Opening Rosary (prayed with the room dark – Kristin lights up her glow in the dark Rosary before the lights go off – “simple pleasures for simple souls”)
Fr Paul reveals the evening’s topic:
On Friendship – Spiritual Friendship
Fr Paul asks for the appropriate Scripture. Kristin suggests St Luke but Fr Paul is looking for something in St John – Javier gives the verses from memory throughout the discussion though eventually we do go to St Luke.
Jn: 19:25
Lk 8:19
His mother and his brothers came to Him but were unable to … those who hear the Word of God and act on it.
Stays with that in an appropriate way – according to Catholic teaching, specific, real, good way to connect with families, married, society moving in this Kingdom that Jesus is talking about without violating any of those bonds but moving into a quality of Light and Love that Jesus is talking about according to this Kingdom – Jesus proclaims the Kingdom in what we just read.
Kinds of realities that Jesus wanted us to live – to move up into that level of humanity a realm that you aren’t familiar with
A connection with God is the source of the relationship – in union with the Divine source first – powered from a Source that is bigger than the relationship.
Lk 11:27-28
Blessed is the womb that carried you … rather blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it
Jesus is the Word of God so His whole being is the Word of God – blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it (the Word of God is BIG, those who hear are in relation with God and the Holy Spirit is bringing those into relationships that are ordered and true and holy in a beautiful way)
In relationship to the Holy Spirit (beyond normal and natural ways – HOWEVER, there are other “spirits” that are outside Jesus Christ that will ask / demand obedience, claim to be Christ, etc.) At first these spirits disguise themselves as representatives of the truth of God but end by presenting it with a twist.
Relationships that are fed by the Kingdom and Word of God.
When Mary received the message of an Angel as the Word of God she didn’t just do something – she said let it be done unto me according to Thy Word and the fullness of the Word of God entered into her flesh became Flesh – we tend to want to reduce that and make Jesus one person among many persons who are holy – Jesus is the ONLY entry into the Kingdom of God – everything needs to be interiorly integrated with Christ
A way of relationship – a new way of relating – not just an individual inspired for a moment who remains the same – but a communion of persons that Christ is guiding and growing which He calls His Church – feeding with His Sacraments these kinds of relationships.
Brotherhood entirely centered on Christ (2 friends in discipleship group) on an entirely different level than with their own blood siblings – giving entire life to Christ – not just we’re going to church on Sunday or in a prayer group – but our entire life is given to Christ – we have Christ physically in this world – can relate to Christ when He says “those are my brothers and sister and mother” Feast of St Basil the Great & St Gregory Nazianzen (both Doctors of the Church) but Church put them together to celebrate Friendship – Gregory joined Basil as Hermit etc. “We seemed to be two bodies with a single Spirit (Christ)… Each of us was in the other and with the other” – two real people with real lives with real responsibility out of real history – this is not “valentine land” but the Kingdom of God – “we spurred each other on to Virtue” … “our great pursuit was to be called Christians”
When you meet someone who is following Christ you instantly share / pick up on their Love of Christ. Can be thousands of miles from current local church and friends in Christ and yet immediately connect at one’s home church with people one hasn’t seen in over a year – love and devotion for the same Saints, sharing of relics, daily Mass, etc.
1 Samuel 18:1
When David had finished speaking with Saul he felt a deep affection for Jonathan and began to Love him as himself.
