Prayer for Grace for our Country

                Given November 3, 2018

                November 4, 2018

2 Corinthians 5: 10

                "Keep yourself ready"

                R. We stand before Christ at Judgment.

                Our whole life is waiting for
                    Christ –
                    preparing ourselves for
                    this

                How is the attitude we have –

                We will pass from this life to the
                    next –

                Be watchful, be ready –

                We know not when the Son of
                    God will come –

                Jesus: I have given you a Garden –
                    I have led you by the hand –

                I have asked you to walk with Me –

                To prepare for that Day of Judgment –

                You will stand before the Judge –

                How did you love God –
                    praise God –
                    adore God –
                    serve God –

                Were your days lived to love others
                    as I commanded you to do –

                Were you truthful and give the
                    example of joy before
                    others –

                In justice you were called to
                    sow love before others –
                    to give to others your
                    heart for the building of
                    My Kingdom –

                I gave you gifts of My richest
                    love – to be My instrument
                    of love to others –

                Make yourself soft and supple
                    for you are the creation of
                    My heavenly Father –

                You were created by Him with
                    talents –

                You were created in love –

                You were created in My image
                    and likeness –

                Oh beloved of My Father –
                    how precious you are to Me –
                    The Father loves His little
                    precious child –
                    You were created uniquely
                        by Him to give love and joy
                        to others –

1 Corinthians 4: 4-5

It is true that my conscience does not reproach me, but that is not enough to justify me: it is the Lord who is my judge. For that reason, do not judge anything before the due time, until the Lord comes; he will bring to light everything that is hidden in darkness and reveal the designs of all hearts. Then everyone will receive from God the appropriate commendation.

2 Corinthians 5: 10

For at the judgement seat of Christ we are all to be seen for what we are, so that each of us may receive what he has deserved in the body, matched to whatever he has done, good or bad.

Acts 10: 42

and he has ordered us to proclaim this to his people and to bear witness that God has appointed him to judge everyone, alive or dead.

John 5: 22

for the Father judges no one;
he has entrusted all judgement to the Son,

 

        R. Jesus loves us so much -

        Jesus is the bridegroom of our
            soul –

        Jesus has called us to be His
            precious bride –

 

A Prayer for Intimacy with the Lamb, the Bridegroom of the Soul

     Oh Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world, come and act on my soul most intimately. I surrender myself, as I ask for the grace to let go, to just be as I exist in You and You act most intimately on my soul. You are the Initiator. I am the soul waiting Your favors as You act in me. I love You. I adore You. I worship You. Come and possess my soul with Your Divine Grace, as I experience You most intimately.

 

        R. The joy is ours to be chosen by
            Jesus, created by Our Father –
            we are to be grateful to God
            for such gifts given to us –

        God has put people in our
            lives to love and be
            loved –

        We are to spread His love to others
            as we grow in greater
            faith and hope and love –

        We hope for our eternal salvation –

        We hope for the eternal salvation
            of our brothers –

         Our hearts are hearts of
            love – likened to God –
            our joy is so full because
            we are the spouse of Jesus –

        Jesus the bridegroom of my soul –

        Oh Jesus, You know my days, my
            coming and my going,
            You lift me up and are
            with me –
            even in struggle I know
            You –

        You are my judge some day –

        I am here to love You –
            to praise You –
            to be your beloved spouse –
                You the Bridegroom of My soul –

        You know my going out and
            my coming in –

        You know me –

        I have joy to be Yours –

        I have joy because You love
            me so much –

        Jesus: I love you, My beloved –
            I want to dwell in your Heart
            and operate in love
            as you live to serve God –
            God must be first in your
            life –

        When I come into you – you
            show such love to others –

        I am love –

        I give you Divine love –

        You walk not alone –
            I walk with you –

            I love you so much.
 

1 John 4: 17-21

Love comes to its perfection in us when we can face the Day of Judgement fearlessly, because even in this world we have become as he is. In love there is no room for fear, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear implies punishment and no one who is afraid has come to perfection in love. Let us love, then, because he first loved us. Anyone who says 'I love God' and hates his brother, is a liar, since whoever does not love the brother whom he can see cannot love God whom he has not seen. Indeed this is the commandment we have received from him, that whoever loves God, must also love his brother.

