Pathways of Spiritual Living

by Susan Muto

Book Overview

Many people throughout the world "inhabit" imaginary worlds communally and persistently, parsing Harry Potter and exploring online universes. These activities might seem irresponsibly escapist, but... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0932506658
• ISBN13: 9780932506658
• Release Date: May 1988
• Publisher: St. Bebe's Publications
• Length: 190 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.6" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Solid spiritual life directives

Muto calls the lay person to a life of holiness. To be a witness for Christ one must integrate the basics of Christian spirituality to the routine of life. She says, "The call to holiness beckons us to return to the basics, that is, to those conditions for fostering single-hearted, awe-filled, grateful abandonment to God's will, revealed in the midst of our life in the everyday world." The aim of the Christian is to place into practice the foundations of spiritual formation through silence, listening to God's word, reflection, prayer, contemplation and service to God. The author examines Jesus' desert experience and relates that to the way of true discipleship. She speaks of the desert and discipleship by stating, "To follow Christ means that we must let go of excessive attachments to passing pleasures and possessions, to ploys of autonomous power, to tangible goods as if they were ultimate. Christ asks us to abandon our idols, whatever they may be, and to love him with our entire being." Basically, we are stripped of our ego, pride and attachments in the desert and freed to follow Christ. Muto suggests that the way to love Christ in discipleship be found in our spiritual formation. Once we have abandoned self, we are liberated to follow Christ through silence, being quiet in our noisy world; through formative reading, the art of listening to God's word; through meditation, chewing on God's word; and through contemplation, being in the total presence of the Transcendent. The fruits of these disciplines will find themselves in the awareness and service of God in occupation, family, neighborhood and daily routine. This is discipleship according to Muto, We want to help others see his face in every person, event, and thing. This is what it means as Christians to be missioned. Missionary duty is not limited to evangelizing work in foreign lands. It is what we are to do every day in our homes and professions. Whether we are involved in teaching, law, nursing, medicine, or social work, whatever our position or profession, we have to remain faithful disciples despite daily pressures. An excellent work on the spiritual disciplines.