1 Kings 18 :1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan Loved him as his own soul. |
Jonathan who is Saul’s son has a tremendous Love for David – they have a Friendship rather than being envious or in competition with each other over the fact that David will assume the throne as King instead of Jonathan (King Saul’s son)
God gives His own goodness, His own Spirit to cooperated with God and obey His commandments – (to Love God and neighbor)
1 Sam 20:14
1 Kings 20:14 (see below)
Let’s go into the open country … be our witness … if my father intends to do you harm …
1 Sam 20:30 perverse and rebellious woman … prefer son of Jesse … why should he die what has he done
1 Sam 20:41 descendants forever
1 Kings 20:30 (see below)
1 Kings 20:41 (see below)
Jn 19:25-27 Standing by the Cross of Jesus were His Mother … Woman behold your son
In the Acts we will see this new kind of family that Jesus is inspiring on this earth in the upper room (hearing the word of God and keeping it with their whole being)
Why does Christ call His Mother “Woman” – because He is giving Her to us in a new kind of relationship and family. Jesus says lets focus on Where we are going together – Jesus wants us to move in these kinds of relationships that further the Kingdom of Heaven
Acts 1:14
All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer 9 Days … with Mary the Mother of Jesus and His brothers…
To be in union with the Lord AND in accord with others – more difficult – identifying this person or that is not the main point but to get the substance and get this reality – unity of the substance stabilized in a way that this can now transform society around them – this is what Christ is trying to do by proclaiming the Kingdom of God
This new , this new dimension – Christ Living in bodies joined in one accord – affecting and dynamizing people – to have enough power and substance to resist the defensiveness of cultures and people
Christ could not just have inspired individuals – Mary models that one accord – also people who would also be missionaries of the Word of God – all part of God’s plan – According to January 2nd Office of Readings on the friendship of St. Basil and St. Gregory Nazianzen, SOME people do live this intimacy and are one Spirit in several bodies that align their lives in such a way that Our Lord could build up His Kingdom – the central organ is essential (it is Christ)
Fr Paul spent many years in fasting and prayer and adoration alone in one Eucharistic chapel after another – certain type of spiritual stability over many many years – what amazes Fr Paul [where Spiritual Friendships develop – when there is a tremendous spiritual assault – direct hits – those attacked heal back up again – when teamed up together – when combined, this radicalizes them to function in a stability and resilience – communion of Saints – Holy Spirit is guiding – they are not even aware of how much spiritual weight they are bearing – not just part time – bearing a lot of weight in the Church – Christ can rest a lot of weight on this foundation
Christ can build and move more connections – more towers – stability, plugged in and doing it – with a few people like that Our Lord says – OK now we can move to the next level – this is real core – consecrated communion (aka Religious Life) – Christ can do more – one person just can’t do it – Fr Paul can’t do discipleship just as one person – Christ is trying to do this in the Church in a very real and wonderful way – authentic Religious Life
Feast of Feb 10 – Feast of St Scholastica – twin sister of St Benedict (kind, orderly person). Benedict says God so loved the world – learn a way of Love to help and transform society –
“their spiritual conversation went on and the hour grew late” … “please do not leave me tonight, let us go on till morning”
Christ didn’t say: Blessed are you who just talk about the bible – but: Blessed are those who hear the word of God and act on it – St Scholastica’s whole being is coming alive – let’s not stop, if we do, Christ falls back away – let’s keep this communion, if we pull back now Christ falls – she was not willing to pull away – St Benedict was willing to pull away…
Sooooooooooo, St Benedict – the Founder of all those people who wanted to find oneness with God – king of the hill of this way of Monasticism – [as it is] way Holier [(and easier) living the Monastic Life] than trying to be Holy in the city) says:
Sister, [St Scholastica is also St Benedict’s twin sister so they’ve been hanging out together since the womb] what are you saying, I simply cannot stay outside my cell –
St Scholastica simply couldn’t do this by herself, she BEGGED her brother for the SAKE of the LOVE of CHRIST …
…it CANNOT occur unless we STAY in this type of relationship – was she just lonely, did she just want a sleep over, no friends, -- the clingy and needy can rip and destroy Consecrated Life because they do not have enough natural affection and love – so they like to grab, take, consume from each other – are the two things sometimes confused, yes – due to selfishness, the envious, the jealous, I don’t want to pray with you, I want you to baby sit me …
