Category Archives: Hunger & Thirst for Righteousness

Prayer and Mercy

Posted on December 6, 2013 by unwobblingpivot

If we want to follow the pilgrimage of prayer all the way to the end, we must not be frightened by the threats of the world. We have already seen how St. John of the Cross calls such worldly forces … Continue reading →

Posted in Beatitudes, Counsel, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Hunger & Thirst for Righteousness, Love, Persecuted for the sake of Righteousness, Prayer, Show Mercy, Suffering, Theological Virtues | 1 Comment

A way in which we are all like Jesus without even trying

Posted on July 28, 2013 by unwobblingpivot

St. Paul writes that Christ Jesus was a man like us in all things but sin. Obviously, our point of greatest dissimilarity to Christ is our sinfulness. Conversely, because we all live in a fallen world, we all suffer the … Continue reading →

Posted in Beatitudes, Fifth Sorrowful Mystery, Fortitude (Courage), Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Hope, Hunger & Thirst for Righteousness, Peacemakers, Persecuted for the sake of Righteousness, Poor in Spirit, Power of God, Rosary, Show Mercy, Spirit of the World, Suffering, The Meek, Theological Virtues | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Completing the circle of mercy

Posted on July 20, 2013 by unwobblingpivot

There are two obvious lessons of mercy we need to learn: to seek forgiveness from God and to extend forgiveness to our brother. They are linked in the Lord’s Prayer, such that the first will not happen without the second. … Continue reading →

Posted in Beatitudes, Counsel, Eucharist, Faith, Fear of the Lord (Reverence), Fortitude (Courage), Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Grace, Hope, Hunger & Thirst for Righteousness, Love, Peacemakers, Persecuted for the sake of Righteousness, Poor in Spirit, Sacraments, Show Mercy, Theological Virtues | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Very much like an alcoholic…

Posted on July 9, 2013 by unwobblingpivot

In the same sense that an alcoholic is an alcoholic even when he is not actively drinking, I am always a sinner even when I am not actively sinning. I must accept that, while I may aspire to be a … Continue reading →

Posted in Beatitudes, Hope, Hunger & Thirst for Righteousness, Mourning, Poor in Spirit, The Meek, Theological Virtues | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Merton on Mercy

Posted on May 3, 2013 by unwobblingpivot

The mercy of God does not suspend the laws of cause and effect. When God forgives me a sin, He destroys the guilt of sin but the effects and the punishment of sin remain. Yet it is precisely in punishing … Continue reading →

Posted in Beatitudes, Grace, Hunger & Thirst for Righteousness, Love, Peacemakers, Poor in Spirit, Show Mercy, Theological Virtues | Tagged | 1 Comment

Why it is crucially important to be keenly aware that you are a sinner

Posted on February 10, 2013 by unwobblingpivot

If you are not thoroughly aware of your sinfulness and do not identify yourself as a sinner, you place yourself in a condition of moral hazard. The reason? When somebody sins against you, you will unknowingly behave in such a … Continue reading →

Posted in Beatitudes, Confession, Grace, Hunger & Thirst for Righteousness, Peacemakers, Persecuted for the sake of Righteousness, Poor in Spirit, Pure of Heart, Purification, Sacraments, Show Mercy, The Meek | Leave a comment

Pay attention to God’s absolute majesty–you need it

Posted on October 4, 2012 by unwobblingpivot

If only we knew how to listen, we would hear God telling us: “I am so powerful that even evil obeys me. I can get the evil in your life–even your evil–to work for good. But not without your cooperation. … Continue reading →

Posted in Beatitudes, Fear of the Lord (Reverence), Fortitude (Courage), Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Grace, Hunger & Thirst for Righteousness, Power of God, The Meek | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The flip side of loving your enemies

Posted on September 22, 2012 by unwobblingpivot

The command to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you might be more practical and prudent than we usually assume. It might merely be a good way to tell if somebody is in fact our enemy. We … Continue reading →

Posted in Beatitudes, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Hunger & Thirst for Righteousness, Peacemakers, Poor in Spirit, Pure of Heart, Show Mercy, Spirit of the World, The Meek, Wisdom | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Another take on the Parable of the Sower

Posted on September 9, 2012 by unwobblingpivot

What if the different soils in the Parable of the Sower, in addition to representing different types of people, could also represent one person at various stages in his spiritual life? Looking at it from this angle could be helpful … Continue reading →

Posted in Beatitudes, Hunger & Thirst for Righteousness, Luminous Mysteries, Poor in Spirit, Pure of Heart, Rosary, Third Luminous Mystery | Leave a comment

White martyrdom: bearing with others

Posted on July 6, 2012 by unwobblingpivot

We are all recipients of an infinite mercy we didn’t deserve and can’t pay back. We can only pay it forward by extending a fraction of the mercy we have received to a fellow undeserving human being. Constantly. And thus … Continue reading →

Posted in Beatitudes, Counsel, Fear of the Lord (Reverence), Fortitude (Courage), Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Grace, Hunger & Thirst for Righteousness, Love, Mourning, Peacemakers, Persecuted for the sake of Righteousness, Piety (Fidelity), Poor in Spirit, Pure of Heart, Show Mercy, Suffering, The Meek, Theological Virtues | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment