Showing all posts by Elija

In 3 Minutes for God the Father

“A DIFFERENT QUALITY OF LIFE”

Author ElijaPosted on

“I am among you. Happy are those who believe this truth and who take advantage of this time.” (Book of the Father)

How would life change if we put these words of our Father into practice? Believing in God’s general presence in this world and that He holds all things in His hands is important, but it is not enough.

This statement also refers to God’s concrete and loving guidance in the life of every person. Through faith, a glimpse already opens up—one that will become full vision in eternity. And that has a profound impact. Read More

In Reflexion

A SERIES ON THE SPIRITUAL LIFE: “Sufferings in Prayer” (Part I)

Author ElijaPosted on

Given the extraordinary importance of a regular prayer life, we will now begin with two parts from a 2024 series on prayer.

Anyone who seriously undertakes a life of prayer – that is, who does not only pray occasionally or when going through great anguish – will realize that it is not always an easy path; rather, there are sufferings that can make prayer even wearisome for us. Therefore, we will have to fight against the laziness of our human nature, go through processes of purification and, of course, confront various temptations, which want to discourage us. It can even go so far as to make us doubt the meaning of prayer, because it would seem that God does not listen to it and that it does not bring us any satisfaction. Thus, the soul is in danger of throwing in the towel and abandoning these “tiring” dealings with God.

First of all, it should be said that a person must become accustomed to prayer. There may be stages in which we find it easy to pray and we take pleasure in that “coming home” we experience; stages in which we are granted religious feelings that fill us with joy. But, in the long run, it takes discipline and endurance to lead a regular prayer life. Certainly there are exceptions to this, and there may be people who generally find it easy to pray. But normally it is usually as we have just said.

The abbot of a Trappist monastery once said to me, “It is easier to summon monks for work than for prayer!”

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In Biblical Meditations

FEAST OF SAINT BARTHOLOMEW, THE APOSTLE: “Proclaiming the Gospel Fearlessly”

Author ElijaPosted on

John 1:45–51

Philip found Nathan′a-el, and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathan′a-el said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathan′a-el coming to him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” Nathan′a-el said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathan′a-el answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”

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In 3 Minutes for God the Father

“A GLIMPSE OF GOD’S SPECIAL GOODNESS”

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“How wonderful heaven must be, that God undertakes such a meticulous purification of souls!” (Catherine of Siena)

These words come to us from St. Catherine of Siena, who would know, for she was deeply united with our Lord and was elevated to the rank of Doctor of the Church.

She approaches the topic of necessary purification before death in the right way, with an eye toward eternity. In order to enter the glory of Heaven, we must be completely purified—nothing of the filth of sin and its consequences can or should be taken into the Kingdom of Eternal Love.

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In Biblical Meditations

God’s wisdom in everything  

Author ElijaPosted on

Rom 11:33-36

O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are his judgments, and how unsearchable his ways!  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and recompense shall be made him? For of him, and by him, and in him, are all things: to him be glory for ever. Amen.

This exclamation springs from the depths of St. Paul’s heart, as he recognises God’s marvellous designs in spite of the obstinacy of the people of Israel, most of whom did not recognise the Messiah. Paul was granted a profound knowledge of God, and to prevent him from falling into presumption the Lord allowed him to undergo a certain suffering, which he himself describes as a “thorn” in his flesh (cf. 2 Cor 12:7).

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In 3 Minutes for God the Father

“ANOTHER FORM OF MARTYRDOM”

Author ElijaPosted on

“Martyrdom is not only dying for the faith. Martyrdom also consists in serving God with love and purity of heart every day of one’s life.” (St. Jerome)

With these words of St. Jerome, we are all invited to undergo—or rather, to carry out—the martyrdom of love every day, if you will. Not only does the highly esteemed martyrdom of blood for the holy faith shine with a bright light, but so does the hidden life in Christ, which we call the path to holiness. This holds true even when no one takes notice, for our heavenly Father sees our efforts very clearly, supports them, and inspires them with His grace.

It is a path that requires perseverance and constant encouragement when we recognize the limits of our capacity for love. Recognizing them is helpful, but dwelling on disappointment is wrong.

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In 3 Minutes for God the Father

“THE NEWNESS OF GRACE”  

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“Let us begin a new life every day.” (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross – Edith Stein)

What might the saint have meant by this?

She likely understood that every day we consciously live with our Heavenly Father is what is known as a kairos. To put it simply, this refers to the hour of grace that we are to seize.

After all, there are quite a few moments in life when we get the impression that we’d like to start a new life. Maybe things have slipped out of our control, and we repent and want to start anew. Or maybe we’ve finally made a long‑overdue decision. Or maybe we have overcome something that has held us back for a long time.

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In Biblical Meditations

A lesson in humility    

Author ElijaPosted on

Mt 23:1-12

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, saying: The scribes and the Pharisees have sitten on the chair of Moses. All things therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according to their works do ye not; for they say, and do not.  For they bind heavy and insupportable burdens, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but with a finger of their own they will not move them. And all their works they do for to be seen of men. For they make their phylacteries broad, and enlarge their fringes. And they love the first places at feasts, and the first chairs in the synagogues, and salutations in the market place, and to be called by men, Rabbi.  But be not you called Rabbi. For one is your master; and all you are brethren.  And call none your father upon earth; for one is your father, who is in heaven.  Neither be ye called masters; for one is your master, Christ. He that is the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled: and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. Read More

In Biblical Meditations

The hierarchy of commandments

Author ElijaPosted on

Mt 22:34-40

But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees they got together and, to put him to the test, one of them put a further question, ‘Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets too.’

It is important to keep in mind the order of the commandments in regard to acting in accordance with this hierarchy. The first and most important of the commandments is to love God. This is the decisive factor for man to correspond to the fundamental order of his existence.

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In 3 Minutes for God the Father

LIVING FOR GOD’S JOY (II)

Author ElijaPosted on

“His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man; but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” (Psalm 147:10–11)

It is not man’s natural abilities—often so admired and sometimes even idealized in the world—that bring joy to our Father. They are merely tools and derive their true value only from the purpose for which they are used. What good is great intelligence in the eyes of the Lord if it is not used for good?

Time and again, people are tempted to define their worth based on things that merely add to their lives and do not constitute what is essential. This temptation can even penetrate the Church, and it is not uncommon for people to adopt worldly standards instead of applying the standards that God uses. We are very familiar with these standards from the Holy Scriptures. Today’s passage is a good example.

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