INTERLUDE: Fr Matthew Munoz arrives with his mother and remain in the hallway since the “disciples” have packed the room. – Fr Paul introduces the latecomers [who had left a Birthday party at St Ireneas’ for Fr Matthew to surprise Fr Paul who could not attend due to the Discipleship meeting] we Sing Happy Birthday to Fr Matthew
First time Fr Munoz’ actual body is here – most often in spiritual communion through those who know Fr Munoz – or via speaker on Fr Paul’s cell phone
BACK ON TOPIC: these want to push back healthy boundaries, be open to elements of distortion, neediness, not wishing to die in Christ, get the help of your friend NOT to die in Christ, it is so much easier to be needy, I don’t want to come to the discipleship meeting, I would just rather let it melt away without Christ bonding and building – let them do it without me
Benedict to St Scholastica: girl, you’ve got a problem, doesn’t have my name on it, I’m out of here – I’ve had enough, I’m not signed up for this kind of Love, I have my own kind of Love, see you later – Jesus says come on, for My sake, and I can’t do it by Myself
Consecrated communion is at the core of transforming and building, this is what we are paying attention to
Religious Communities are for this but the real Life has to be there – if it is not, Christ’s Love roots itself elsewhere
Scholastica is desperate for the Life of Christ – she wants Christ [to Live] to be Alive in the way that Christ can only [Live] be Alive in the communion of persons – Benedict wrote the book on spiritual direction – wisest person on the orderly way of growing in the Spiritual Life – now St Scholastica (his twin sister) is pushing the limit on the person (St Benedict) who is the authority on religious communion etc
Scholastica is starving – thirsting for communion with the other members of the Body of Christ – she stays in that abandoned Place – Christ: let Me Love through you – longing for communion – this is what Christ has come to accomplish
Lk 8:19 – does Scholastica qualify as being the sister of Jesus? Not just a relationship with Jesus – but ONE with Him – Benedict had one level of Love – he wanted to follow the Rule …
“As she raised her head from the table there were such flashes of lightning and thunder …” (see below for full Office of Readings)
For St Scholastica everything is at stake – God is something you just can’t stop – everything means more than everything but everything including God Himself – oneness of being in an ongoing way – let’s not just have this – a conversation – but form an ongoing Communion, let’s move this encounter – it’s not enough to have an intimate relationship with God in the Ministry but this is what the Holy women were doing [with Our Lady] in the upper room…
“When she heard her brother refuse her request the holy woman joined her hands on the table, laid her head on them, and began to pray – as she raised there were such brilliant flashes of …”
“Sadly he began to complain – “
She doesn’t argue any more – like Our Lady at the Wedding Feast at Cana – Mary goes quiet, Scholastica goes quiet –
Jesus says OK at Cana –
Benedict began to complain –
SAINT Pope Gregory the Great (himself a Monk) is writing this –
“May God forgive you, sister –
She delicately invites him to go to the next level – all nature is responding to her prayer –
“Sadly he began to complain – he was sad because he was ruining God’s Kingdom – Jesus you are not going to have your Kingdom where mine is –
“may God forgive you sister,” what have you done? St Benedict is laying this guilt trip on his sister – Jesus is trying to bump family, spirituality, monasticism to a new level and Benedict is not buying –
YOU better watch out when the Bride of Christ asks for something –
I think I have a better idea – So I asked my God and He did listen – so go off –
“Well,” (she’s in command of the show here) … there’s a problem here and it’s not with God and it’s not with me, you do the math –
“Well,” I asked you and you would not listen (what an attitude this woman has – she would not have had a different attitude if she had been speaking to the Pope)
Benedict forgot Christ’s way of Love – Christ is broken hearted – one Saint no matter how Holy cannot form this communion of persons – God’s form of Love is relational. St Scholastica was selling magazines and Benedict wasn’t buying.
“Well,” she answered, I asked MY God (not OUR God) because Benedict had a different idea of God, one version of God, and she wanted the version down deeper, simpler – Now go off if you can, (MY God – YOUR Monastery)
“he remained against his will …” it is not surprising that she was more effective than he – she could do more because she Loved more.
“Against his will” – he didn’t look into the depth of the Mystery – to engage in spiritual conversation – he had to come around, surrender His Will to the Word of God, and he had to let his holy sister lead because she was with God – he surrendered instead of pouting and complaining on the inside. Well, obviously God is doing something here.
Does God want women to lead. Trace element God reserves, tiny drop that we need to receive from another person to fulfill God’s plan. We need to wait to respond, to activate, distinction and mutuality in the way that occurs. Mary Queen of Apostles – Apostles could not have been Apostles without Her being in union with them as Christ reserved.