  

   

 

Given November 17, 2000

About God's Blue Book Cover:

This is God's Blue Book. I knew the color would be blue. I saw it in my mind's eye. It is God's blue book, for our living light. Blue for Mary, never dark. It is light and our Hearts are lifted in peace to Him. He lifts us up like balloons into a light blue sky. He even provides the sky, free of weight on our heels. We sail the skies as if in a hot air balloon and He watches us on our way. Our destination color is blue. We go to a light blue book for our answers. We sail His sky in our hot air balloon, light and unattached, floating free. We just go where His wind takes us, never knowing where or why. We are free and happy because he is at the helm. Alleluia.

Put a balloon, red and orange, on the front, as in the fire of His love. We are thus powered through His blue sky.

RR 11/17/93

   

It is in acceptance of all that is before you that you grow in your relationship with me.  Do not try to throw back the opportunity for grace you receive.

Child, I am ever by your side and I am ever teaching you.  Accept all things as happening from Him Who loves you.  Know that My hand is in everything you are experiencing.  I am vigilant and by your side.  Nothing happens to you that I have not consented to.

- Jesus' words to the receiver
December 30, 1993

  
 

"Bloom where you are planted"

Messenger:  We are in a state of becoming.

The Church is in the state of becoming.

The world is in the state of becoming.

We are a pilgrim Church.

Jesus:  I write to you, the baby is borne in labor. Now you anguish in labor and pain bringing forth the fruit for the Kingdom. 

You cannot give up. You cannot say my work is done.

I live in you, you live in Me. You are on a journey.

You need to teach the people to fish.

Your actions are rooted in love.

A machine produces much when it is productive.

It is mechanical, it operates without a heart.

Your heart is rooted in Me. I am the power source. Woe to those who want to be the King, who want others to walk in their name, they usurp the throne from Me, their God.

It is Me you offend, it is Me you dishonor, it is Me you must make recompense to.

So many are so blind they live a heartless life disconnected from their God. They lack sensitivity and they walk to promote themselves.

For what? Your years on this earth are soon over and your houses and boats and fame — here below — fame for an audience that might idolize YOU — My men you must promote the Kingdom of God — you  must walk in My name.

Oh the senseless things leave you hungry.

And yet they fail to recognize the cross is their glory, the daily mundane duties of your life, when offered as a sacrifice and endured in love can help the whole world.

Some of the greatest saints endured the deepest sufferings.

Sufferings are gifts from God.

Oh My shepherds, you bore a baby and now you must endure the suffering, that others will live more fully in Me.

You must accept the everyday trials with love realizing to do so can help many who receive the material I have given through you.

A mother suffers for her children. She raises them, she loves them, she cares for them and prays for them long after they are gone and she prays for their children and their children. And so, too, the Church cares for her children, prays for the children and feeds the children with the Bread of Life.

Oh quit, "bucking the bull". I give you as you need and your eyes are always looking for more, new people to love you and make you feel good, new places to fill you so you are satisfied —

TODAY IS THE MOMENT TO LIVE FOR YOUR GOD —

THE RESTLESS HEART ONLY RESTS IN GOD —

Foolish you are to throw away the grace of the day and be so tirelessly unstable and anxious.

I am with you in everything you do today. What you are given may be perfect and you reject it all day because you are so willful.

The bottom line is this, every hair of your head is numbered.

Endure the sufferings, love every moment, don't be so selfish wanting your own name and a kingdom for yourself here below —  remember the story of the pigs, the wolf came and blew the house down.

Store up treasures for heaven, the devil goes before you with allurements and you live anxious and depressed — this is life, endurance teaches you discipline, living in the moment brings peace.

If you think you can make it — go get your kingdom today and do it. Why do you make everyone trying to serve Me in the community, in your family, suffer with your discontent and visions of grandeur?

Either you are with Me or against Me. The kingdom is not found in the feeble things of the earth. Your joy is found in Me. Quit harassing My servants.

Look at the ants on the ant hill. Look from above as the Father watches you. On one ant hill they worked together tirelessly to build a kingdom, on the other hill a huffy ant wanted to reign, he bumped everybody else to get ahead and get his way — all suffered because of him and his discontent. All suffer when you don't accept the things you are given and work in that.

People come and people go. I want you to recognize the gifts I have given in the Shepherds of Christ Movement and thank Me this Thanksgiving. Thank God for your family and mostly thank God for the revelations given. These writings are the gift I have given to you to spread. So you want to write your own books. Listen to the words of your founder and messenger. I have written to you and revealed secrets to you about My Heart that  I have never revealed before in the history of the world. I give and you want more. You are missing the gift I am giving you. 

