During Lent, the SPIRITuality ALIVE groups are reading and discussing the book, Better Together-40 Days of Community.
A two or three page reading for each day offers a practical way to express love for each other.
Groups meet every evening Sunday through Thursday as well as in the morning Tuesday through Friday.
Check this blog for reflections from the groups and share your thoughts with us.
If you would like to purchase a book and read along with us, call the Religious Education Office - 339-0990.
A two or three page reading for each day offers a practical way to express love for each other.
Groups meet every evening Sunday through Thursday as well as in the morning Tuesday through Friday.
Check this blog for reflections from the groups and share your thoughts with us.
If you would like to purchase a book and read along with us, call the Religious Education Office - 339-0990.
I am concerned about the statements in "Better Together" that talk about love but seems to limit the love to believers. To me that implies that it is only necessary to love believers and that we don't need to love non-believers. I feel that as Catholics we are called to love all, Catholics, other Christians, Jews, Muslims, Islamics, those that do not believe in God, etc.. -- in other words all people. World peace will come when we ALL love one another.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the message is "don't love". I think the message is work harder to get the word out about the love of Jesus for all. Some denominations believe that this is the only way to salvation.
ReplyDeleteJesus said that "I am the way, the truth, and the life," did he not? All salvation is through Christ Jesus, right? Now, I do understand about how Our Father's mercy is large enough for those who never knew Jesus and strove for righteousness, baptisms by desire, and etc, but I think to say that there are other "ways" of salvation does not seem to be a correct statement. Maybe, in my zeal for Christ, I've misinterpreted the meaning of "other ways of salvation," but if Jesus is truly the Son of God, how can salvation be wrought if not through Him?
ReplyDeleteTo Jean D.'s point (hi, Jean), though... I don't think the concept of the book is to build a hedge of love. I've been reading the book through Catholic lenses and think that it teaches us that our parish should be a school of love, sacrament, social justice, and private morality & prayer, in short, Jesus. To go and make disciples, we need to learn to love Jesus, or families, and our neighbor. I don't know about you, but I cannot walk this journey alone. There are probably some readers who have thought about leaving the Catholic Church for a Protestant denomination, not because of doctrinal differences, but to find community. I know I have. I've rarely been to a Catholic church where I felt like the entire parish was engaged in fellowship. Maybe it is because we are such large congregations and I am a pretty darn introverted person, so it is hard for me to begin with. Nevertheless, I like the concept that we are better together. I love the Muslim, the Jew, the Agnostic, and etc better because of my love of Jesus which is strengthened by prayer, the sacraments, AND because of the strength I have gained by the fellowship and example of my Spirituality Alive group.