Posts
Jesus, I trust in You.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Rise
"The Paschal alleluia is a cry of triumph at Christ's Resurrection, but at the same time it is an urgent invitation for us to rise also. Like the sound of reveille, it calls us to the battles of the spirit, and invites us to rouse and renew ourselves, to participate ever more profoundly in Christ's Resurrection. Who can say, however advanced he may be in the ways of the spirit, that he has wholly attained to his resurrection?"
--taken from Divine Intimacy, #141 (Easter Monday)
Friday, April 22, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
"One of you is about to betray me."
Jesus knew beforehand what was in Judas' heart (Jn 13:11; 2:25). Yet Jesus, Who is Hope incarnate, hoped against hope (Rm 4:18) that Judas could change, and He pulled out all the stops to try to change Judas. Even after Judas gave Jesus the kiss of betrayal and death, Jesus still called Judas "Friend" (Mt 26:50).
Judas was an ambitious man.
At the Good Friday liturgy, when you venerate the cross of Jesus, think seriously about the kiss you will give to the hands or feet of the crucified Jesus. Will your kiss be the kiss of obedient faith and abandonment to God, or will it be the kiss of death?
--Taken from One Bread, One Body; Wednesday, April 20, 2011.
Judas was an ambitious man.
At the Good Friday liturgy, when you venerate the cross of Jesus, think seriously about the kiss you will give to the hands or feet of the crucified Jesus. Will your kiss be the kiss of obedient faith and abandonment to God, or will it be the kiss of death?
--Taken from One Bread, One Body; Wednesday, April 20, 2011.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Carrying the Cross
"Jesus is condemned to suffer a painful punishment followed by a savagely cruel death reserved for criminals...A man returning home, Simon of Cyrene, is forced to help. Where are the disciples? Jesus had spoken to them about carrying the cross; and they had confirmed with great vehemence that they would go with him even to death. Now not even one of them is to be found to help him...A stranger has to do it, and that under threat of force. There are no friendly faces around Our Lord...
...It is not too late; nor is everything lost...even though to you it may seem so - even though a thousand doom-laden voices keep saying so...You have come at a good time to take up the Cross; the Redemption is taking place now! And Jesus needs many more Simons like the man from Cyrene."
--from In Conversation with God, vol.2 pp 267-269.
...It is not too late; nor is everything lost...even though to you it may seem so - even though a thousand doom-laden voices keep saying so...You have come at a good time to take up the Cross; the Redemption is taking place now! And Jesus needs many more Simons like the man from Cyrene."
--from In Conversation with God, vol.2 pp 267-269.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Jesus is Condemned to Death
"The Master now finds himself alone; his disciples no longer come to listen to the lessons he imparts, having abandoned him in the very moment when there was so much to learn. We should wish to accompany him in his sorrow and learn from him to have patience in the face of the small contradictions of each day, offering them up with love."
--from In Conversation With God, vol 2, p. 261
--from In Conversation With God, vol 2, p. 261
Monday, April 18, 2011
Freedom
"Endeavor to be inclined always:
not to the easiest, but to the most difficult;
not to the most delightful, but to the most distasteful;
not to the most gratifying, but to the less pleasant;
not to what means rest for you, but to hard work'
not to the consoling, but to the unconsoling;
not to the most, but to the least;
not to the highest and most precious, but to the lowest and most despised;
not to wanting something, but to wanting nothing.
Do not go about looking for the best of temporal things, but for the worst, and, for Christ, desire to enter into complete nakedness, emptiness, and poverty in everything in the world."
--St, John of the Cross, "Ascent of Mt. Carmel", Book One chapter 13
not to the easiest, but to the most difficult;
not to the most delightful, but to the most distasteful;
not to the most gratifying, but to the less pleasant;
not to what means rest for you, but to hard work'
not to the consoling, but to the unconsoling;
not to the most, but to the least;
not to the highest and most precious, but to the lowest and most despised;
not to wanting something, but to wanting nothing.
