John 1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Contemplation thoughts or not.

St. Bonaventure declares it in these words:
"If you would suffer patiently the adversities and miseries of this life, be a man of prayer.  If you would gain power and strength to overcome the temptations of the enemy, be a man of prayer.  If you would mortify your will with all its affections and lusts, be a man of prayer.  If you would understand the cunning devices of Satan, and defend yourself against his deceits, be a man of payer.  If you would live joyfully, and with sweetness walk in the path of penitence and sorrow, be a man of prayer.  If you would drive out the troublesome gnats of vain thoughts and cares from your soul, be a man of prayer.  If you would sustain your soul with the richness of devotion, and kept it ever full of good thoughts and desires, be a man of prayer.  If you would strengthen and confirm your heart in the pilgrimage with God, be a man of prayer.  Lastly, if you would root out from your soul every vice and in their place plant the virtues, be a man of prayer, for in this is obtained the unction and grace of the Holy Spirit who teaches all things.
"And besides all this, if you would climb to the height of contemplation, and delight in the sweet embraces of the Bridegroom, exercise yourself in prayer, for this is the way by which the soul mounts up to contemplation and to the taste of heavenly things.
"You see, then, of how great virtue and power is prayer, and for proof of all that has been said (to say nothing of Holy Scripture) let this now be sufficient assurance that we have seen and heard, and see, day by day, many simple persons who have attained to all these things above mentioned and to others greater, through the exercise of prayer."

Thus far the words of St. Bonaventure.

Spiritual muse

A quote from Thomas Merton
Then it was as if I suddenly saw the secret beauty of their hearts, the depths of their hearts where neither sin nor desire nor self-knowledge can reach, the core of their reality, the person that each one is in God's eyes. If only they could see themselves as they really are. If only we could see each other that way all the time, there would be no more war, no more hatred, no more cruelty, no more greed... I suppose the big problem would be that we would fall down and worship each other."

The Cosmic Christ

One of the most interesting of writer's and speaker for the deeper meaning of the "Christ" is Friar Richard Rohr.  The idea that we love Jesus is of course a good thing but remember Jesus the historical man and the Christ that has existed since the beginning of time become one at the Resurrection.  The foretelling of this was during the Transfiguration with Peter, John and James.
His wonderful study and understanding has shown that many cultures over the thousands of years have had the experience of the Cosmic Christ, although they did not know about Jesus.
 Well anyway I have become very interested n the way he explains his ideas always using scripture to show that although he at times sounds almost like a heretic he is not and is a Franciscan Priest in good standing.  When he describes the unfathomable love that Jesus the Christ has for us it is not only spiritual it is describable in scientific terms.   Scripture tells us that The Father said, "Let their be light", this is in fact the Big Bang that science can now describe this event in microphysics.   Particles that are so small we can not observe them except through instruments and mathematical theories.  Science and Religion, when performed correctly are about finding or seeking the truth.  They are not in opposition to each other, they are looking for answers to the wonderful mysteries of the Cosmos and the incredibly, mind blowing size of the know universe.  How the creator (primary programmer) uses his creation to show us He exists.  And he loves us all more than we could ever understand.

More tomorrow.