Let me tell you a parable. A lady lost a necklace, she spent her life searching for those pearls, she never found them and she missed her life, she was frustrated and caused everyone around her to suffer. She missed all the love I sent her, she wanted what she wanted, when she wanted it. Her eyes were blind and all the gifts were not recognized. 

You all are suffering for the world. You are in the state of becoming. Learning to endure, being grateful, living in the moment, helping others, accepting them and loving them are all signs of maturity.

It's very easy to be selfish and just say ME-ME-ME. Do you want to be like Jesus? I am your model, I am the Son of God. Study My life and identify with Me. I carried My cross, I gave My life for My precious souls. Now I ask you to grow. 

Mary: Help the children — help my children — pray for your founder united to the Mass through my powerful intercession as Our Lady of Clearwater. Thank your God for these gifts and writings.

   

Excerpt from November 15, 2000

R. Response to God's Love is a book written by Fr. Carter and used as a text book for about 16 years at Xavier University. He taught there for over 30 years. He has authored some 17 books and written six years of priestly newsletters which have been circulated around the world.

Jesus desires this section to be included. This book is so important to Jesus. You will have greater insights into the Divine Mysteries if you read slowly as Jesus requests and pray for vision and grace. Oh God, thank You for this great work.

The moment Fr. Carter took his pen in hand God was giving the world a great body of knowledge to help renew the Church and the world.

Fr. Carter has spiritually directed all of us through his writings and Jesus has directed him his whole life to help renew the Church and the world.

St. Claude de la Colombiere, St. Margaret Mary, St. Francis, St. Clare, St. Ignatius and St. Xavier intercede for us, especially for the Jesuits to help us do this work to help bring about the Reign of the Sacred Heart and triumph of Mary's Heart.

(End of Excerpt from November 15, 2000

  

Excerpt from Response to God’s Love

                                                 3 

                                                 Becoming

 

                                                                          Our incorporation into the mystery of Christ at baptism initiates us into a life that God intends to develop into full maturity. Our life in Christ as guided by the Spirit is not a static given, a life that is received in baptism and then simply clung to. It is not a life that we are merely to avoid losing through serious sin. Rather, it is our task to develop this life through a process of evolutionary growth. God has truly placed us in a situation of becoming. Our personal uniqueness is meant to gradually unfold into its full stature in Christ as we increasingly fulfill God's will in deepening faith, hope, and love.

       For each individual, the process of becoming is intertwined with God's plan of growth for all creation. To understand the individual Christian's situation as one of process, of becoming, it is obviously helpful, then, to realize that he or she is part of a larger picture of becoming. Consequently, let us consider three aspects—the world, the Church, and the individual Christian—all of which are in a state of becoming.

       The swirling pace of today's rapidly changing world is unavoidably evident. If we were tempted to think all this change might be an illusion, however, there are statistics to assure us that today's world is indeed undergoing change—or process—at a phenomenal rate. Some of these statistics include the following: Before the year 1500, Europe published 1000 books per year; by 1950, the rate had swelled to 120,000 per year; by the mid-1960s the overall world figure was 1000 titles per day. This affords us some idea of the vast knowledge explosion that has characterized our times and, indeed, is one of the most important influences in our fast-changing society. The following is another statistic: A period of 5000 years elapsed between the first shoeing of a horse by a blacksmith and the first guiding by an engineer of a different kind of horse—the iron horse, or locomotive; only 170 years elapsed, however, between that first locomotive engineer and the first jet pilot who shattered the sound barrier. These are a few of the numerous statistics that could be cited to demonstrate that our world is in rapid process.

       The Church herself attests to a world in a state of profound becoming. Vatican II has stated: "Today, the human race is passing through a new stage of its history. Profound and rapid changes are spreading by degrees around the whole world" (The Church in the Modern World, No. 4); and, "Thus, the human race has passed from a rather static concept of reality to a more dynamic, evolutionary one" (No. 5).

       God has called mankind to collaborate with him in the unfolding of creation. The fact that God has placed a creative urge deep within mankind is evidenced by the myriad achievements of the human race in the areas of science and technology, the humanities, art and culture, government, and so forth. Men and women constantly surpass themselves in what they are capable of achieving. Not too many years ago, landing a man on the moon was not even considered a serious possibility; now, however, it is just as possible as a jet flight to Paris. Contemporary mankind's capacity to develop the material world and other aspects of the temporal order is such that it staggers the imagination and makes one almost dizzy in an attempt to keep abreast of the latest advances.

