The Detachment

because of your fallen nature-
the inheritance from
Original Sin-whereby your
intellect is darkened and
subject to deception while
your will is weakened and
vulnerable to emotional manipulation
which can trigger unhealthy
offensive / defensive reactions
in addition you are attracted then
attached to many things of which
some are harmless in themselves-
preferences you might say-
but which nevertheless nourish
your self-satisfaction...
others are chosen because they
will patronize your pride-the
driving force for ego's
self-aggrandizement in a world of
egos fighting for attention-
still others because they feed
your natural inclination for pleasure-
risking self-indulgence's transition of
attraction into obsession
choice into compulsion
joy into sorrow...life into death
thus in light of this Reality / Condition
and by reason of your Calling to be
Holy as Jesus is Holy-Set Aside for
His Glory-you are called to appropriate
The Way of the Cross by
following the Lord's example of
letting go of everything precious-
even life itself-to accomplish the
Father's Will out of Love- a
Graced-Pursuit of putting to death
the deeds of the flesh and turning
away from the things of this world
whose demonic prince possesses
enticements of every kind-shiny objects
appealing to your distorted passions-
tempting you in the end to "eat of the
forbidden fruit" unto death...
but The Way is much different...
simple yet sublime..."Ask and
you shall receive"...Grace to
"detach from and attach to"
out of Love for Jesus...
this Spiritual Combat is the
Death-to-Self and this World vs.
Life-in-the-Spirit-a detachment journey
from...your old ways to His New Ways....
your thoughts to His Thoughts...
your will to His Will...control to Surrender...
self-reliance to Dependence...
pride to Humility...passion-trinkets to
the Pearl of Great Price...idols of
money...power...lust...to the Lord
and Savior... possessions that possess you to
Holy Indifference.. the enthronement
of your feelings to the Truth of
His Word...distrusting yourself to
Trusting the Lord....pleasing others to
pleasing the Lord...your reputation to
His Glorification...indeed...you are
endowed with Spiritual Eyes to
see beyond this passing world to
the Eternal and Infinite World of Love..
Joy...and Peace which flows
from His Pierced Heart...a Grace for
Freedom to Flourish even in this
Veil of Tears ...in all these things you
shall Conquer moment by moment...
experience by experience...
detachment by detachment
ultimately to Attach Only To
Jesus- your "Alpha and Omega...
First and Last...
Beginning and End"...
The Source of All
Truth and Life

Reflection/Discussion:

-Explain what our "fallen nature" is.
-What is detachment?
-Why is detachment an important Spiritual Principle?
-What does "trigger unhealthy offensive/defensive reactions" mean? Examples?
-What does it mean to "distrust yourself"? Give examples from your life.
-What is something that is difficult for you to detach from? Why?
-How can you implement detachment into your life?
-How can self-indulgence transition into obsession/compulsion?
-What is "Holy Indifference"?
-Why is this process called "Spiritual Combat"?
-How can a Spiritual Director / sharing group help you in your Combat?