RECOLLECTION INPUT
August 6, 2016 – Servants of Charity
(*1) THEME: COMMUNITY, A HOME OF MERCY
Reading: Rom. 12:1-2 “Brothers, I beg you through the mercy of God to offer your bodies as a living
sacrifice holy and acceptable to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may judge what is God’s will, what is
good, pleasing and perfect.”
Activity:
Worksheet: What is in you that is in need of God’s mercy? What grace would you like to ask God
on this recollection?
Song: You are Mine – highlight – I will bring you HOME. I love you and you are mine.
(*2) Jesus calls us and leads us to join a community.
(*3) Did we choose the members of our community?
(*4) Jesus is the reason why we are here in the community. You are my Body.
Self-knowledge – prerequisite/door to prayer – st. teresa
(*5) Kinds of self:
>Projected self – a self that shows the opposite of what he is. The person may appear very rich
when in reality he is not; very intelligent, courageous or honest but he is not.
> Natural self – a self that does not consider others; instead he does whatever he likes. If he likes
to shout because he is angry or sleep because he is tired or whatever he feels he likes to do, he’ll do
it. (Video clip – encouragement)
>Real self - a self that carries a load of pain due to past experiences and does not know how to
handlehimself. He doesn’t even know where those pains are coming from. When triggered, pains
of the past overwhelm him and since he does not know what to do, he feels alone and abandoned,
tends to withdraw and becomes isolated.
> True self – a self that knows himself: his goodness and giftedness as well ashis weaknesses and
limitations. He knows he has the capacity to love because he has experienced being loved. This is
our true nature because God,who is love, has created us into His image and likeness.
Many times because of some circumstances that happened in our life, our true self does not come
out. Hence, we need God’s mercy to regain our true nature, a self created into the image and
likeness of God.
Four types of self:
1. Projected self – It is the self that wears masks. What the person feels, thinks and shares
are not the reality of who he is. He/She might be suffering yet everything is hidden and
everything is alright. This person looks happy and smart but in reality it’s the opposite for
fear that if he will tell the truth he might be rejected. He wears mask if the situations
demand.
2. Natural self – It is the self that comes out spontaneously. The person shows his emotions
and moods without reserve. He does not mind what others may feel as long as he
expresses what is inside him. His moodiness comes out to the extreme. If he is angry he
shows it through his words and acti0n. But if he is not in the mood he can just leave
everything as he likes. Others are afraid of him; others are annoyed of his ways.
3. Real self – This is the self that is affected by the present because of the burden of the
experiences in the past. The person finds it hard to move in the future. They are the
products of abuses: physically, verbally, sexually, emotionally, and even intellectually.
Because of these their life becomes miserable and their self esteem is low.
4. True self – It is the self that feels being loved. And so it is easy for the person to love
others too. It has healthy self esteem and has wholesome personality. He has the capacity
to give himself to others. He has sense of fulfillment because he feels the love of God and
ready to serve Him through others.
When we look at the first three types of self we can associate ourselves with to them. We want to
reach that true self which is the embodiment of what we are suppose to be. So we need to
continue the journey in order to reach the land of freedom and where we are called to be children
of God.
Building Fraternal Life: Communication – Dialogue
If we want to build community together, it is essential to increase the
communication. The fittest instrument to favour it is dialogue, so that it does not remain
on the surface but reaches deeper levels. In the document ‘Fraternal Life in
Community” of 1994 chapter II, entitled: “The Religious Community, the place
where we become brothers” n. 29 says: “To the strongly felt need for the increase of
the brotherly life of a community, there is a corresponding need of having a broad
and more intense communication… in order to become brothers it is necessary to
know one another. To know one another an important factor is to communicate in
a wider and deeper way”.
There is no doubt that communication is the life blood of the community. Without
it there would be no unity of hearts and intentions, and the community would be reduced
to be just living together in juxtaposition, living physically near but spiritually and
psychologically far away.
(*6) Levels of Communication:
We can point out 5 levels of communication
The most common and at the same time the most (1) superficial is the neutral
one. It is the level of business. The communication with another person happens
not because he is this or that person but entirely for the role he plays or because
we are in need of her.