       This evolutionary process of the world, and the human capacity to increase its almost torrid pace, cannot be questioned. The fact that this capacity is a God-given talent likewise cannot be questioned. What can be questioned, however, is whether contemporary men and women will properly use this gift and thereby assist the temporal order to evolve to the authentic good of all mankind.

       Today's Christian must take inspiration from the following words of Scripture:

       Jesus replied, "Scripture has it:
              'Not on bread alone is man to live
       but on every utterance that comes
              from the mouth of God.' "
                                             —Mt 4:4

Jesus reminds us that we must keep material progress in proper perspective. The material universe is a gift from God that is intended to serve men and women in the quest for their temporal and eternal destiny, a destiny that is centered in mankind's spiritual nature. To say this is not to falsely dichotomize humanity or to deny the bodily dimension; it is merely to insist that the total person is meant to be controlled by his or her spirit and, from this spiritual nature, is actuated to be—and to become—what the Creator has designed.

       Human history is replete with examples of how men and women have, at times, abused material progress. An ungodly desire for the material has been the cause of unjust wars, murders, thefts, cheating in business, and the destruction of families by greed. The list could be extended, of course, but one final observation is sufficient, namely, that men and women have often allowed the inordinate desire for material gain to quench their innate desire for spiritual values. As often as men and women have done so, they have sold their souls for swine husks.

       Christians can be a force in properly shaping the temporal order in its state of becoming. By carrying Christian principles into the marketplace, Christians can help correctly direct the material world in its evolution. Christians cannot afford to be thwarted by temptations such as, "What's the use? What difference does it make what I do or don't do?" The contemporary examples of certain groups or individuals who have had a profound influence on society by bringing to light injustices and deficiencies in the present structure of things have become legion. What is more, the efforts of these groups and/or individuals in actually achieving a change for the better is also a matter of record. Likewise, each Christian, in some way or another, can also be effective if he or she is willing to pay the price. The fact that his or her influence may often remain a very hidden one does not make it less effective.

       The Christian, in fact, has a duty to help properly shape the temporal order in its process of becoming. The Christian also has a duty to witness to the ultimate point of destiny toward which this process is evolving—the omega point who is Jesus himself, the center and culmination of all human history. Through the Christian's proper encounter with the world in process, he or she is supposed to be a reminder, as Christ himself was, of the world's ultimate outcome in its evolutionary thrust. This final point of the world's development will be the entrance of the temporal order into the eternal age of things; the world will be swept up by Christ in his second coming and will remain, for all eternity, in the transformation that it will receive at this parousia.

       In giving this particular kind of witness to the world in process, the committed Christian is a reminder, however silent, that, despite mankind's greatest genius, the secular order cannot develop into a Utopia on earth. People have so often had the false expectation that a secular city can be established that will amount to a heaven on earth. So long as people persist in such unrealistic expectations, they will be disappointed. It is interesting to speculate whether those who are living today, surrounded by the material comforts and advantages of an incredibly advanced technological age, are really any happier than those who had lived in ages when these material advantages were absent. If present material progress has not brought men and women closer to God and to one another, then it surely has not made them authentically happier. Yes, the temporal order is surely meant to evolve for the sake of our greater happiness; however, the temporal order can only evolve properly and thus achieve its true purpose, if it refuses to be closed in upon itself in an attitude of absolute autonomy. Rather, the temporal order can only achieve its true purpose if it opens up in evolutionary process to its God and to the God-intended completion of its evolution that is in the eternal order of things.

       As we turn our attention to the Church, we again encounter the reality of becoming. In the post-Vatican II Church, we are all well aware of a Church that is in process, a Church that is reaching out toward that which is yet to be achieved, toward that more perfect realization of the ideal that Jesus has delineated for it. The Church is a mustard seed that is meant to gradually evolve into that full stature which Christ intends: "He proposed still another parable: 'The reign of God is like a mustard seed which someone took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest seed of all, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants' " (Mt. 13:31-32).

       The concept of the Church as a pilgrim Church is closely allied with the idea of the Church in the process of becoming. The pilgrim Church is the fulfillment of God's people from Old Testament times. Under the leadership of Moses, the Jewish people traveled through the desert toward the Promised Land. The journey was, however, not always a smooth one; there were sufferings, both physical and spiritual, as well as numerous infidelities against God—which, occasionally, were extremely flagrant violations of his covenant law. Good prevailed, however, sufficiently for the promised goal to be achieved.

