Devotions based on Juliet Benner’s book, Contemplative Vision When our hearts are transformed by God’s love they become places that offer space of hospitality to all. The Rule of St. Benedict says to let all guests who arrive, whether a stranger or not, be received like Christ.  The gift of hospitality begins in our hearts…

Devotions based on Juliet Benner’s book, Contemplative Vision Our hearts can only be transformed through the grace and love of God. God is always offering us His love but we have to receive it and allow it to change us. That means being willing to give up our self-centered ways and let Him be the…

Devotions based on Juliet Benner’s book, Contemplative Vision When the Lord becomes the center of our lives, we become aware that His creative love is within us. This enables us to live in freedom, with authenticity, and with new awareness of what is truly important. As our lives are continually transformed we will be willing…

Devotions based on Juliet Benner’s Book, Contemplative Vision In our every day life we miss God because He may not appear in ways we expect. As long as we have fixed ideas of how and where God should be for us, He will remain hidden and seem silent to us. God desires to be known…

Devotions based on Juliet Benner’s book, Contemplative Vision Haven’t we all experienced doubts whether God is really present for us in difficult times? Do we demand proofs that He is there for us? Juliet shares her thoughts on Caravaggio’s painting, “The Incredulity of St. Thomas” which shows Thomas ( along with 2 others)  putting his…

Devotions based on Juliet Benner’s Book, Contemplative Vision The author says that “Christian spirituality is a journey into loving communion and union with God. It is learning to look into the face of God and, rather than experience guilt, fear or shame, know our belovedness.” As we think of Adam and Eve they had perfect…

Devotions based on Juliet Benner’s Book, Contemplative Vision When we have times of joy and blessings, it is not hard to see God and His action in our lives. But when we are going through some chaotic times of struggle, we may feel abandoned and tempted to ask God where He is.   Even though it…

Devotions based on Juliet Benner’s book, Contemplative Vision Increased awareness of God can become a way of life for us. It can even bring us to the place of ceaseless prayer, that we are encouraged by Paul in I Thess. 5:17- 18. This unceasing prayer is unceasing openness to God as we live with an…

Devotions based on Juliet Benner’s book, Contemplative Vision Many times in the Bible we are invited to see…”O taste and see” ( Ps. 34:8), “Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord.”(Ex. 14:13), “Behold the beauty of the Lord” (Ps. 27:4) Jesus so often invited people to have the eyes of their hearts and…

Devotions based on Juliet Benner’s book, Contemplative vision After reading Juliet’s book, I am beginning to think we are all visually challenged as we miss so much of what is around us and in front of us. Our spiritual seeing is also conditioned by our physical seeing. When we are oblivious to the things our…