58. The Soul
This week’s edition of The Soul comes in the midst of a country focused on vaccination rates and re-opening borders while our HSC students sit their final examinations during the busyness of the final term of a challenging year.
Where do we find Goodness during these difficult times? In this edition, we will complete our review of the three transcendentals, Truth, Beauty and Goodness, described in the 2021 Spirituality Modules, by focusing on Goodness.
In leading our Spirituality modules this year, Bishop Greg reminded us of the teachings of St Therese of Lisieux and provided us with some simple, yet powerful messages about Goodness and its connection with Truth and Beauty. Firstly, “Truth helps us discern what is good” and “Goodness manifests as the flourishing of myself and others through love.” Bishop Greg reminds us that “I become good through correctly choosing good things,” while twentieth century Catholic philosopher, Dr Jospeh Pieper, describes beauty as “the glow of the true and the good that flows out of every ordered state of being”.
Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven". St Therese of Lisieux understood that to be like a child is to recognise in one’s humility a way forward towards goodness. For her, humility reveals that we are good because God made us that way. She reminds us that Jesus is there to help us to overcome our weaknesses so that we can bring love to situations and people we find difficult. In this, Therese lived a life around becoming small; "Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a small kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love."
Christian philosophers and theologians teach that God doesn’t have truth, goodness, and beauty; rather, that God is truth, goodness, and beauty. In other words:
- All truth is God’s truth.
- All goodness is God’s goodness.
- All beauty is God’s beauty.
In our society, we might agree that truth, goodness and beauty are important yet at times believe that they are subjective or relative. This may lead us to settle for lesser things or things that are not quite as true, good or beautiful as others. In Bishop Greg's Spirituality Module on Goodness, we are invited to question our own ability to recognise the good.
The Feast of Christ the King | Year B
John 18:33-37
Are you leading prayer at your office, staff meeting or parish gathering? There are some great resources that are readily available to help you break open the Sunday or Daily Scriptures with your colleagues. Here are some examples to compliment the Source and Summit reflection that is provided in each edition of The Soul.
- Formed in Prayer - This weekly scripture reflection is produced and distributed by the Catholic Leaders Formation Network (CLFN) and CSYMA. All staff in the Lismore Diocese have access to this subscription. If you are not receiving the weekly CLFN/CSYMA newsletter with this Formed in Prayer resource, register via the links at the bottom of this week’s newsletter.
- The Amen App from The Augustine Institute provides an audio of the daily Mass readings and a reflection
- Connect@home Daily Readings and Reflection from the Catholic Diocese of Bathurst. To receive the daily email register here or check out the website.
- Good God Almighty (Crowder) - A mix of Gospel, Rock and Blues, Crowder works to reclaim the goodness of God in this proclamation of faith.
- Taste and See the Goodness of the Lord (Francesa La Rosa) - Catholic Composer Francesa La Rosa gives a fresh, new appreciation and perspective on the Psalms while staying true to the ICEL translation.
- An Evening of Hope (Don Moen) - Pray today with this easy listening worship session. Don Moen describes himself as an architect who designs products and events that help people experience God’s presence in a new and fresh way.
Pope Francis invites young people to stand up (arise), to endeavour to live the call of the Lord, and to spread the Good News. Inspired by the original translation of St. Luke’s Gospel which gives the meaning of 'to rise up,' 'to awaken to life’ to what the Virgin Mary did after pronouncing her 'Here I am'.
The song, Jesús me dijo: Levanta-te!, ¡Levántate!, was written after a Lectio Divina experience, by Brother Ricardo Grzona, to offer an international experience to unite all young people to praise the Lord.
- Burned out, overworked or depressed? Pope Francis is praying for you - Pope Francis has asked the world to join him in praying for people with depression for the month of November, drawing a connection between depression, overwork and burnout. “Overwork and work-related stress cause many people to experience extreme exhaustion,” the Pope writes. “Sadness, apathy, and spiritual tiredness end up dominating people’s lives, who are overloaded due to the rhythm of life today.” Watch a video of the Pope’s address here:
- Lisa McInnes Smith is a motivational speaker who has worked in the Diocese of Lismore in recent years. Here are Lisa’s 25 Top Tips To Flourish
- Imaginative contemplation is the process of imagining ourselves in a Gospel scene by taking up a character, spending time with Jesus and being aware of what we experience. This resource gives you a method of praying with your imagination and some great scriptures to pray with.
- A reflection on our place in the Goodness of God’s Orchestra from Ignatian Spirituality.com
All staff in Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Lismore receive The Soul by email. The link in these emails can be forwarded and shared with family and friends. Alternatively, use this form to subscribe as an additional reader to The Soul mailing list.