'I was right ....'

Teresa’s Way of Perfection never ceases to amaze me.  She displays such a combination of spiritual wisdom and plain common sense.  What she says about her communities of Sisters and the qualities they need for their life together can be readily applied to any community or group of persons sharing a common life, from a family to a Secular Carmelite group.  An example from a discussion in one of our Secular groups last night – she says in chapter 13 that ‘you should run a thousand miles from such expressions as I was right.  They had no reason for doing this to me.’  This brought to our minds the troubles that arise from defensiveness towards others and bitterness at others’ treatment of us.  We complain that our opinion was ignored, we complain that things would have been better if we had been listened to, and resentment sets in, a resentment that often poisons family life and prompts individuals to leave groups out of spite.  Teresa’s remedy is to remind us that Jesus suffered so much injustice, and we should expect to be treated like him if we choose to follow him.  This is a challenging teaching but it surely faces up to reality.

Intercessions:

Cancer: Brian Davis, Marie, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Jacqui, Sue B, Theresa K, Fr Jon

Siena, Elara – sick children

Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated

David OCDS - housebound

Sophia – blind infant

Joy Smith OCDS – seriously ill

Grace – troubling ailments, job difficulties, family (deceased mother and health of father)