The second level is more personal but superficial: the exchange of
communication is still external. For example, when we meet in the refectory on in
the TV room, we talk about time, sports, or about news, but we don’t say
anything of ourselves nor of our feelings.
Instead amonst friends, the communication can reach a (2) and internal level. It
comes through the exchange of opinions and feelings. The person makes
himself known, but there still remain some protected areas.
The next level, (3) intimate and deep, is only possible amongst few real
friends. It the level in which we give and receive, presenting ourselves as we are,
in which we feel free to express our joys, worries and pains. We can cry with them
and be sure that they will also share with us. In their company we can be indeed
ourselves. We don’t have pretence to e different from what we are. This the most
fruitful level for the personal growth. It is the level in which few words are enough
and where even the long pauses of silence don’t cause any embarrassment.
Finally, there is the level of (4) communication with God where nothing remains
hidden. This takes place in the depth of our being with the being of God. The most
suitable instrument to favour communication is dialogue. But what is it? St Paul gives the
best description of this when he writes to the Ephesians (4.15): “to live the truth in
charity”. This means the desire to growth of one another. To be able to accept others
without conditions and leaving them free to be themselves. To accept their gifts,
prejudices, ways of relating and communicating, their wounds, gaps and masks, but
always trusting in their desire of sincerity, honesty, truth and their kindness. It means to
listen with respect, leaving them the freedom and the space of silence, to avoid
interpreting, judging and investigating. It also means to accept ourselves and ask the
others to accept us as different.
It means to share what I am, not so much at the level of ideas, without any
attempt to change the other or to drag her to my point of view. It demands that
language, gestures and suitable moments be chosen. In this relationship each
one takes a risk: to be oneself, without masks, to be rejected, or misunderstood.
Above all, it takes the risk of listening to God who speaks through others.
(*7) Luke 10:29-37 (the good Samaritan) a story of what Christ has done for us.
(*8) The Good Samaritan is a story of what Christ has done to us
(*9) Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy. (mv1)
• Mercy: the ultimate and supreme act by which God comes to meet us.
• Mercy: the bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to a hope of being
loved forever despite our sinfulness. (mv2)
• Mercy: is a condition for finding out who His true children are. (mv9)
• Mercy is not opposed to justice but rather expresses God’s way of reaching out to the
sinner, offering him a new chance to look at himself, convert, and believe. (mv21)
What does mercy add to love? MERCY involves a need for forgiveness. God forgives in order to
show us mercy. When do acts of mercy, there is often no sin against us on the part of our
recipients. Bur we must be ready to do the same work to anyone in need even those who have
offended us.
Mercy is the condition for salvation.
(*10) Mercy – heart beat of the gospel
(*11) What does it mean to be a home of mercy?
Community – a battle field; a place where one encounters Mercy, where he concretely shows and
experiences mercy. Christian life is always lived in a community.
The ‘place’ for our human—spiritual growth is the community: it is a “Schola Amoris”
where we grow in love for God and our brothers and sisters
1. Attentive listening
2. Tactful fraternal correction
• Blame
• Encouragement
We do not have peace because we have forgotten we belong to each other.
Conflicts are quite messy in character but it is there that we see our brokenness and it is because
of our brokenness that we get into conflict.
(*12)
3. Forgiveness (Fr. Guanella’s brother priest)/ video clip – forgiveness)
• Let go (of anger, wrath, violence, revenge, vindictiveness, resentment, unforgiveness). It
is a necessary condition to live joyfully (mv9) – opportunity to outgrow our immaturity
• When it is pride it bounds to fail
• In sincerity and truth we recognize our need for mercy; we know we need to be merciful
to others in return.
4. Carrying one another’s burden (video clip -The porcupine)
Video clip – gate of heaven
(*13) POINTS FOR REFLECTION:
• 1. How have you experienced God’s mercy and compassion in your own life?
• 2. Cite concrete situations when you felt you were merciful and compassionate to others
especially to your own brothers in the community.
(*14) THANK YOU!
RECOLLECTION INPUT
August 6, 2016 – Servants of Charity
THEME: COMMUNITY, A HOME OF MERCY
Reading: Rom. 12:1-2
Activity:
Worksheet: What is in you that is in need of God’s mercy? What grace would you like to ask God
on this recollection?