Do not go about looking for the best of temporal things, but for the worst, and, for Christ, desire to enter into complete nakedness, emptiness, and poverty in everything in the world."
--St, John of the Cross, "Ascent of Mt. Carmel", Book One chapter 13
Sunday, April 17, 2011
What are we going to do?
"After 5 weeks of a catechesis on love that is the season of Lent...we have read about or heard of the many signs Jesus performed. Now, to enter fully into Holy Week, we need to answer for ourselves the question, "What are we going to do?"
Are we going to continue praying in such a way as to open the depths of our hearts to the communion God longs to share? Are we going to continue fasting in order to drive out the demons that prevent our being fully committed to the works Jesus performs? Are we going to continue giving the alms of charity, as we have received them from the One who completely spent himself in love for us?"
--taken from The Little Way of Lent -meditations in the spirit of St Therese of Lisieux, by Fr. Gary Caster
Are we going to continue praying in such a way as to open the depths of our hearts to the communion God longs to share? Are we going to continue fasting in order to drive out the demons that prevent our being fully committed to the works Jesus performs? Are we going to continue giving the alms of charity, as we have received them from the One who completely spent himself in love for us?"
--taken from The Little Way of Lent -meditations in the spirit of St Therese of Lisieux, by Fr. Gary Caster
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Lust
by Patrick Miller
Lust is an especially troublesome sin. After all, in the natural order, lust is often viewed as a virtue. In Greek mythology the lustful exploits of the gods were held in high esteem and represented the pinnacle of enjoyment of life and all pleasures. Even in the Old Testament, God allowed polygamy and other lustful practices until he could wean the chosen people away from those practices.
Lust is one of those sins which "cling so closely" that our only recourse is God's help and avoidance of situations which would tempt us to commit sin. Since we are naturally inclined to seek the earthy part of sexual pleasure, it is impossible for ourselves to be pure of thought.
When I feel tempted to lustful thoughts, I find it helpful to consider Mt 5:29: "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell." It is better to turn off the television set or change the station when some of those nearly pornographic commercials come on than to allow yourself to be tempted and come under the Lord's injunction in that passage. Likewise, it's usually better to avoid the R-rated movie than it is to put myself in an occasion of temptation.
Only with God's help, continual humble prayer and avoidance of situations that arouse us to lustful thought can we withstand the onslaught.
by Patrick Miller
Lust is an especially troublesome sin. After all, in the natural order, lust is often viewed as a virtue. In Greek mythology the lustful exploits of the gods were held in high esteem and represented the pinnacle of enjoyment of life and all pleasures. Even in the Old Testament, God allowed polygamy and other lustful practices until he could wean the chosen people away from those practices.
Lust is one of those sins which "cling so closely" that our only recourse is God's help and avoidance of situations which would tempt us to commit sin. Since we are naturally inclined to seek the earthy part of sexual pleasure, it is impossible for ourselves to be pure of thought.
When I feel tempted to lustful thoughts, I find it helpful to consider Mt 5:29: "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell." It is better to turn off the television set or change the station when some of those nearly pornographic commercials come on than to allow yourself to be tempted and come under the Lord's injunction in that passage. Likewise, it's usually better to avoid the R-rated movie than it is to put myself in an occasion of temptation.
Only with God's help, continual humble prayer and avoidance of situations that arouse us to lustful thought can we withstand the onslaught.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Avarice
by Ralph Rath
Do I have a problem with avarice? Well, I'm not rich and I don't even own a bomber jacket, but I am a pack rat. I don't like to throw anything away. All those things may come in handy someday. This, in a way, is avarice - the inordinate attachment to money or material things or the power and prestige that can go with them.
Like it or not, one day we will come before the judgment seat of God. We are going to go and we can't take anything material with us. Luke 12:15-21 tells of the rich man who decided to build larger barns to contain all his grain and goods. But he died that night. God called the man foolish "who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
A person who is good and cheerful and virtuous is so much happier than the rich person who treasures his worth by his possessions, and you can take your virtues with you into the next life.
"Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with riches that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail and where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Lk 12:33-34).
by Ralph Rath
Do I have a problem with avarice? Well, I'm not rich and I don't even own a bomber jacket, but I am a pack rat. I don't like to throw anything away. All those things may come in handy someday. This, in a way, is avarice - the inordinate attachment to money or material things or the power and prestige that can go with them.
Like it or not, one day we will come before the judgment seat of God. We are going to go and we can't take anything material with us. Luke 12:15-21 tells of the rich man who decided to build larger barns to contain all his grain and goods. But he died that night. God called the man foolish "who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
A person who is good and cheerful and virtuous is so much happier than the rich person who treasures his worth by his possessions, and you can take your virtues with you into the next life.
"Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with riches that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail and where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Lk 12:33-34).
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Gluttony
by Kay TePas
Gluttony is a disordered desire for food or drink; it diverts our love and affection from God and neighbor toward the pleasures food can bring us. We can be gluttonous without actually eating too much. We may just think and talk too much about food.
For instance, sometimes I catch myself anticipating he fresh-baked Easter coffee cake with more joy than I do the celebration of the feast with fellow Christians. Often my first thought in the morning is breakfast, instead of, Thank you, Jesus, for this new day! I may stop listening to the dinner conversation as I start thinking about the upcoming dessert.
I've found that the best way to fight gluttony is to redirect my affection away from food and back to God and others. Fasting is a powerful weapon against gluttony and a chance to save some money for those who are really hungry. (However I need to turn my mind to intercessory prayer for others when fasting, instead of calculations of calories saved.)
If possible, don't eat meals alone; when snacking, provide enough to share. Prepare others' favorite dishes and serve yourself last, being content with whatever (if anything) is left. A slow, heartfelt prayer before eating, thanking God for both the food and the blessing of being with others, is always helpful.
by Kay TePas
Gluttony is a disordered desire for food or drink; it diverts our love and affection from God and neighbor toward the pleasures food can bring us. We can be gluttonous without actually eating too much. We may just think and talk too much about food.
For instance, sometimes I catch myself anticipating he fresh-baked Easter coffee cake with more joy than I do the celebration of the feast with fellow Christians. Often my first thought in the morning is breakfast, instead of, Thank you, Jesus, for this new day! I may stop listening to the dinner conversation as I start thinking about the upcoming dessert.
I've found that the best way to fight gluttony is to redirect my affection away from food and back to God and others. Fasting is a powerful weapon against gluttony and a chance to save some money for those who are really hungry. (However I need to turn my mind to intercessory prayer for others when fasting, instead of calculations of calories saved.)
If possible, don't eat meals alone; when snacking, provide enough to share. Prepare others' favorite dishes and serve yourself last, being content with whatever (if anything) is left. A slow, heartfelt prayer before eating, thanking God for both the food and the blessing of being with others, is always helpful.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Anger
by Christine Ramsey
"Be angry, but sin not." (Ps 4:4) Sounds contradictory, doesn't it? Is it really possible to experience anger but not offend God?
Anger is a God-given emotion which is neither good nor evil. Ideally, its purpose is to motivate us to action so we can overcome obstacles or right some wrong. It is our instinctive reaction when our sense of justice or dignity is offended.
THere is such a thing as just anger, when, for example, Jesus drove the moneychangers from the Temple precincts. In fact, sometimes it might be wrong not to get angry.
Anger becomes a sin when it opposes love and justice. It can give us problems because of its intensity (growing andgrier than the situation warrants or losing control), its object (yelling at the kids when we are really angry at our neighbor), or its cause (getting angry when our boss corrects us for something we did wrong.)
We need to make a three-pronged attack on unjust anger. First, we should learn what sets us off, so we can anticipate difficulties and temptations before they're upon us. This way we can either avoid the situations that put us in danger of sinning or know how to handle ourselves when we can't avoid them. Second, because pride is often at the root of unjust anger, humility, patience and meekness cut it off at its source.
