April Sharing of the Heart Resource

A monthly resource for sister and associate Sharing of the Heart groups.

Sharing of heart
Artwork by Sister Marion Honors.

Serving Up Humility

Suggestion for Sharing of the Heart and State of the House

In April, we reflect on the presence within.

Download the PDF.

SHARING OF THE HEART:

My life of prayer ~ Awareness of God’s action in my life:

  • Begin with prayerful quiet or song.
  • Each may choose a word or phrase to describe how she/he comes today
  • Read the following reflection from Sr. Joan Chittister


We do not realize that coming to know God has as much to do with coming to know ourselves as it does [with] anything we know about God. We do not recognize that it is what we are that will determine the nature of the relationship between God and ourselves. And for that to happen, readiness is the key.

To recognize the word of God when it comes, we need to steep ourselves in the word of God that has been given to us already. The Scriptures model for us the life we seek to live. The history of God’s people shows us both the challenges we face in walking with God and the issues in ourselves that must be resolved before we will ever be able to meet those challenges.

The development of spiritual disciplines that train our hearts to the sound of God’s voice, the regularity of exercises that measure our fidelity to the search and our attention to the inner life, all ready us for the moment when we suddenly arrive where we did not know we were going.

In the end of a well-defined spiritual life, we do not lose our two-ness [with God]. We become the echo of the song. We are not forgiven the obligation to seek the light always but we do become a shadow of the light. We are not relieved of the responsibility to navigate the ocean storms of life with faith. But we are carried through it now on longer, stronger waves of trust.

We discover, yes, that we are still two, but we also come to know that we live with a Presence within that we never had before.

-Sister Joan Chittister, The Breath of the Soul

For Pondering: 

  • After reading allow time for reflection, while pondering the statement: "The Scriptures model for us the life we seek to live."
  • After 5-7 minutes of silence, respond to these two questions:
    • How do I practice modeling scripture?
    • Practically, how could I do better?
  • All listen with reverence and attention, pausing between sharing

ORDER OF THE HOUSE:

We take time to receive and reverently mull over what we have heard, realizing that we are hearing about God’s ongoing action and creativity in our community and world.

Is there a common theme or common thread that emerges among us?

(Adapted from CSJ Congregation Sharing of Heart/House)

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(Compiled by Santa M. Cuddihee, CSJA)