“First learn to know Me better and to love Me to the extent that I desire, that is, not only as a Father, but as your Friend and Confidant.” (From God the Father’s message to M. Eugenia Ravasio).
What does such a friendship, to which the Divine Father calls us, look like?
Eph 2:1-10
Bretheren: he made you alive, when you were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. Among these we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of body and mind, and so we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God- not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Read More
“What we see is beautiful, what we recognize is even more beautiful, but what we cannot comprehend is far more beautiful still.” (Nicolaus Steno)
We, too, can view this world in the same way as that great Danish scholar Nicolaus Steno, who later joined the Catholic Church because of his convictions and even held the office of bishop.
Today we will reflect on the Gospel for the 21st Sunday after Pentecost, according to the traditional calendar.
Mt 18:21-35
Then came Peter unto Jesus and said: Lord, how often shall my brother offend against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith to him: I say not to thee, till seven times; but till seventy times seven times. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a king, who would take an account of his servants. And when he had begun to take the account, one was brought to him, that owed him ten thousand talents. And as he had not wherewith to pay it, his lord commanded that he should be sold, and his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. But that servant falling down, besought him, saying: Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And the lord of that servant being moved with pity, let him go and forgave him the debt. But when that servant was gone out, he found one of his fellow servants that owed him an hundred pence: and laying hold of him, throttled him, saying: Pay what thou owest.
Lk 12:8-12
‘I tell you, if anyone openly declares himself for me in the presence of human beings, the Son of man will declare himself for him in the presence of God’s angels. But anyone who disowns me in the presence of human beings will be disowned in the presence of God’s angels. ‘Everyone who says a word against the Son of man will be forgiven, but no one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will be forgiven. ‘When they take you before synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say, because when the time comes, the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.’ Read More
“May my guidance always order everything in wisdom” (Inner Word)
Our divine Father not only gives us general guidance in our lives through His commandments and His holy word, as well as through the circumstances of life in which He has placed us. God also wants to take direct control of our lives. This becomes easy to understand when we realize that our Father sees our entire life before Him and has given it meaning and a purpose from the very beginning. Ephesians 2:10 states: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
“Never let yourself be intimidated by the schemes of demons.” (Inner Word)
We cannot and must not ignore this anti-God dimension on our spiritual journey. As St. Thérèse of Lisieux says, it is true that cowardly demons cannot harm us if we live in a state of grace. The Lord has also given his followers power over demons (Mark 3:15). Yet, Scripture warns us: “Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
Lk 12:1-7
At that time, so many thousands of the multitude had gathered together that they trod upon one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Jn 15:1-8
Reading corresponding to the feast day of St. Teresa of Avila
‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear even more. You are clean already, by means of the word that I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, unless it remains part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a branch – and withers; these branches are collected and thrown on the fire and are burnt. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for whatever you please and you will get it. It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit and be my disciples.’ Read More
“Every battle you take on, and every one we fight and win, contributes to the salvation of humanity.” (Inner Word)
When we allow this statement to sink in, many things change. Of course, inner struggles are burdensome, and they remain so until the very end. After all, no one enjoys it when the flesh rebels against the Spirit, and everyone longs for the day when this will finally cease in eternity.
