VOICES: Hints On Using Voices

VOICES is into its sixth year now. Much has been said about PRAYER. If you are looking for information on specific subjects related to prayer, VOICES may have covered it. There is a search instrument on the side panel that works well. Type in a word or phrase and search. You can automatically receive notice, via your email, of new posts. Add your email address into the notification instrument on the side panel.

Metamorphosis / Transfiguration

Have a listen to Bishop Robert Barron's homily for the Feast of the Transfiguration. [ . . . LINK . . . ]

Fishnet and Discernment

Here is another reflection on prayer borrowing from  Jesus' images in the parables of chapter 13 of Matthew. "The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Mtt: 13:47  When you take up a passage of scripture for prayer, you launch into a sea of mystery, with its many words surrounding you. You cast your net into this sea of words, to draw out as much of Wisdom's message as you are able. When you have completed your "fishing", and your net is full, you call upon the Spirit to come and join you. Together you hall your catch of words and thoughts and ideas ashore. You listen carefully to the Spirit guiding you as together you seek out those that fill up God's good message to you. The rest you throw back into the sea. Fishing without discernment (and without the Spirit) will lead to a bucket full of fishy smelling ideas.  More on this in the PAGE: Praying On a Passage of Scripture.

Yeast and the Spirit

The Bible is a book of words. But what is their purpose, what is their meaning, what do they tell us? For some, the Bible is a study into the origins of the Jewish and Christian religions; an object of academic study. For others, the Bible is a record of God’s revelation to man; a book meant for the instruction of believers. Jesus’ parable of the yeast and the wheat flower provides us with image that will help us to see how the Bible becomes the living Word of God when it is engaged as an instrument in the hands of one who prays. Wheat flower in the hands of a baker becomes a pasty mass of dough. Before it can rise up to a loaf of delicious bread, yeast must be kneaded into it and then baked. The words of the Bible, in the hands of one praying, will rise and expand into the living Word of God when the “yeast of enlightenment” is kneaded into it by the Holy Spirit. More on this in the PAGE: Praying On a Passage of Scripture.