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Archive for the ‘01 Daily Meditations’ Category

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“Mother! Call her again and again”

In 01 Daily Meditations on 2011/05/05 at 9:27 AM
Mother! Call her again and again. She is listening, she sees you in danger perhaps, and with her Son’s grace she, your holy Mother Mary, offers you the refuge of her arms, the tenderness of her embrace. Call her, and you will find yourself with added strength for the new struggle. (The Way, 516)
If we want to understand Mary’s role in the Christian’s life and to feel attracted to her, to be in her company, we don’t need to go into the theological theory, even though it is an inexhaustible mystery that she is the Mother of God.

We have to love God with the same heart with which we love our parents, our brothers and sisters, the other members of our family, our friends. And we must love Mary with that same heart, too.

How does a normal son or daughter treat his mother? In different ways, of course, but always affectionately and confidently, never coldly. In an intimate way, through small, commonplace customs. And a mother feels hurt if we omit them: a kiss or an embrace when leaving or coming home, a little extra attention, a few warm words. (Christ is passing by, 142)

Note: Many can say: “I never knew the sweetness of my own mother’s love, but I certainly have known the sweetness of the Mother Our Lord gave me.”

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“Your human vocation is a part of your divine vocation”

In 01 Daily Meditations on 2011/05/01 at 8:36 AM
As Jesus, who is our Lord and Model, grows in and lives as one of us, he reveals to us that human life – your life – and its humdrum, ordinary business, have a meaning which is divine, which belongs to eternity. (The Forge, 688)

Christian faith and calling affect our whole existence, not just a part of it. Our relations with God necessarily demand giving ourselves, giving ourselves completely. The man of faith sees life, in all its dimensions, from a new perspective: that which is given us by God.

You, who celebrate with me today this feast of St Joseph, are men who work in different human professions; you have your own homes, you belong to so many different countries and have different languages. You have been educated in lecture halls or in factories and offices. You have worked in your profession for years, established professional and personal friendships with your colleagues, helped to solve the problems of your companies and your communities.

Well then: I remind you once again that all this is not foreign to God’s plan. Your human vocation is a part — and an important part — of your divine vocation. That is the reason why you must strive for holiness, giving a particular character to your human personality, a style to your life; contributing at the same time to the sanctification of others, your fellow men; sanctifying your work and your environment: the profession or job that fills your day, your home and family and the country where you were born and which you love. (Christ is passing by, 46)

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“Jesus came to reveal the love of God to us”

In 01 Daily Meditations on 2011/04/30 at 8:23 AM
Christ ascended the Cross with his arms wide open, with the all embracing gesture of the Eternal Priest. Now he counts on us – who are nothing! – to bring the fruits of his Redemption to all men. (The Forge, 4)

Let’s apply this lesson to everyday life, to our own life. For the ordinary life of a man among his fellows is not something dull and uninteresting. It is there that the Lord wants the vast majority of his children to achieve sanctity.

It is important to keep reminding ourselves that Jesus did not address himself to a privileged set of people; he came to reveal the universal love of God to us. God loves all men, and he wants all to love him — everyone, whatever his personal situation, his social position, his work. Ordinary life is something of great value. All the ways of the earth can be an opportunity to meet Christ, who calls us to identify ourselves with him and carry out his divine mission — right where he finds us.

God calls us through what happens during our day: through the suffering and happiness of the people we live with, through the human interests of our colleagues and the things that make up our family life. He also calls us through the great problems, conflicts and challenges of each period of history, which attract the effort and idealism of a large part of mankind. (Christ is passing by, 110)

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“The Risen Christ is Our Companion”

In 01 Daily Meditations on 2011/04/29 at 12:48 PM
The Master passes very close to us, again and again. He looks at us… And if you look at him, if you listen to him, if you don’t reject him, He will teach you how to give a supernatural meaning to everything you do… Then you too, wherever you may be, will sow consolation and peace and joy. (The Way of the Cross, Eighth Station, 4)

In the middle of his daily work, when he has to overcome his selfishness, when he enjoys the cheerful friendship of other people, a Christian should rediscover God. Through Christ and in the Holy Spirit, a Christian has access to the intimacy of God the Father, and he spends his life looking for the Kingdom which is not of this world, but which is initiated and prepared in this world.

We must seek Christ in the word and in the bread, in the Eucharist and in prayer. And we must treat him as a friend, as the real, living person he is — for he is risen. Christ, we read in the Epistle to the Hebrews, “holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

Christ, the risen Christ, is our companion and friend. He is a companion whom we can see only in the shadows — but the fact that he is really there fills our whole life and makes us yearn to be with him forever. “The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let him who hears say, Come. And let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the water of life without price… He who testifies to these things says, Surely I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” (Christ is passing by, 116)

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“Everything is already there, in Christ”

In 01 Daily Meditations on 2011/04/27 at 11:42 AM
You live in the midst of the world and you are just another citizen living in contact with men who say they are good or bad. You must always want to give other people the happiness you enjoy as a Christian. (Furrow, 321)

If we take a look at the course of human history, we will see progress and advances. Science has made man more aware of his power. Technology today controls the world much more than in the past, helping men to reach their dream of a greater level of culture, unity and material well‑being.