Growth in these three virtues provides a strong remedy for the vice of anger. Finally, we should fervently strive for love, for "Love is patient...and does not take offense." (1 Cor. 13:4)
by Christine Ramsey
"Be angry, but sin not." (Ps 4:4) Sounds contradictory, doesn't it? Is it really possible to experience anger but not offend God?
Anger is a God-given emotion which is neither good nor evil. Ideally, its purpose is to motivate us to action so we can overcome obstacles or right some wrong. It is our instinctive reaction when our sense of justice or dignity is offended.
THere is such a thing as just anger, when, for example, Jesus drove the moneychangers from the Temple precincts. In fact, sometimes it might be wrong not to get angry.
Anger becomes a sin when it opposes love and justice. It can give us problems because of its intensity (growing andgrier than the situation warrants or losing control), its object (yelling at the kids when we are really angry at our neighbor), or its cause (getting angry when our boss corrects us for something we did wrong.)
We need to make a three-pronged attack on unjust anger. First, we should learn what sets us off, so we can anticipate difficulties and temptations before they're upon us. This way we can either avoid the situations that put us in danger of sinning or know how to handle ourselves when we can't avoid them. Second, because pride is often at the root of unjust anger, humility, patience and meekness cut it off at its source.
Growth in these three virtues provides a strong remedy for the vice of anger. Finally, we should fervently strive for love, for "Love is patient...and does not take offense." (1 Cor. 13:4)
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Sloth
taken from an article by Joel Kibler
Proverbs gives us one of Scripture's best descriptions of sloth:
What is the life of a slothful man like? A slothful man awakens reluctantly and goes to work sad. At home he can scarcely bring himself to notice his children and goes about chores half-heartedly. He starts to pray but nods off after 10 minutes. "I give up," he says. "Who cares?" Stretching out on the couch with a beer he turns on the television or dozes off.
He is 'without sense.' Bored by mental effort, he fritters away time daydreaming or yawning over trivial reading such as sports, comics and cheap novels or trashy television. He throws himself into pleasurable activity but fails to do the important things...."The stone wall is broken down." He stops being vigilant about his Christian life and lets down his defense against the world, the flesh and the devil...
Sloth is not idleness, but the loss of the will to do good...They are missing something crucial to life - love. Those who struggle with this vice need to repent and get on track with the Lord, especially through daily prayer, fasting and a close scrutiny of their character.
taken from an article by Joel Kibler
Proverbs gives us one of Scripture's best descriptions of sloth:
I passed by the field of a sluggard by the vineyard of a man without sense; and lo, it was overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles; and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instructions A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest and poverty will come on you like a robber. (Prv. 24:30-34)
What is the life of a slothful man like? A slothful man awakens reluctantly and goes to work sad. At home he can scarcely bring himself to notice his children and goes about chores half-heartedly. He starts to pray but nods off after 10 minutes. "I give up," he says. "Who cares?" Stretching out on the couch with a beer he turns on the television or dozes off.
He is 'without sense.' Bored by mental effort, he fritters away time daydreaming or yawning over trivial reading such as sports, comics and cheap novels or trashy television. He throws himself into pleasurable activity but fails to do the important things...."The stone wall is broken down." He stops being vigilant about his Christian life and lets down his defense against the world, the flesh and the devil...
Sloth is not idleness, but the loss of the will to do good...They are missing something crucial to life - love. Those who struggle with this vice need to repent and get on track with the Lord, especially through daily prayer, fasting and a close scrutiny of their character.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Envy
by Pat Rath
Envy is repulsive because it is sorrow at the good of another; it is a preference for self over anyone or anything; it turns into hatred of another. Envy has led to horrible crimes. Joseph's brothers sold him out of envy; out of envy the Pharisees delivered Jesus to death. Envy desires the death or ruin of the other person; it does not simply want what the other has, it wants to get rid of the rival. Envy is the compost for detraction, slander and gossip. Envy lacks gratitude, rejoices in the misfortune that comes upon those whom we should love; it introduces discord, makes us sly, rebellious, disloyal, and destroys community.