       God's people of New Testament times are also on the way; their Promised Land is the heavenly Jerusalem. The distance thus far traveled, however, presents a mixed picture. There has been a dark and ugly aspect of the Church's history; there have been jealousies, for example, as well as power politics in high places, and material greed; disloyal popes, bishops, and priests; laity who have, in numerous ways, betrayed the name of Jesus in the marketplace; apathy and a lack of concern for the world's problems.

       This evil dimension of the Church's history would be tragically disheartening if there were not a brighter side, but, through the grace of God, the good in the Church has been more powerful than the evil. There have been numerous martyrs who are definite proof that Jesus' love for an individual, and that individual's love for Him, can take such deep possession of the person that death, even a death that might be exacted through the most horrendous torments, can be deemed a privilege and even eagerly embraced as the passageway to complete and eternal union with Christ. There have also been many men and women of all vocations who wholeheartedly dedicated themselves to Christ and lovingly gave themselves in service to mankind. It is true that the good they accomplished was supported by both Christ's love and others' love for them, yet it was not always easy. Disappointments, misunderstandings, periods of agonizing suffering—these were also indelibly woven into the accounts of their lives.

       The Church cannot content herself with the good that her members have accomplished. The Church is still in the process of becoming; she is still a participant in an ongoing pilgrimage. Her members must have a spirit of openness, a venturesome attitude; they can never afford to settle down in a posture of self-satisfaction. There is still so much good yet to be accomplished. But how is it to be accomplished?

       We cannot be sure of all the future possibilities for achieving the work that Jesus has entrusted to the Church. Not too long ago, for example, how many would have thought that the principle of collegiality would today be such a dynamic element in the Church? That it is so is evidenced in many ways—through synods of bishops; priests' senates; diocesan councils composed of laity, religious, and priests; parish councils; and a more democratic process at work in religious orders and congregations. This is not to say that the principle of collegiality is being implemented in a perfect way; however, it is apparent that, relatively speaking, the Church has made giant strides toward the ideal. As for projecting into the future, however, we must be aware that there may be completely new experiences for which the Spirit is preparing us. We cannot, therefore, harbor a too static view of the Church. We should not think that the more unchangeable the Church is, the better she serves her purpose. There are both unchangeable and changeable dimensions of the Church. While we loyally hold true to the unchangeable aspects, we must at the same time give proper attention to the changeable dimensions. To do otherwise would actually be to refuse to be open to the Spirit in a proper fullness. A Church in the process of becoming—a pilgrim Church—must, then, balance her concern for both the changeless and the changing aspects of her existence. Only in this way can she be both stable and flexible enough to properly serve her own members and the entire human race.

       In discussing both the world and the Church in a process of becoming, much has already been said about the individual Christian's state of becoming, because the Christian's life is inevitably caught up in the world's and the Church's existence. It is well, at this point, to more directly consider the individual Christian as a person who is in the process of growth, of becoming more what God destines him or her to be.

       We are meant to be in a continuing process of becoming through a deeper radicalization of faith, hope, and love. True, one dimension of the grace-life is the fact that it is a stable given. It is not, however, a static given. We have to thrust toward that which is yet to be achieved. We are meant to be in a process of becoming the "more."

       Full maturity in Christ is not suddenly achieved. Even after a relative maturity is attained, this maturity can always take deeper root. This gradual achievement in spiritual maturity can be viewed as a process of self-encounter, a process whereby we gain the proper, graced self-control amid many struggles. It is a becoming through an encounter with the true self, through a gradual achievement of that self-identity and uniqueness that God intends. This becoming is achieved through a path of progress that is not always perfectly upward: there is the reaching out for good, but also the succumbing to evil; there is the discovery of strengths and talents, but also the painful awareness of weaknesses and limitations. There are, in short, successes and failures. There is joy—sometimes intense joy—over what is achieved in personal growth; however, there are also periods of discouragement—sometimes moments of near despair—because further growth seems impossible. All this happens because the process of becoming has inherent within it a constant newness that is linked to a certain sameness. We are always the same persons, but always different persons, too.

       Moreover, the process of becoming through a proper encounter with the true self takes place not in a vacuum, but rather, within the framework of an encounter with the material world, with human persons, and with God. The encounter with the material world—and, indeed, with the entire temporal order—is meant to be characterized by a correct use of creation, by periodic renunciation, and by a spirit of creativity. The correct use of material things enables the person to grow by respecting the fact that the bodily aspect of his or her being has situated him or her in a material world that is meant to serve the person's needs. The fact that persons are in part material beings means that one aspect of God's plan for men and women intends that they grow, that is to say, that they become, through the proper encounter with, or use of, the material.