Song: You are Mine – highlight – I will bring you HOME. I love you and you are mine.
Jesus calls us and leads us to join a community.
Did we choose the members of our community?
Jesus is the reason why we are here in the community. You are my Body.
Self Knowledge -prerequisite/door to prayer (St. Teresa of Avila)
Kinds/Types of self:
>Projected self
> Natural self (Video clip – encouragement)
>Real self
> True self
Many times because of some circumstances that happened in our life, our true self does not come
out. Hence, we need God’s mercy to regain our true nature, a self created into the image and
likeness of God.
When we look at the first three types of self we can associate ourselves with to them. We want to
reach that true self which is the embodiment of what we are suppose to be. So we need to
continue the journey in order to reach the land of freedom and where we are called to be children
of God.
Building Fraternal Life: Communication – Dialogue
If we want to build community together, it is essential to increase the
communication. The fittest instrument to favour it is dialogue, so that it does not remain
on the surface but reaches deeper levels. In the document ‘Fraternal Life in
Community” of 1994 chapter II, entitled: “The Religious Community, the place
where we become brothers” n. 29 says: “To the strongly felt need for the increase of
the brotherly life of a community, there is a corresponding need of having a broad
and more intense communication… in order to become brothers it is necessary to
know one another. To know one another an important factor is to communicate in
a wider and deeper way”.
There is no doubt that communication is the life blood of the community. Without
it there would be no unity of hearts and intentions, and the community would be reduced
to be just living together in juxtaposition, living physically near but spiritually and
psychologically far away.
Levels of Communication:
(1) superficial is the neutral one. It is the level of business. sports, or about
news
(2) and internal level. It comes through the exchange of opinions and feelings
(3) intimate and deep, is only possible amongst few real friends
(4) communication with God where nothing remains hidden.
It means to share what I am, not so much at the level of ideas, without any
attempt to change the other or to drag her to my point of view. It demands that
language, gestures and suitable moments be chosen. In this relationship each
one takes a risk: to be oneself, without masks, to be rejected, or misunderstood.
Above all, it takes the risk of listening to God who speaks through others.
Luke 10:29-37 (the good Samaritan) a story of what Christ has done for us.
Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy. (mv1)
• Mercy: the ultimate and supreme act by which God comes to meet us.
• Mercy: the bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to a hope of being
loved forever despite our sinfulness. (mv2)
• Mercy: is a condition for finding out who His true children are. (mv9)
• Mercy is not opposed to justice but rather expresses God’s way of reaching out to the
sinner, offering him a new chance to look at himself, convert, and believe. (mv21)
What does mercy add to love? MERCY involves a need for forgiveness. God forgives in order to
show us mercy. When do acts of mercy, there is often no sin against us on the part of our
recipients. Bur we must be ready to do the same work to anyone in need even those who have
offended us.
Mercy is the condition for salvation.
What does it mean to be a home of mercy?
Community – a battle field; a place where one encounters Mercy, where he concretely shows and
experiences mercy. Christian life is always lived in a community.
The ‘place’ for our human—spiritual growth is the community: it is a “Schola Amoris”
where we grow in love for God and our brothers and sisters
5. Attentive listening
6. Tactful fraternal correction
• Blame
• Encouragement
We do not have peace because we have forgotten we belong to each other.
Conflicts are quite messy in character but it is there that we see our brokenness and it is because
of our brokenness that we get into conflict.
7. Forgiveness (Fr. Guanella’s brother priest)/ video clip – forgiveness)
• Let go (of anger, wrath, violence, revenge, vindictiveness, resentment, unforgiveness). It
is a necessary condition to live joyfully (mv9) – opportunity to outgrow our immaturity
• When it is pride it bounds to fail
• In sincerity and truth we recognize our need for mercy; we know we need to be merciful
to others in return.
8. Carrying one another’s burden (video clip -The porcupine)
Video clip – gate of heaven
POINTS FOR REFLECTION:
• 1. How have you experienced God’s mercy and compassion in your own life?
• 2. Cite concrete situations when you felt you were merciful and compassionate to others
especially to your own brothers in the community.
