Catholic Kermit

RECTOR’s CONFERENCE — today’s talk was for “returning guys” on the “Simplicity of Life” in more detail than earlier introduced.  This is the basic outline of the talk.

I.  The Evangelical Counsels
      A.  Chastity
      B.  Obedience
      C.  Simplicity of Life
      D.  Qualities Beyond Basics (to grow deeper)
      E.  Posture that creates openness

II.  Poverty / Simplicity
      A.  Pinching limitation …
      B.  In regards to Present possesions — a lack
      C.  In regards to Future possessions — insecurity
      D.  First of the Beatitudes  (reminds us God will provide what we need … trust)
      E.  In Religious Life —> freeing
      F.  Look at Complications in our lives
      G.  Look at Identity

III.  Poverty Flows out of Hope
      A.  Faith —> Certainty in Present
      B.  Hope —> Expanding Certainty of Faith regarding Future
      C.  Obstacles to Hope:  Possessions of the Particular
                1.  The Attribution of Certainty to Particular Things we already possess.
                2.  Hope has to do with non-possession, and the Virtue connected to that is Poverty

IV.  Deepening Levels of Understanding
      A.  Eternal Level
      B.  Next Level:  Freedom
      C.  Deeper Yet:  Gladness (= Joy)
      D.  Deeper Still:  Lacking Nothing

V.  Detachment / Indifference
      A.  People live without thinking about this
      B.  Example of Painting
      C.  Comparison applied to Everyone
      D.  Poverty belongs to dynamic of Knowledge:  it is Intelligent and full of affection

VI.  Lectio:  Matthew 6:25-34 …

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, 19 and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.  — Matthew 6:25-34