We are told in Genesis 2:7 that, “The LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground”. The words, ‘human’, ‘humble’, and ‘homage’ all derive from the same general word root that means, “earth”. From a biblical perspective we human beings come from the earth/the ground. Hence, humility is the posture of a…

“As long as man continues to live unreflectively and superficially, he will not feel the need to cry out in tears and in a constant yearning for repentance.” (Listen Prophets. George Maloney, S.J.; pp. 47-48) The most amazing things can happen at the “feet of Jesus”: “Great crowds came to him, having with them the…

“Zeal flows from an intensity of love.” (St. Thomas Aquinas)           In the first chapter of The Book of Revelation, St. John describes his first vision of Jesus. He says, “His feet were like polished brass refined in a furnace” (Rev. 1:15). St. John beholds Jesus’ feet as brilliant as the sun, or as bright…

“For this purpose have I come” (Mk. 1:38B)           Zealous love seeks the good of others. When zeal “is intense, then, it impels the one who loves to act against anything that might impede” its purpose: (St. Thomas Aquinas, quoted in Jesus Living in Mary, p. 1273). Jesus stands fully-focused in the footgear of zeal:…

“Relentless as the nether world is devotion; its flames are a blazing fire” (Songs 8:6B)           In Luke 10:39 we see Mary of Bethany seated in the presence of Jesus—”at his feet”—with an interior disposition of “devoted love“, “keeping [her] eyes fixed on Jesus” (Heb.12:2). In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples, “No…

“To truly know him is to truly love him”           As we continue our discussion on religious devotion, we begin with a scripture passage. In 2 Pet. 1:3 we read: “His Divine Power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own…

“A call to holiness is a call to conversion”           The Dictionary of Biblical Theology offers a definition for this intimate, heart-level, experiential knowledge of God: “Knowledge is entrance in the vast tides of life and light that emanate from the heart of God and head back to him” (p.299). We note that this Divine…

“Learn from me” (Mt. 11:29): “He emptied himself” (Phil. 2:7A)           We have been speaking about the personal, intimate, heart-felt experience of God in prayer that is called knowledge of God. This knowledge is indispensable for one’s growth in devoted love, holiness, and intercession. We have been created to know God personally. Yet, as intercessors…

“The emptying of the intercessor”           As imitators of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, intercessors are called to follow his way of life in the world. A section of the refrain of a contemporary, Christian song states, “Rid me of myself, I belong to you, lead me, lead me to the cross” (“Lead Me…

“If you hunger for holiness, God will satisfy your longing, good measure, and flowing over” (LH, vol. III, p. 935, antiphon for EP)           Jesus desires to continue to live his holy, spiritual hunger and thirst in the world through the hearts of intercessors: A driven hunger to do the Father’s will, and an insatiable…