       As long as men and women are on this earth, there will always be in them both a sinful tendency and a thrust toward good, and, consequently, they do not always properly relate to the material. For an individual to achieve a correct use of material things and other temporal values, he or she must periodically renounce them. At times, becoming means not becoming in a certain way, not encountering this thing or this value.

       Also, the material and temporal order offers wide possibilities for individual creative instincts. By shaping the raw stuff of creation through the various uses of one's creative forces, a person can become that which he or she was not. The imprint of one's creative image where it did not previously exist is a reflection of a certain development, or becoming, within the individual person.

       As significant as the encounter with the material world may be, however, it is obviously not as important as the encounter with human persons. God intends that so much of our spiritual growth occur as a result of our proper encounter with others. So much of our growth toward mature personhood occurs in the give-and-take of personal encounter. Until rather recent years, spiritual teaching placed a great emphasis upon the correct performance of certain practices. That appeal, however, did not always properly emphasize the fact that those practices were important only to the extent that they deepened the Christian's personal relationship with God and his or her fellow men and women.

       The selflessness that is required for authentic relationship to the other readily points out why encounter with persons is such an important contributing factor to true becoming. The Christian life is primarily a going out of ourselves to God and to human persons. This transcendence of self is not always easily achieved, however, precisely because it involves a process of overcoming the strong thrust of selfishness. Although going out of self to God is obviously the primordial relationship for the Christian, it is interesting to note that, through the words of Scripture, God tells us that our relationship to our neighbor is the criterion by which we are to judge our love for him:

              If anyone says, "My love is fixed on God,"
              yet hates his brother,
              he is a liar.
              One who has no love for the brother
                     he has seen
              cannot love the God he has not seen.
                                                               —1 Jn 4:20

       Going out to others, serving them, being for them, and loving them is a dynamic process. There is no set pattern that can perfectly serve all this. Surely there are certain established Christian principles and truths that govern our encountering and serving others; however, these truths have a certain flexibility built into them so that they can be assimilated to meet the particular situations of unique individuals. Our encounters with others—whether it be a case of relating to a partner in marriage or to a friend or to those who are recipients of our service or whatever—give proof to each of us, according to his or her own experience, that there can be no question of a static pattern of behavior to govern personal relationships. There is always the new, the unexpected, the surprising, or the significant change in behavior that must be considered along with the more stable elements that comprise personal encounter. Becoming by going out to the other truly is a dynamic process.

       If an individual person grows toward Christian maturity through a proper encounter with material creation and other facets of the temporal order, as well as through encounters with others, individuals must especially grow, or become, through an encounter with God. Growth through encounters with both material creation and other persons is rooted in our maturing through the relationship with the great source of all becoming—namely, God himself. He himself is infinite being, and he constantly wants to communicate himself to us so that, drawing from his infinite source of life, we might become more what we are meant to be—more of what he desires that we become.

       God draws us on to greater fulfillment according to the pattern of Christ's example and teaching. There is no other way according to which we progress to spiritual maturity. There is no Christian perfection that we can acquire, no possible development of our Christian personalities unless it occurs through Christ Jesus. The Spirit, however, does not superimpose this pattern of Christ upon us in an artificial way. The Spirit does not shape us according to the image of Christ without deep concern for our uniqueness; we are all different, and the Spirit supremely respects this fact. Furthermore, if the Spirit is of such an attitude, so must we be; we must not box ourselves in, all trying to fit into the exact same mold and maintaining that this is necessary because we must all follow the same Christ. The pattern of Christ is the creation of an infinitely wise God. He has arranged that the one pattern of Christ is also a pattern that has as many possibilities for unique assimilation as there are individual persons.

       We all follow the one and same Christ and we must all have an attitude of complete openness, of expectancy concerning the unpredictable, an attitude that will allow the Spirit to lead us according to his way of forming us in the image of Christ. At times we might have a too minutely preconceived idea of how we will become in Christ and we are, therefore, somewhat rigid about the whole process. Although the following of Christ is basically the same for all, how can we be sure what particular path of imitation—mapped out in rather complete detail—the Spirit has prepared for each of us? We can certainly be tempted to think that we know with considerable certainty the way in which our becoming in Christ should logically evolve. We must learn, however, to balance an attitude of stability that is rooted in a certain way of life, a certain way of following Christ, with a spiritual freedom that makes us really open to what the Spirit wants of us, however surprising, novel, or unusual this may seem.