1. What sort of prayer practices do you engage in?
2. Is fasting a part of your spiritual discipline? If so, what do you see its purpose as being?
3. How do you reconcile the apparent pacifism of the gospel message (the "turn the other cheek" thing) with the need for defense against aggression?
4. How do you reconcile the gospel's call to poverty with actual practice in a culture which focuses on material gain?
In the mornings I pray thanks for the blessings of th day before, for any special needs, and help through the day. Then through the day when new things pop up I try to say thanks or ask for help whenever.
2. Is fasting a part of your spiritual discipline? If so, what do you see its purpose as being?
No. Maybe I should though. Have to think on it.
3. How do you reconcile the apparent pacifism of the gospel message (the "turn the other cheek" thing) with the need for defense against aggression?
All through the OT the Jews went to war for God.
4. How do you reconcile the gospel's call to poverty with actual practice in a culture which focuses on material gain?
I don't believe the bible calls us to poverty. The verse says the "Love" of money is the root of evil, not money or material things themselves.
Becky
I pray the rosary on a weekly basis. I pray the Lord's Prayer on a daily basis. And I go one-on-one with my maker daily.
2. Is fasting a part of your spiritual discipline? If so, what do you see its purpose as being?
Occasionaly. I should probably practice this more often. I see the purpose of fasting as depriving myself of something in order to show God my sincerity about that which I am praying.
3. How do you reconcile the apparent pacifism of the gospel message (the "turn the other cheek" thing) with the need for defense against aggression?
Our God is a just God. Justice does need to be served. I think we all agree that Jesus was the picture of humility and turned the other cheek and even allowed himself to be killed. But remember what he did in the temple? He pretty much went on a tirade and knocked over tables, kicked people out, etc for turning His Father's house into a market. I'm sure there are many other examples of justice, but this one popped into my mind as I read your question.
4. How do you reconcile the gospel's call to poverty with actual practice in a culture which focuses on material gain?
God grants us what we need. Even if that means falling upon hard times. If it's needed for us to become closer to Him, he'll allow that. He gives me what me and my family need to survive. In the past, I have squandered those gifts and that has in turn made for some hard times lately, but we'll get through it. I've no desire to be ridiculously wealthy ... I just want to be able to live and to give my family a comfortable life. I'm not sure if that answers the question, but that's the way I feel about material wealth.
2)Fast for communion, rare occassions otherwise. Role in communion is obvious; fasting also serves to strengthen our spiritual aspect over our desires, increasing our freedom through restraint; it also increases gratitude for life.
3) You should always turn the other cheek if someone wishes to harm you unless to do so causes a greater harm. You also have an obligation to increase good and decrease evil. This may require other action: it should be done with skill and wisdom, and great carefulness, involving the least possible force or violence. But if someone wishes to harm you, know they have first harmed themselves and any response, no matter whether with force or not, should be done with compasssion. I believe the Church teaching on Just War is very wise and well structured.
4)Our culture (and many others) focus on material gain, or rather values material above other things - true. This value scale is false. It is a false allocation of value that can be demonstrated and taught as certainly as it can be shown that happiness is more valuable than unhappiness. I hope to be one who helps others learn what is of true value.
It helped me to be poor and happy and rich and miserable. Others may need other examples or instruction. It is not poverty or wealth that is the point of the teaching, but what you value and how those values are reflected in your dealings with God and your fellow creatures in this life.
2. Fasting is not part of my spiritual discipline. I claim the liberty of the Christ.
My discipline is to listen to approximately one hour of taped commentaries on the Word each day.
I have just finished Romans for the second time. I now go on to John.
3. There is no apparent pacifism in the gospel. That is de-construction by the Evil One. See Romans 13.
4. There is no call for poverty in the New Covenant. The L-rd allows me to have 90 % of what He would have me earn.
The L-rd of the Old Covenant is the same L-rd of the New.
Tehillim (Psalm) 81:15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever.
Tehillim (Psalm) 81:16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."
XeniaSt