To combat it, I try to look with goodness, with love and with admiration at others. I pray for them to receive whatever good the Lord wills for them. I give thanks to God for the blessings they have already received. I practice being mannerly and gracious around them. Since envy destroys unity and undermines our trust and love for one another, we must fight it by finding ways of being one. We must defend fiercely the reputations of others, we must be loyal and merciful and practice the fear of the Lord.
To fight sin, we must practice virtue. To fight envy, which desires the death and ruin of another, we must desire good, eternal life for the one we envy. And we must beg God in his mercy to free our hearts from that envy and make us whole again.
by Pat Rath
Envy is repulsive because it is sorrow at the good of another; it is a preference for self over anyone or anything; it turns into hatred of another. Envy has led to horrible crimes. Joseph's brothers sold him out of envy; out of envy the Pharisees delivered Jesus to death. Envy desires the death or ruin of the other person; it does not simply want what the other has, it wants to get rid of the rival. Envy is the compost for detraction, slander and gossip. Envy lacks gratitude, rejoices in the misfortune that comes upon those whom we should love; it introduces discord, makes us sly, rebellious, disloyal, and destroys community.
To combat it, I try to look with goodness, with love and with admiration at others. I pray for them to receive whatever good the Lord wills for them. I give thanks to God for the blessings they have already received. I practice being mannerly and gracious around them. Since envy destroys unity and undermines our trust and love for one another, we must fight it by finding ways of being one. We must defend fiercely the reputations of others, we must be loyal and merciful and practice the fear of the Lord.
To fight sin, we must practice virtue. To fight envy, which desires the death and ruin of another, we must desire good, eternal life for the one we envy. And we must beg God in his mercy to free our hearts from that envy and make us whole again.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Seven days
With only 1 week before Holy Week, we thought it might be helpful to reflect on the 7 deadly sins. Each day will focus on a different sin. These sins are called deadly because they have the power to kill the life of the soul and often behind the seemingly mundane aspects of our behavior.
Pride
by Jill Boughton
Pride is preferring my way to your way or even God's way. In pride, I cling to my self-image at the expense of honesty, repentance, dependance and growth. That self image may be inflated, unreasonable (eg supermom) or self deprecating; all are equally rooted in pride.
Pride says, "It's beneath me to do that task." It also says, "I could never do that. It's too difficult." "I just don't have those gifts."
Pride soemtimes says, "Sure, I can take on one more thing. I'll never admit to being exhausted, over-committed or anything but indispensable."
Goaded by pride, I try to control external circumstances and other people. When they do not comply, I become irritated and judgmental. Sooner or later, my self-will is crossed by divine intervention. Instead of crying, "Praise you, Lord." I seek to comprehend God's entire purpose, even bend it to my own. This is such a serious task, I seldom laugh.
As a proud person, I am self-suficient, unable to admit any need for God or others I am often aware of my own faults but inevitably feel I can correct them with more insight and more effort. I cannot admit my helplessness or experience the joy of casting myself on God's mercy, receiving forgiveness and new life from him.
Pride
by Jill Boughton
Pride is preferring my way to your way or even God's way. In pride, I cling to my self-image at the expense of honesty, repentance, dependance and growth. That self image may be inflated, unreasonable (eg supermom) or self deprecating; all are equally rooted in pride.
Pride says, "It's beneath me to do that task." It also says, "I could never do that. It's too difficult." "I just don't have those gifts."
Pride soemtimes says, "Sure, I can take on one more thing. I'll never admit to being exhausted, over-committed or anything but indispensable."
Goaded by pride, I try to control external circumstances and other people. When they do not comply, I become irritated and judgmental. Sooner or later, my self-will is crossed by divine intervention. Instead of crying, "Praise you, Lord." I seek to comprehend God's entire purpose, even bend it to my own. This is such a serious task, I seldom laugh.
