Responding to Jesus' Deeper Invitation

By: Rev. Ron Rolheiser OMI

Narrated by: Rev. Ron Rolheiser OMI

In a highly secularized culture, how do we move from being good people to becoming great saints? How do we come to a new maturity? How do we use the wonderful freedom God has given us? Fr. Rolheiser outlines four essentials for a deep spiritual life. First, like the good but sad rich young man we have to give our entire selves to the Lord. Secondly, we have to sustain and appreciate a high level of tension in our life as we deal with our basic humanity and our membership in the Church. Third, we have to go beyond our feelings and thoughts about faith and demonstrate it with our actions and our presence in the midst of God’s people. Fourth, we need to hear from the voice of God that we are loved and forgiven. In hearing this voice we will avoid being caught up in an endless search that so often is filled with sexual manipulation, envy, and human frustration. All of us are called to greatness. In the end, we have to give all to Christ so that unburdened from ambition, material possessions, and fears we will be able to soar. He gave them water that quenched their deepest thirst and they were convinced he was the only Way, Truth, and Life.

©2006 Ron Rolheiser (P)2014 Pious Society of St. Paul

Ready to Launch

This is exactly the spiritual wisdom and hard-bones common sense that I needed to enter the Advent season. Live the tension. Recognize the dis-ease. Make a commitment to Greatness by making room for God. Twenty-plus years of reading Rolheiser's works, and this really synthesized so much for me. Plus I love his continual wit. Laughing saints communicate the joy of following Christ.