Ruth: Week 2 reflections

Well I finally finished the readings. I am loving this book. Our previous pastor use to speak about caring for the souls of those we meet each day.  To me, this book is nourishing my soul and reminding me of the Lord's care for each of us even those who appear lost.
Elisabeth is challenging us. On page 5 she write, "We must create in ourselves a "new spirit" the spirit of intelligence and strength; we must renew ourselves and LIVE OUR INTERIOR LIFE WITH INTENSITY."  That last phrase jumped out at me. "We must pray and act."(p5)  This is a Martha & Mary phrase to me... not an either or.

Again on page 7 Elisabeth reminds me of the need to care for souls when she writes, "nothing is so delicate and so sacred as the human soul; nothing so quickly bruised."  Do I pray for each person I encounter each day as our pastor challenged us? Sadly, no, but I do find myself praying for them more than I use to so that is an improvement.

(p7)"To feel God near, to meditate, to pray, to gather all our deepest thoughts so as to reflect on them more deepy: that is to live the inner life, and this inner life is the supreme joy of life. But so many moving thoughts and ardent desires and generous resolutions should be translated into deeds, .... great task lies before us."  This statement reminded me to what our spiritual life should look like and challendge us to do.  (Martha & Mary again.)   Have you ever seen anyone struggling with something or needing something and you think, "I should help" but you don't.  Well that is what game to mind when I read that statement.  Some challenges like running an apostolate can appear big but other things like helping someone carry a bag can look small but both, if done in love, are equally important.

P. 7 at the bottom reminds us that to undertake day by day and hour by hour the work that we are called to do we must have drawn from God the strength, patience and love. And with God we can oversome evil and indeifference.

p. 8) I loved the statement "when we do good, we know not how much good we do."  Reminds me of the ripple effect.  May the Lord fill us with an intense charity to love Him and our neighbor...one neighbor at a time. (p13) "...turn through into action, good will into determination."

I don't want to quote the entire thing but there were part of this weeks reading that renewed and strengthened my call to count with joy the apostolate work that I do. There was the call to daily personal transformation through reading and meditating on scripture reading which I faulter on at times,  and the joy to living a life that invites others to see Jesus through the way we live our lives.  All basic but all shared wtih great love.

I feel the hand of the Lord upon me and joy in my soul as I read these pages. ... challenging yet profoundly filled with intimate love of God and others.

p. 16 "Let us open our hearts to admit all humanity."  called me to ask "Who do I not love? Show me Lord!" ... and help me to find a way to love them.

Time to go pack for our next travel excursion.  Only 6.5 hours this evening so that is easy.  Might not be able to post while visiting but I will try to catch up.