As a proud person, I am self-suficient, unable to admit any need for God or others I am often aware of my own faults but inevitably feel I can correct them with more insight and more effort. I cannot admit my helplessness or experience the joy of casting myself on God's mercy, receiving forgiveness and new life from him.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Listen to Him
Grace: To be still and listen for His voice
Scriptures: Ps. 6; 1 Kgs 19: 11-14; Rm 13:11-14; Ez 34: 11-16
"We think that in prayer we speak to God, and we are not wrong to think so. But the heart of prayer is that God speaks to us. It is not God whose mind is changed by our prayer, but we ourselves, if we would but cease to speak, and would instead wait upon God, and listen to him. It is the prayer of silent expectation, whereby we who love God wait upon him...
...Augustine himself had experience of this. All of his intellectual searching and labor had brought him finally to the truth about God and creation, but he still was caught in sin's shackles, and could not make what he saw in his mind to be the rule for his heart. He wept in frustration and despair, when all at once a voice as of a child came to him, calling out Tolle, lege, 'Take and read.' Then he took up the letters of St. Paul, that had been lying on the table nearby, and opened them, and read the verse (Rm 13: 13-14) that changed his life for ever, not because he had thought it through and determined to follow it, but because God had at one blow knocked the shackles off him and set him free.
So God wishes to do for us all. The moment may be soon. Be still. Wait. Listen."
--taken from Prayer, as Dazzling as the Sun, by Anthony Esolen (in Magnificat, p. 10-12)
"'I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you.' (2 Kgs 20:5) The Lord gathers up the tears of humanity and transforms them into the waters of life by the alchemy of the cross, where suffering and death are changed into joy and life by the self-gift of love." -- from Magnificat, p. 85
Scriptures: Ps. 6; 1 Kgs 19: 11-14; Rm 13:11-14; Ez 34: 11-16
"We think that in prayer we speak to God, and we are not wrong to think so. But the heart of prayer is that God speaks to us. It is not God whose mind is changed by our prayer, but we ourselves, if we would but cease to speak, and would instead wait upon God, and listen to him. It is the prayer of silent expectation, whereby we who love God wait upon him...
...Augustine himself had experience of this. All of his intellectual searching and labor had brought him finally to the truth about God and creation, but he still was caught in sin's shackles, and could not make what he saw in his mind to be the rule for his heart. He wept in frustration and despair, when all at once a voice as of a child came to him, calling out Tolle, lege, 'Take and read.' Then he took up the letters of St. Paul, that had been lying on the table nearby, and opened them, and read the verse (Rm 13: 13-14) that changed his life for ever, not because he had thought it through and determined to follow it, but because God had at one blow knocked the shackles off him and set him free.
So God wishes to do for us all. The moment may be soon. Be still. Wait. Listen."
--taken from Prayer, as Dazzling as the Sun, by Anthony Esolen (in Magnificat, p. 10-12)
"'I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you.' (2 Kgs 20:5) The Lord gathers up the tears of humanity and transforms them into the waters of life by the alchemy of the cross, where suffering and death are changed into joy and life by the self-gift of love." -- from Magnificat, p. 85
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Not my will, Lord.
Grace: To conform my will to Yours
Scriptures: Phil 2:4-8; Mt 28:16-20; Ex 19:5-9; Ps 119:17-24
"St. John of the Cross has said, 'God wants from us the least degree of obedience and submission, rather than all the works we desire to offer Him'. Why? Because obedience makes us surrender our own will to adhere to God's will...
One of the greatest obstacles to full conformity of our will to God's is our attachment to our own desires and inclinations. Obedience, because it asks us to be governed by the will of another, is the best way of accustoming ourselves to renounce our own will, of detaching us from it, and of making us cling to the divine will...This is the great value of obedience: to unite man's life with the will of God: to give man in every circumstance, the opportunity to govern himself, not according to his weak, fragile will, which is so subject to error, blindness and human limitations, but according to the will of God." --taken from Divine Intimacy, p. 355.
