Credo in Deum...
I've been reading recently a book that a priest friend sent me for Christmas called The Transforming Power of Faith by Pope Benedict XVI. It is a compilation of his Wednesday audiences from the opening of the "Year of Faith" in October 2012 until his last audience before his resignation in February 2013.
The chapter that I read this morning was from his audience on January 23, 2013 entitled "I believe in God" (Credo in Deum, the opening line of the Apostle's creed). There is a section that I have been reflecting upon heavily throughout the day. During the audience, the Holy Father stated:
These words deserve to be chewed for the great reflections they can provide. So, here are my reflections.
When I say that I believe, what sort of impact does it have on me? Does my statement, my profession of belief in God really cause me to be like Abraham and entrust my entire being to the One who loved me enough to create me, and call me to Himself? Or do I still try to do things they way I feel they should be done, and not consult with God?
Do I realize that I owe everything to God and therefore cannot just turn to Him at low moments, or for a few moments each week, but that He needs to be the One to help guide me in "practical decisions", as Pope Benedict puts it? Do I begin each day with a prayer of thanksgiving to Him, and end each night seeking His protection on me while I sleep? How often do I let His word (aka Sacred Scripture) speak to me? Do I spend time with Scripture each day, and if not--what is stopping me?
Then the deeper reflection...when I say that "I believe", do I realize that my life must be changed because of this belief? Do I realize that I cannot (as the Gospel this past Sunday told us) serve two masters, God and mammon? Some of the hardest questions I asked myself were: Do I realize that HE is God, and I am not?? Do I try to twist His words and the teachings of His Church to fit my own ideas (political, moral, etc)? Either in the past, or currently, have I let the world and secularism creep in on my relationship with God and His Church? (E.g.--the governance of the Church is not a democracy like a country can be. Do I realize I don't get a "vote" on Church teachings, and that God created it that way?)
These can't just be questions I ask once and consider them solved. Each day, as Benedict's last line says, I need to ask myself how I am living the great gift of my faith this day...
On a completely different note, having nothing to do with the Benedict book...My Pentateuch professor usually starts class off with a Hebrew prayer, ("Blessed are You, Lord God of the Universe who each day..."). he then translates it into Italian...In trying to find the Hebrew version, I found a website of different Hebrew prayers that are prayed throughout the day,and I thought I'd share (in both Hebrew and English) the morning one because I think it is absolutely beautiful...
The chapter that I read this morning was from his audience on January 23, 2013 entitled "I believe in God" (Credo in Deum, the opening line of the Apostle's creed). There is a section that I have been reflecting upon heavily throughout the day. During the audience, the Holy Father stated:
When we affirm "I believe in God", we are saying, like Abraham, "I trust in You, I entrust myself to You, O Lord", but not as Someone to whom to turn solely in times of difficulty or to whom to devote a few moments of the day or week. Saying "I believe in God" means founding my life on Him, letting His word guide it every day, in practical decisions, without fear of losing some part of myself. When, in the Rite of Baptism, the question is asked three times: "Do you believe?"--in God, in Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit, in the Catholic Church, and the other truths of the faith, the triple response is in the singular: "I do", because it is my own life that with the gift of faith must be given a turning point, it is my life that must change, that must be converted. Every time we take part in a Baptism, we should ask ourselves how we ourselves live daily the great gift of faith.
These words deserve to be chewed for the great reflections they can provide. So, here are my reflections.
When I say that I believe, what sort of impact does it have on me? Does my statement, my profession of belief in God really cause me to be like Abraham and entrust my entire being to the One who loved me enough to create me, and call me to Himself? Or do I still try to do things they way I feel they should be done, and not consult with God?
Do I realize that I owe everything to God and therefore cannot just turn to Him at low moments, or for a few moments each week, but that He needs to be the One to help guide me in "practical decisions", as Pope Benedict puts it? Do I begin each day with a prayer of thanksgiving to Him, and end each night seeking His protection on me while I sleep? How often do I let His word (aka Sacred Scripture) speak to me? Do I spend time with Scripture each day, and if not--what is stopping me?
Then the deeper reflection...when I say that "I believe", do I realize that my life must be changed because of this belief? Do I realize that I cannot (as the Gospel this past Sunday told us) serve two masters, God and mammon? Some of the hardest questions I asked myself were: Do I realize that HE is God, and I am not?? Do I try to twist His words and the teachings of His Church to fit my own ideas (political, moral, etc)? Either in the past, or currently, have I let the world and secularism creep in on my relationship with God and His Church? (E.g.--the governance of the Church is not a democracy like a country can be. Do I realize I don't get a "vote" on Church teachings, and that God created it that way?)
These can't just be questions I ask once and consider them solved. Each day, as Benedict's last line says, I need to ask myself how I am living the great gift of my faith this day...
On a completely different note, having nothing to do with the Benedict book...My Pentateuch professor usually starts class off with a Hebrew prayer, ("Blessed are You, Lord God of the Universe who each day..."). he then translates it into Italian...In trying to find the Hebrew version, I found a website of different Hebrew prayers that are prayed throughout the day,and I thought I'd share (in both Hebrew and English) the morning one because I think it is absolutely beautiful...
אלהי נשמה שנתת בי טהורה היא אתה בראתה אתה יצרתה נפחתה בי, [ואתה משמרה בקרבי ואתה עתיד למלה ממני ולהחזירה בי לעתיד לבא כל זמן שהנשמה בקרבי מודה אני לפניך, יי אלהי ולהי אבותי, רבון כל המעשים, אדון כל הנשמות. ברוך אתה יי, המחזיר נשמות לפגרים מתים]
Translation: "My God, the soul You have given me is pure. You created it, You formed it, and You breathed it into me. [and You guard it while it is within me, and one day You will take it from me, and restore it to me in the time to come. As long as the soul is within me, I will thank You, HaShem my God and God of my ancestors, Master of all works, Lord of all souls. Blessed are You, LORD, who restores souls to lifeless bodies]."
Praised be Jesus Christ...
--kpl
PS....Today is the only day of the year that is also a command...MARCH FORTH!
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