Showing all posts by Elija

In 3 Minutes for God the Father

IMITATE THE ATTITUDE OF THE LORD

Author ElijaPosted on

“A person should not attach too much importance to the faults of others if he wants God to overlook his own faults with mercy” (John Tauler).

Certainly we notice the faults of others and, if it is in our power, it would be good to help them to overcome them by our example and advice. But the tendency to talk at length and in detail about the faults of others, to publicly point them out, and to keep stressing them, has nothing to do with this attitude. It is as if you were holding the other person captive to his error, and you can hardly escape the danger of pride yourself.

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In 3 Minutes for God the Father

TRUE CONTRITION

Author ElijaPosted on

“True contrition is a second innocence” (John Tauler).

We can understand this well if we think, for example, of the repentance of Peter, who wept bitterly when he realised that he had denied the Lord for whom he had declared that he was ready to give his life (Lk 22:55-62). What Jesus had foretold must have burned in his heart, and when he became aware of his denial, this memory and this pain must have led him to a profound conversion, because he loved the Lord.

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In Biblical Meditations

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES (Acts 1:13-26): “The choice of Matthias”

Author ElijaPosted on

When they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said, “Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us, and was allotted his share in this ministry.

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In 3 Minutes for God the Father

TRUE BLISS

Author ElijaPosted on

“Our bliss lies not in the deeds we do, but in the greatness of love” (John Tauler).

The mystics constantly remind us of the essence of our faith. Of course, it is not a question of devaluing good works, because they accompany us:

I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” (Rev 14:13).

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In Biblical Meditations

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES (Acts 1:1-12): “The Ascension of the Lord”

Author ElijaPosted on

After the series in which we meditated intensely on the Gospel of John, which ended with the accounts of the Resurrection, it is appropriate to continue with the Acts of the Apostles, which begins with the Ascension. In this new series we will hear and learn how the early Church carried out her mission, so that our zeal to proclaim the message of salvation to people today will never wane.

As I indicated at the beginning of the series on the Gospel of John, if you would prefer to listen to a meditation on the reading or the Gospel of the day, you will find the link at the end of the text.

The Gospel of John ends with these words: “There are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (Jn 21:25). The first verses of the Acts of the Apostles partly explain these words, for it is written that Jesus appeared to His disciples for forty days before He ascended into heaven to instruct them and prepare them for their mission:

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In 3 Minutes for God the Father

THE WRATH OF GOD IN THE LIGHT OF HIS LOVE

Author ElijaPosted on

“Even when people experience my ‘wrath’, they are to know that I love them and call them to repentance” (Inner Word).

The concept of the ‘wrath of God’ can instil fear in people. However, we must learn to understand it correctly from the perspective of our Father’s love. Because of our freedom, our Father permits our doing evil. Therefore, we are able to abuse our freedom and, in a way, use it against God. If this were not so, we would be like irrational creatures, unable to choose and instinctively following the predetermined laws of nature.

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In Biblical Meditations

THE GOSPEL OF ST. JOHN (Jn 21:20-25): “John, the witness”                            

Author ElijaPosted on

Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his breast at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” This is the disciple who is bearing witness to these things, and who has written these things; and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

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In Biblical Meditations

THE GOSPEL OF ST. JOHN (Jn 21:15-19): “The ministry of Peter”

Author ElijaPosted on

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded  yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.” (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, “Follow me.”

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In 3 Minutes for God the Father

VIGILANCE, COURAGE AND RECOLLECTION

Author ElijaPosted on

“Vigilance, but without fear; courage, but without recklessness; recollection, but active” (Inner Word).

Here is some advice on how to live fruitfully our following of Christ. Vigilance is part of our basic equipment as Christians. It is not only a matter of identifying and repulsing the devil’s insidious attacks, but of being attentive to our whole way of life, in accordance with the Apostle Paul’s exhortation: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil” (Eph 5:15-16).

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In Biblical Meditations

THE GOSPEL OF ST. JOHN (Jn 20:30-31; 21:1-14): “The Apparition of Jesus at the Sea of Tiberias”                              

Author ElijaPosted on

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe′ri-as; and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathan′a-el of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zeb′edee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat; but that night they caught nothing.

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