"The prince of disobedience is the Devil and you beat him by being obedient, not by your personality, or charism." Fr. Giancarlo Gramolazzo, quoted in The Rite, p. 73.
Scriptures: Phil 2:4-8; Mt 28:16-20; Ex 19:5-9; Ps 119:17-24
"St. John of the Cross has said, 'God wants from us the least degree of obedience and submission, rather than all the works we desire to offer Him'. Why? Because obedience makes us surrender our own will to adhere to God's will...
One of the greatest obstacles to full conformity of our will to God's is our attachment to our own desires and inclinations. Obedience, because it asks us to be governed by the will of another, is the best way of accustoming ourselves to renounce our own will, of detaching us from it, and of making us cling to the divine will...This is the great value of obedience: to unite man's life with the will of God: to give man in every circumstance, the opportunity to govern himself, not according to his weak, fragile will, which is so subject to error, blindness and human limitations, but according to the will of God." --taken from Divine Intimacy, p. 355.
"The prince of disobedience is the Devil and you beat him by being obedient, not by your personality, or charism." Fr. Giancarlo Gramolazzo, quoted in The Rite, p. 73.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The joy of the Cross
Grace: To find joy in the Cross of Christ
SS: Rom 8:28; John 12:24-26; Luke 13:22-30; Luke 9:23-27
Suffering and tribulation are inevitably and eventually the lot of everyone on this earth. But suffering of itself alone neither transforms nor purifies. It may even be the cause of rebellion and hatred. Some Christians abandon Our Lord when they meet the Cross, because they seek a purely human happiness, free from pain and accompanied by material wealth.
God asks us to lose our fear of pain and tribulation and unite ourselves to him, as He waits for us on the Cross. Our soul will then be more purfied, our love stronger. And we will realize that joy is inseparable from the Cross. Not only that, but we will also understand we can never be happy if we are not united with Christ on Cross, and that we will never know how to love if we do not at the same time love sacrifice...If we humbly have recourse to God, He will make us see that everything, even events and circumstances apparently least likely to do so, work together for the good of those who love him. Suffering, when seen in its true light, when it serves as a means of loving more, produces great peace and deep joy. That is why God often blesses us with the Cross.
That is how we must travel along the way of self giving: the Cross on our shoulders, a smile on our lips and light in our hearts.
--taken from In Conversation with God by Francis Fernandez, pgs 159 & 160.
SS: Rom 8:28; John 12:24-26; Luke 13:22-30; Luke 9:23-27
Suffering and tribulation are inevitably and eventually the lot of everyone on this earth. But suffering of itself alone neither transforms nor purifies. It may even be the cause of rebellion and hatred. Some Christians abandon Our Lord when they meet the Cross, because they seek a purely human happiness, free from pain and accompanied by material wealth.
God asks us to lose our fear of pain and tribulation and unite ourselves to him, as He waits for us on the Cross. Our soul will then be more purfied, our love stronger. And we will realize that joy is inseparable from the Cross. Not only that, but we will also understand we can never be happy if we are not united with Christ on Cross, and that we will never know how to love if we do not at the same time love sacrifice...If we humbly have recourse to God, He will make us see that everything, even events and circumstances apparently least likely to do so, work together for the good of those who love him. Suffering, when seen in its true light, when it serves as a means of loving more, produces great peace and deep joy. That is why God often blesses us with the Cross.
That is how we must travel along the way of self giving: the Cross on our shoulders, a smile on our lips and light in our hearts.
--taken from In Conversation with God by Francis Fernandez, pgs 159 & 160.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Idolatry
"Few of us are guilty of out-and-out idolatry. Many of us are guilty of allowing our decisions to be governed by many powers other than the one true God: desire for approval, addiction to work or other escapes from reality, greed for gain, need for control. So powerful can these dictators become that we no longer recognize the voice of God, who speaks a different language than they do."
--from Magnificat, April 2011, p. 25-6.
--from Magnificat, April 2011, p. 25-6.
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