The Long Road to Bethlehem, Part 3
God’s love finds those who do not close their heart. Not all turn away from Him, not all walk indifferently through their time on earth, not all remain asleep and keep their ears closed to the call of God. There are also the faithful!
God finds Abraham, the father of believers! Read More
The Long Road to Bethlehem, Part 2
Adam, where are you?
The heart of God seeks the man who has turned away from him in the seduction of the powers of darkness.
God is always searching for us, as Jesus later shows us in the parable of the prodigal son (cf. Lk 15:11-32). Read More
The Long Road to Bethlehem, Part 1
As announced yesterday, the daily interpretations during the Advent season during the week will primarily serve the contemplative deepening of the Sunday lecture, which is uploaded on YouTube in English with a Spanish translation. Read More
First Sunday of Advent
Introduction
Today’s reflection on the first Sunday in Advent should be seen as a foreword to our plans for the “short Lent” of Advent.
During these weeks of preparation for the feast of the birth of Christ, the daily reflections are linked to four lectures on the Advent season, which I will publish on my YouTube channel on the corresponding Sunday in Advent:
The seventh of the month is reserved for a meditation from God the Father. I take the text of the meditation from the “God the Father speaks to his Children” by Mother Eugenia Ravasio, a message recognised by the Church.
“I have raised you all to that dignity which is due to children of God; yes, you are my sons and daughters and you are to tell me that I am your Father. Do not fail to trust me accordingly, for without this trust you will never attain true freedom.” Read More
Today we turn to the subject of how to deal with thoughts and feelings in the sense of spiritual efforts, in which asceticism is included.
“Perverse thoughts, however, separate people from God” (Wis 1:3) “for the holy spirit of instruction… recoils from unintelligent thoughts” (Wis 1:5). Read More
If we have learned to order our flow of speech and not just let it flow unhindered to the outside world, then the question now is what and how we say it.
The apostle admonishes us: “No foul word should ever cross your lips… do good to your listeners” (Eph 4:29) and and elsewhere he tells us: “now you also must give up all these things: (…) abusive language and dirty talk” (Col 3:8) Read More
The fight against our disorderly tendencies cannot be limited to the sensual sphere, which must be circumcised and tamed so as not to weaken us and possibly even make us more ready to sin. It must also be applied to disordered spiritual inclinations, for these also burden the soul. Read More
As we saw yesterday, asceticism is about becoming more docile to the will of God and not allowing ourselves to be dominated by the inclinations of our fallen nature. It is therefore a means, a necessary effort, which is linked to a goal, namely to improve our disposition to unite ourselves with the will of God. From this point of view, ascetic exercises and asceticism get their deeper meaning and dignity. Read More
Concluding remarks
If we consider the four basic frameworks that we listed in yesterday’s reflection, we have a good starting point to resist the threat of the Antichrist.
Once again, let us remember: Unequivocal church doctrine, unambiguous morality, true mission and ardent pursuit of holiness. Read More
