM
John (Guest): Take sometime to smell the roses no matter when :17 PM
ruth (Guest): That is probably why the altar is often adorned with flowers.
Sep 25, 8:17 PM
Dawn (Guest): Sr Susan, do you have a flower garden?
Sep 25, 8:18 PM
Carol (Guest): It is hard to know why some get roses and some thorns. But roses have thorns too
Sep 25, 8:18 PM
Visitation Sr (Guest): Not personally but we do in the Monastery backyard
8:18 PM
Gloria (Guest): St Therese used to say that everything was a blessing from God.
Sep 25, 8:19 PM
Visitation Sr (Guest): Some saints took both the crown of roses and of thorns, when offered :19 PM
Dawn (Guest): you mean they wore them?
Sep 25, 8:19 PM
Visitation Sr (Guest): So to speak- I think they were visionary
Sep 25, 8:20 PM
Visitation Sr (Guest): 5. How can we be of good cheer during times of difficulty?
M
Visitation Sr (Guest): 5. How can we be of good cheer during times of difficulty?
Sep 25, 8:20 PM
Carol (Guest): We remember Jesus is walking with us
Sep 25, 8:20 PM
Dawn (Guest): growing in virtue
Sep 25, 8:20 PM
ruth (Guest): Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS!
Sep 25, 8:21 PM
John (Guest): We can pray always
Sep 25, 8:21 PM
Elena (Guest): I’m discovering the “power” of giving thanks no matter what.
Sep 25, 8:21 PM
Dawn (Guest): Yes Elena! hi
5, 8:21 PM
Elena (Guest): It’s reeeeallly hard, but it seems to turn around something inside of me. It is a pathway for grace to enter in. (hi, everyone! sorry so late..) 25, 8:22 PM
Carol (Guest): Hi Elena!
Sep 25, 8:22 PM
ruth (Guest): How very important, Elena!
Sep 25, 8:22 PM
John (Guest): Deo gratias!
Sep 25, 8:22 PM
Gloria (Guest): Hi. I agree with you.
8:23 PM
Elena (Guest): “Rejoice always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thess 5:16-18
Sep 25, 8:23 PM
Dawn (Guest): amen+
Sep 25, 8:23 PM
ruth (Guest): Yes, in all circumstances.
Sep 25, 8:24 PM
Elena (Guest): I’ve made this part of my email signature as a reminder to myself and to help keep myself accountable for this stance. it’s a new thing for me. Not whinging when I think I’m somehow “wronged”
Sep 25, 8:25 PM
Carol (Guest): That is good Elena. It will banish the spirit of offense, kf being easily offended
Sep 25, 8:25 PM
John (Guest): That gives me some ideas, thanks Elena!
Sep 25, 8:26 PM
Dawn (Guest): good plan Elena. inspiring
Sep 25, 8:27 PM
ruth (Guest): That is good Elena. But are there not times when we SHOULD hold others accountable, give correction, possibly even if the person does not seem to be open to correction?
8:28 PM
ruth (Guest): That is when we really need to think about how this csn be done clearly but also gently, lovingly. 29 PM
ruth (Guest): can.
Sep 25, 8:30 PM
John (Guest): be of good cheer – cheer somebody else
Sep 25, 8:30 PM
ruth (Guest): And maybe eventhe chances of having the correction have the desired effects.
31 PM
John (Guest): yes
Sep 25, 8:31 PM
John (Guest): nothing ventured, nothing gained
Sep 25, 8:32 PM
Dawn (Guest): Courage, dear daughter, God is on our side. sfds
Sep 25, 8:33 PM
Carol (Guest): Sometimes people are not aware of what they are doing