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We are afraid of emptiness. Spinoza speaks about our "horror vacui," our horrendous fear of vacancy. We like to occupy-fill up-every empty time and space. We want to be occupied. And if we are not occupied we easily become preoccupied; that is, we fill the empty spaces before we have even reached them. We fill them with our worries, saying, "But what if ..."
It is very hard to allow emptiness to exist in our lives. Emptiness requires a willingness not to be in control, a willingness to let something new and unexpected happen. It requires trust, surrender, and openness to guidance. God wants to dwell in our emptiness. But as long as we are afraid of God and God's actions in our lives, it is unlikely that we will offer our emptiness to God. Let's pray that we can let go of our fear of God and embrace God as the source of all love.
For further reflection...
A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly..." Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said. He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.[Matthew 15: 22-28]
Your response...
What has helped you trust God's love and guidance?
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Text excerpts taken from Bread for the Journey, by Henri J.M. Nouwen, ©1997 HarperSanFrancisco. All Scripture from The Jerusalem Bible ©1966, 1967, and 1968 Darton, Longman & Todd and Doubleday & Co. Inc. Scripture chosen by L. Yeskoo.
STAY CONNECTED:
Henri Nouwen Society
Join us for the Lent 2016 discussion of Henri Nouwen's book "In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership".
Visit our new website for inspiration, resources, news, events, community.
LEARN MORE
Text excerpts taken from Bread for the Journey, by Henri J.M. Nouwen, ©1997 HarperSanFrancisco. All Scripture from The Jerusalem Bible ©1966, 1967, and 1968 Darton, Longman & Todd and Doubleday & Co. Inc. Scripture chosen by L. Yeskoo.
STAY CONNECTED:
Henri Nouwen Society
95 Saint Joseph Street, Room 214
Toronto, Ontario | M5S 2R9, Canada
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Reflection for the Third Sunday of Lent of The Henri Nouwen Society of Toronto, Ontario, Canada for Sunday, 28 February 2016
"Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart . . . "[Joel 2:12]
Returning to Trust
In my own life I well know how hard it is for me to trust that I am loved, and to trust that the intimacy I most crave is there for me. I most often live as if I have to earn love, do something noteworthy, and then perhaps I might get something in return.
This attitude touches the whole question of what is called in the spiritual life, the "first love." Do I really believe that I am loved first, independent of what I do or what I accomplish? This is an important question because as long as I think that what I most need I have to earn, deserve and collect by hard work, I will never get what I most need and desire, which is a love that cannot be earned, but that is freely given.
Thus, my return is my willingness to renounce such thoughts and to choose to live more and more from my true identity as a cherished child of God.
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Reflection for the Second Sunday of Lent of The Henri Nouwen Society of Toronto, Ontario, Canada for Sunday, 21 February 2016
"Be still and know that I am God!" [Psalm 46:10]
Discerning the Presence
The Gospels are filled with examples of God's presence in the word. Personally, I am always touched by the story of Jesus in the synagogue of Nazareth. There he read from Isaiah:
The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
for he has anointed me
to bring good news to the afflicted.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives,
sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim a year of favor from the Lord.(Luke 4:18-19)
After having read these words, Jesus said, "This text is being fulfilled today even while you are listening." Suddenly, it becomes clear that the afflicted, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed are not people somewhere outside of the synagogue who, someday, will be liberated; they are the people who are listening. And it is in the listening that God becomes present and heals.
The Word of God is not a word to apply in our daily lives at some later date; it is a word to heal us through, and in, our listening here and now.
The questions therefore are: How does God come to me as I listen to the word? Where do I discern the healing hand of God touching me through the word? How are my sadness, my grief, and my mourning being transformed at this very moment? Do I sense the fire of God's love purifying my heart and giving me new life? These questions lead me to the sacrament of the word, the sacred place of God's real presence.
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Reflection for the Third Sunday of Lent of The Henri Nouwen Society of Toronto, Ontario, Canada for Sunday, 28 February 2016
"Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart . . . "[Joel 2:12]
Returning to Trust
In my own life I well know how hard it is for me to trust that I am loved, and to trust that the intimacy I most crave is there for me. I most often live as if I have to earn love, do something noteworthy, and then perhaps I might get something in return.
This attitude touches the whole question of what is called in the spiritual life, the "first love." Do I really believe that I am loved first, independent of what I do or what I accomplish? This is an important question because as long as I think that what I most need I have to earn, deserve and collect by hard work, I will never get what I most need and desire, which is a love that cannot be earned, but that is freely given.
Thus, my return is my willingness to renounce such thoughts and to choose to live more and more from my true identity as a cherished child of God.
---------------------
Reflection for the Second Sunday of Lent of The Henri Nouwen Society of Toronto, Ontario, Canada for Sunday, 21 February 2016
"Be still and know that I am God!" [Psalm 46:10]
Discerning the Presence
The Gospels are filled with examples of God's presence in the word. Personally, I am always touched by the story of Jesus in the synagogue of Nazareth. There he read from Isaiah:
The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
for he has anointed me
to bring good news to the afflicted.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives,
sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim a year of favor from the Lord.(Luke 4:18-19)
After having read these words, Jesus said, "This text is being fulfilled today even while you are listening." Suddenly, it becomes clear that the afflicted, the captives, the blind, and the oppressed are not people somewhere outside of the synagogue who, someday, will be liberated; they are the people who are listening. And it is in the listening that God becomes present and heals.
The Word of God is not a word to apply in our daily lives at some later date; it is a word to heal us through, and in, our listening here and now.
The questions therefore are: How does God come to me as I listen to the word? Where do I discern the healing hand of God touching me through the word? How are my sadness, my grief, and my mourning being transformed at this very moment? Do I sense the fire of God's love purifying my heart and giving me new life? These questions lead me to the sacrament of the word, the sacred place of God's real presence.
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Lent Online Book Discussion
There is still time to join us for the Lent Online Book Discussion as we reflect on Henri Nouwen's In the Name of Jesus. Facilitated by Ray Glennon, you are welcome to participate in any way that is spiritually nourishing for you.
Read * Reflect * Share
For more information, click here.
Excerpt from From Fear to Love: Lenten Reflections on the Parable of the Prodigal Son, by Henri J.M. Nouwen © Henri J.M. Nouwen. Published by Creative Communications for the Parish. Used with kind permission of the publisher.
Scripture quotation from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, 1993 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Photo of Henri Nouwen by Frank Hamilton. Used with kind permission.
Help us promote and extend Henri Nouwen's legacy by making a donation today.
Click here to donate in US dollars.
Click here to donate in CDN dollars.
Henri Nouwen Society
There is still time to join us for the Lent Online Book Discussion as we reflect on Henri Nouwen's In the Name of Jesus. Facilitated by Ray Glennon, you are welcome to participate in any way that is spiritually nourishing for you.
Read * Reflect * Share
For more information, click here.
Excerpt from From Fear to Love: Lenten Reflections on the Parable of the Prodigal Son, by Henri J.M. Nouwen © Henri J.M. Nouwen. Published by Creative Communications for the Parish. Used with kind permission of the publisher.
Scripture quotation from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, 1993 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Photo of Henri Nouwen by Frank Hamilton. Used with kind permission.
Help us promote and extend Henri Nouwen's legacy by making a donation today.
Click here to donate in US dollars.
Click here to donate in CDN dollars.
Henri Nouwen Society
www.henrinouwen.org
STAY CONNECTED:
The Henri Nouwen Society
STAY CONNECTED:
The Henri Nouwen Society
95 Saint Joseph Street, Room 214
Toronto, Ontario M5S 2R9, Canada
---------------------
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