I don’t want to be there but I know God’s calling me – can’t stop God why fight – no one wanted to go back to their Cell, they just wanted to stay in that union
It was not surprising that she was more effective than he … it was absolutely right that …
“He saw his sister’s soul leave her body in the form of a dove and fly up to God…”
“Their minds had always been united in Love their bodies were to share a common grave…”
Stabilized space station – organ of Christ – divine substance to itself – not individual prayer but a life of its own, Christ is living as this community of persons – a whole other level
Substance reality of Christ having formed a new consecrated organ that has an awesomeness – that is what consecrated life is about – we have been very slow and graceful in cooperating with forming this community of Life – It is sacred.
Saul being obstinately bent upon killing David, he is sent away by Jonathan.
1 But David fled from Najoth, which is in Ramatha, and came and said to Jonathan: What have I done? what is my iniquity, and what is my sin against thy father, that he seeketh my life? 2 And he said to him: God forbid, thou shalt not die: for my father will do nothing great or little, without first telling me: hath then my father hid this word only from me? no, this shall not be. 3 And he swore again to David. And David said: Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, and he will say: Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved. But truly as the Lord liveth, and thy soul liveth, there is but one step (as I may say) between me and death. 4 And Jonathan said to David: Whatsoever thy soul shall say to me, I will do for thee. 5 And David said to Jonathan: Behold tomorrow is the new moon, and I according to custom am wont to sit beside the king to eat: let me go then that I may be hid in the field till the evening of the third day.
5 "Tomorrow is the new moon"... The neomenia, or first day of the moon, kept according to the law, as a festival; and therefore Saul feasted on that day: and expected the attendance of his family.
6 If thy father look and inquire for me, thou shalt answer him: David asked me that he might run to Bethlehem his own city: because there are solemn sacrifices there for all his tribe. 7 If he shall say, It is well: thy servant shall have peace: but if he be angry, know that his malice is come to its height. 8 Deal mercifully then with thy servant: for thou hast brought me thy servant into a covenant of the Lord with thee. But if there be any iniquity in me, do thou kill me, and bring me not in to thy father. 9 And Jonathan said: Far be this from thee: for if I should certainly know that evil is determined by my father against thee, I could do no otherwise than tell thee. 10 And David answered Jonathan: Who shall bring me word, if thy father should answer thee harshly concerning me?
11 And Jonathan said to David: Come and let us go out into the field. And when they were both of them gone out into the field, 12 Jonathan said to David: O Lord God of Israel, if I shall discover my father's mind, tomorrow or the day after, and there be any thing good for David, and I send not immediately to thee, and make it known to thee, 13 May the Lord do so and so to Jonathan and add still more. But if my father shall continue in malice against thee, I will discover it to thy ear, and will send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace, and the Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father. 14 And if I live, thou shalt show me the kindness of the Lord: but if I die, 15 Thou shalt not take away thy kindness from my house for ever, when the Lord shall have rooted out the enemies of David, every one of them from the earth, may he take away Jonathan from his house, and may the Lord require it at the hands of David's enemies.
15 "May he take away Jonathan"... It is a curse upon himself, if he should not be faithful to his promise.-- Ibid.
15 "Require it"... That is, revenge it upon David's enemies, and upon me, if I should fail of my word given to him.
16 Jonathan therefore made a covenant with the house of David: and the Lord required it at the hands of David's enemies. 17 And Jonathan swore again to David, because he loved him: for he loved him as his own soul. 18 And Jonathan said to him: Tomorrow is the new moon, and thou wilt be missed: 19 For thy seat will be empty till after tomorrow. So thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place, where thou must be hid on the day when it is lawful to work, and thou shalt remain beside the stone, which is called Ezel. 20 And I will shoot three arrows near it, and will shoot as if I were exercising myself at a mark.
21 And I will send a boy, saying to him: Go and fetch me the arrows. 22 If I shall say to the boy: Behold the arrows are on this side of thee, take them up: come thou to me, because, there is peace to thee, and there is no evil, as the Lord liveth. But if I shall speak thus to the boy: Behold the arrows are beyond thee: go in peace, for the Lord hath sent thee away. 23 And concerning the word which I and thou have spoken, the Lord be between thee and me for ever. 24 So David was hid in the field, and the new moon came, and the king sat down to eat bread. 25 And when the king sat down upon his chair (according to custom) which was beside the wall, Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place appeared empty.
