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Life Reflection Group
2007– 2008 |
| Teacher, which commandment of the law is the greatest? |
| He said to him, |
| You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, |
| and with all your mind. |
| Matthew 22, 36 |
Today, perhaps, more than at any other time in history, we are called to exercise
our minds in drawing closer to God. The world is complex and
we need to bring our mind-power to bear to create solutions,
to generate compassion, and as suggested by Matthew above, to
love our God. St. Ignatius' basic mission over 400 years ago was working for "God's greater glory" and "the fuller service of our neighbor." Out of that mission arose the Ignatian "Theological Reflection." The late Father General Pedro Arrupe, SJ created the Woodstock
Theological Center (WTC) in 1974 to develop and promote theological reflection on the human problems of today. One mission of the WTC is to bring theological reflection into the lives of ordinary people. Woodstock defines theological reflection as....
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Working to understand and evaluate an issue or situation from a perspective informed
and enlightened by religious faith in order to do what seems
best for the improvement of our living together as a human family.
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The subject matter on which theological reflection focuses is not the
doctrinal themes of traditional theology, like Trinity, Christology,
church, and sacraments. The subject matter is the great human
problems of the day.
One response to this need for personal theological reflection has been to create
the Holy Trinity Life Reflection Group. Parishioners are invited to share how the spirit directs our tomorrows and our efforts to be an instrument of peace in the lives of others. The practice of life reflection can be rewarding when shared with like-minded people who desire God in all aspects of their lives. The reflective person attends to life review and is one who journeys within to find God anew. The reflective person looks into the creases and corners of his/her life, discovering and rediscovering the gifts of life which evoke gratitude. It may be looking at those not-so-good things, which can lead to healing and self-forgiveness. Life reflection is discovering that God loves each one of us! It develops deepening worth and self esteem. It is rediscovering how God wants us to live out our lives.
The facilitator begins each session with a question that has no simple answer. The character and flow of the discussion/sharing are determined by the willingness of seminar members to listen to the one sharing and to be open to the new ideas put forth. This is not a book club. This is not a debate. The readings are intended to tease out new discoveries about our relationship with God.
And the treasure of your infinite depths
would be revealed to your eyes.
But let there be no scales to weigh your unknown treasure;
And seek not the depths of your knowledge with staff or sounding line.
For self is a sea boundless and measureless.
-Kahlil Gibran
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