Streams 'N Stirrings

Friday, August 30, 2019

Marie Anne Mayeski Preaches for the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Pray for inner quieting . . .

Dear God,

Speak gently in my silence.

When the loud outer noises of my surroundings

and the loud inner noises of my fears

keep pulling me away from you,

help me to trust that you are still there

even when I am unable to hear you.

Give me ears to listen to your small, soft voice saying:

"Come to me, you who are overburdened,

and I will give you rest . . .

for I am gentle and humble of heart."

Let that loving voice be my guide. Amen.

- Henri Nouwen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Nouwen

A disciple arrives at Socrates’ house very agitated and starts speaking to him and saying:

-Master! I want to tell you how a friend of yours was talking about you not in a very nice way . . .

Socrates interrupted him by saying:

-Wait! Have you passed what you are going to tell me through the test of 3 Hurdles?

-The 3 Hurdles???

-Yes, replied Socrates, the first is TRUTH.

-Have you examined carefully if what you want to tell me is true in all its points?

-No . . . I heard the neighbors saying . . .

-But at least you must have passed it by the second hurdle, which is KINDNESS. What you want to tell me is at least good?

-No, not really, on the contrary . . .

-Ah! interrupted Socrates – then let’s go to the last hurdle. Is it NECESSARY that you tell me this?

-To be honest, no . . . it’s not necessary.