“We need reminders, symbols, stories, exhortations, living models, time-outs for reflection and celebration. These things are indispensable supports. The error is to think these things are the Christian life. Just as Jesus’ practice of prayer was in the service of a whole way of life, a means rather than an end, so must ours be. Insofar as prayer, reading, sacraments, and spiritual direction support genuine Christian living, that is, Christian attitudes, relationships, choices, and actions, they are useful. When they become an escape from the more difficult demands of Christian living, they are the corruption of discipleship. The question at the Last Judgment is not ‘How religious was your talk?’ nor ‘How much time did you spend in prayer?’ nor ‘Was your faith orthodox in every respect?’ but ‘How did you respond to needy brothers and sisters?’ This is the one reliable measure of discipleship.
(Thomas R. Kelly)
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“Insofar as prayer, reading, sacraments, and spiritual direction support genuine Christian living, that is, Christian attitudes, relationships, choices, and actions, they are useful.”
Useful to what end?
Posted by Barron
Right on! I have found in my personal life with Christ that I got so caught up in Church I missed the point of why I was there in the first place…Jesus. There was nothing wrong with my involvement in church in fact I was doing it with good intentions. I was so wrapped up in serving I did not spend time with my God and that is the only thing that really matters. My faith had become like Martha’s she was serving Jesus so much that she did not spend time with Him. I want to hang out with Jesus and if he ask me for a cup of tea I am going to run and get Him one because he asked me to. Not because I thought he might like one.
-Cole
Posted by Cole
These days it is rare to find people who respond to there needy brothers or sisters, so rare that sometimes I don’t think people like that exist anymore, but I know that is just a crock and I need to not only seek after my brothers and sisters but find those rare people who actully do care about the last question on your recent blog. out
Posted by mark