From Br. Joseph —
Meister Eckhart, a 14th century German mystic, once wrote, “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.”
From Ronald Rolheiser’s book, The Shattered Lantern:
The original sin of Adam and Eve, the prototype of all sin, is presented as a failure to be receptive and grateful. …
God makes Adam and Eve and places them in the garden and showers them with goodness and life. They are given beyond measure and are promised that life will continue in this rich and good way on one condition—they are not to eat the fruit of a certain tree.
The prohibition boils down to this: God has told Adam and Eve that they will receive life as gift, but they may never take life as if it were theirs by right. The condition God places on them is not an arbitrary or petty test. No. It expresses an entire morality: as long as you receive and respect reality as gift, it will continue to give you life and goodness. If you attempt to seize it or take it as owed, you will know shame, disharmony, pain, death, and loss of a connection with God.
Reminds me of the First Beatitude: Blessed are the poor of spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
All is gift.
Our Lady of Mercy, pray for us…