26 And Saul said nothing that day, for he thought it might have happened to him, that he was not clean, nor purified. 27 And when the second day after the new moon was come, David's place appeared empty again. And Saul said to Jonathan his son: Why cometh not the son of Isai to meat neither yesterday nor today? 28 And Jonathan answered Saul: He asked leave of me earnestly to go to Bethlehem, 29 And he said: Let me go, for there is a solemn sacrifice in the city, one of my brethren hath sent for me: and now if I have found favour in thy eyes, I will go quickly, and see my brethren. For this cause he came not to the king's table. 30 Then Saul being angry against Jonathan said to him: Thou son of a woman that is the ravisher of a man, do I not know that thou lovest the son of Isai to thy own confusion and to the confusion of thy shameless mother?
31 For as long as the son of Isai liveth upon earth, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Therefore now presently send, and fetch him to me: for he is the son of death. 32 And Jonathan answering Saul his father, said: Why shall he die: what hath he done? 33 And Saul caught up a spear to strike him. And Jonathan understood that it was determined by his father to kill David. 34 So Jonathan rose from the table in great anger, and did not eat bread on the second day after the new moon. For he was grieved for David, because his father had put him to confusion. 35 And when the morning came, Jonathan went into the field, according to the appointment with David, and a little boy with him.
31 "The son of death"... That is, one that deserveth death, and shall surely be put to death.
36 And he said to his boy: Go, and fetch me the arrows which I shoot. And when the boy ran, he shot another arrow beyond the boy. 37 The boy therefore came to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot: and Jonathan cried after the boy, and said: Behold the arrow is there further beyond thee. 38 And Jonathan cried again after the boy, saying: Make haste speedily, stand not. And Jonathan's boy gathered up the arrows, and brought them to his master: 39 And he knew not at all what was doing: for only Jonathan and David knew the matter. 40 Jonathan therefore gave his arms to the boy, and said to him: Go, and carry them into the city.
41 And when the boy was gone, David rose out of his place, which was towards the south, and falling on his face to the ground, adored thrice: and kissing one another, they wept together, but David more. 42 And Jonathan said to David: Go in peace: and let all stand that we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying: The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. 43 And David arose, and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.Saint Scholastica
Early Church Father & Doctor of the Church
This excerpt from the Dialogues of St. Gregory the Great (Lib. 2, 33; PL 66, 194-196) is used in the Roman Office of Readings for the Feast of St. Scholastica on February 10. Saint Scholastica, a sister of the great abbot St. Benedict, was born at Nursia Italy about the year 480. She vowed herself to seek God in religious life and followed her brother to Monte Cassino where she died around 547.
Scholastica, the sister of Saint Benedict, had been consecrated to God from her earliest years. She was accustomed to visiting her brother once a year. He would come down to meet her at a place on the monastery property, not far outside the gate.
One day she came as usual and her saintly brother went with some of his disciples; they spent the whole day praising God and talking of sacred things. As night fell they had supper together.
Their spiritual conversation went on and the hour grew late. The holy nun said to her brother: “Please do not leave me tonight; let us go on until morning talking about the delights of the spiritual life”. “Sister”, he replied, “what are you saying? I simply cannot stay outside my cell”.
When she heard her brother refuse her request, the holy woman joined her hands on the table, laid her head on them and began to pray. As she raised her head from the table, there were such brilliant flashes of lightning, such great peals of thunder and such a heavy downpour of rain that neither Benedict nor his brethren could stir across the threshold of the place where they had been seated. Sadly he began to complain: “May God forgive you, sister. What have you done?” “Well”, she answered, “I asked you and you would not listen; so I asked my God and he did listen. So now go off, if you can, leave me and return to your monastery”.
Reluctant as he was to stay of his own will, he remained against his will. So it came about that they stayed awake the whole night, engrossed in their conversation about the spiritual life.
It is not surprising that she was more effective than he, since as John says, God is love, it was absolutely right that she could do more, as she loved more.
Three days later, Benedict was in his cell. Looking up to the sky, he saw his sister’s soul leave her body in the form of a dove, and fly up to the secret places of heaven. Rejoicing in her great glory, he thanked almighty God with hymns and words of praise. He then sent his brethren to bring her body to the monastery and lay it in the tomb he had prepared for himself.
Their minds had always been united in God; their bodies were to share a common grave.
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