Beauty is NOT in the eye of the beholder!
Have you ever heard the saying, 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'? Well, living a sacramental life is the opposite of this.
Sacramentality means that when we see something beautiful or awe inspiring, it is not us that gives that moment power - it is God in the moment, in the beauty, God in the power that reveals something of God's self to us.
Sacramentality means that when we see something beautiful or awe inspiring, it is not us that gives that moment power - it is God in the moment, in the beauty, God in the power that reveals something of God's self to us.
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A beautiful flower does not rely on your opinion or experience to make it beautiful, a sunset or rainbow does not rely on you to be awe inspiring.
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In the Catholic Church we teach that God is with us now
and is also beyond us.
Our whole creation is filled with God.
God is in each of us and is in our interactions.
and is also beyond us.
Our whole creation is filled with God.
God is in each of us and is in our interactions.
So if we say that sacramentals point us towards God,
or help us draw nearer to God,
what kind of things are sacramental?
What physical things are signs of a deeper spiritual reality?
Does creation point us towards God?
Do people point us towards God?
Does scripture point us towards God?
Does the Church reveal God to us?
or help us draw nearer to God,
what kind of things are sacramental?
What physical things are signs of a deeper spiritual reality?
Does creation point us towards God?
Do people point us towards God?
Does scripture point us towards God?
Does the Church reveal God to us?
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By Pics_Tape @ Shutterstock.com
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By Jacob Lund @Shutterstock.com
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By Chat Karen Studio @shutterstock.com
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What about things that aren't so obvious?
Is God present in the suffering of someone who is sick?
Is God present in an ugly insect?
Is God present in an icy cold storm?
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By Kim Howell @shutterstock.com
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By Photographee.eu @ Shutterstock.com
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By Steve Todd @shutterstock.com
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Sometimes it is difficult to live sacramentally because we have to try really hard to see where God is at work.
Try to remind yourself that ...
God is present in the ugly insect as part of the living chain that supports life for everything on this planet. God is present in the construction of the insects body, the hinges of the legs the way it grows and multiplies. God is present in its uniqueness.
God is present to the person suffering, God shares that suffering. God is present in the kindness of nurses or careers, the knowledge of doctors or the simple act of sitting with someone?
God is present in the way nature works, its cycles; its dying and its new life, its beauty and its harshness.
Try to remind yourself that ...
God is present in the ugly insect as part of the living chain that supports life for everything on this planet. God is present in the construction of the insects body, the hinges of the legs the way it grows and multiplies. God is present in its uniqueness.
God is present to the person suffering, God shares that suffering. God is present in the kindness of nurses or careers, the knowledge of doctors or the simple act of sitting with someone?
God is present in the way nature works, its cycles; its dying and its new life, its beauty and its harshness.