Some people are perhaps inclined to tone down this optimism, reminding us that men still suffer from injustice and wars, at times worse than those of the past. They may well be right. But, above and beyond these considerations, I prefer to remember that in the religious sphere man is still man and God is still God. In this sphere the peak of progress has already been reached. And that peak is Christ, alpha and omega, the beginning of all things and their end.

In the spiritual life, there is no new era to come. Everything is already there, in Christ who died and rose again, who lives and stays with us always. But we have to join him through faith, letting his life show forth in ours to such an extent that each Christian is not simply alter Christus: another Christ, but ipse Christus: Christ himself! (Christ is passing by, 104)

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“He has triumphed over death”

In 01 Daily Meditations on 2011/04/25 at 1:32 PM
Easter Octave – Monday: “He has triumphed over death”.
The risen Christ, Christ in glory, has divested himself of the things of this earth, so that we men, his brothers, should ask ourselves what things we need to get rid of. (The Forge, 526)

“Christ is alive.” This is the great truth which fills our faith with meaning. Jesus, who died on the cross, has risen. He has triumphed over death; he has overcome sorrow, anguish and the power of darkness. “Do not be terrified” was how the angels greeted the women who came to the tomb. “Do not be terrified. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here.” “This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Easter is a time of joy — a joy not confined to this period of the liturgical year, but to be found really and fully in the Christian’s heart. For Christ is alive. He is not someone who has gone, someone who existed for a time and then passed on, leaving us a wonderful example and a great memory.

No, Christ is alive. Jesus is the Emmanuel: God with us. His resurrection shows us that God does not abandon his own. He promised he would not: “Can a woman forget her baby that is still unweaned, pity no longer the son she bore in her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.” And he has kept his promise. His delight is still to be with the sons of men.
(Christ is passing by, 102)

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Christian Women

In 01 Daily Meditations on 2011/04/09 at 8:05 PM

Christ came to do the will of His Father.  He did. Mary wanted to do the will of God.  She did.

Saints throughout the ages have wanted to do the will of God and have done it with the grace of God.   So can you.

Women today need positive models.  They are bombarded with false models by the media; models who do not exemplify Christian virtues.   Or as Psalm 12 says: “…idolizing those who are not worth it.

To paraphrase  Thackeray and  Shakespeare, combining them: While the world madly pursues what is not worth having ($, pleasure, power, status) which signify nothing.  You can be like those women who strove for Him who is worth everything and who died that we might live eternally.

Women of faith are characterized by faith, courage, and commitment but mainly by an indestructible love of God.  If we are aware of Christ’s presence, we obey Him and entrust our soul to Him.

Faith must be translated into action.  Faith that never goes beyond the mind is almost useless. (Remember Satan believes in God,but doesn’t  put it into action.)  FAITH translated into action means that one has such a love of God that one is committed to God above all else.  Love of God is commitment to Him and His will in every single aspect of life.

It is a fact that the US & Canada are the only places that have not been subjected to an official persecution.  However, notice what has and is  happening now here: the attacks on moral principles & human rights by the courts and other government agencies.

How are you dealing with this?

In his short but powerful and very readable encyclical: SAVED IN HOPE (SPES SALVI), Pope Benedict states: “God is the foundation of hope, not any god, but the God who has a human face, and who has love us to the end; each one of us and humanity in its entirety.  His Kingdom is not an imaginary hereafter, situated in a future that will never arrive; His Kingdom is present wherever he is loved and where His love reaches us. His love alone gives us the possibility of soberly persevering day by day…in a world which is by its very nature imperfect…”

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Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

In 01 Daily Meditations on 2011/04/09 at 2:12 PM

The past is memory; the future, imagination; we only have the present…then is when we get the grace we need to cope with our situations.

We do not get grace to cope with our imaginary worries for the future.  If and when what we worry about comes to pass, then it will be our present, then we will get the graces we need.

Today’ is the only time we can offer to God.

We need to sanctify the day and heed the many inspirations and graces which God sends us throughout the day.

We also need to concentrate on what we are doing.

Sanctity is forged by being faithful in details, in everyday things, in actions which might seem irrelevant if not vivified by grace.

God will always be there at the right time–although it may be in secret and mysterious ways.

Do not abandon God: He does not abandon you.

Mother Teresa used to say:  God speaks to us in the silence of our hearts.

You can add to that:  we need to listen with our ears and  heart.

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Maturity Level

In 01 Daily Meditations on 2011/04/09 at 12:32 AM

Do you have unruffled trust in God as your Father?

Do you meet reality as it is?

Do you say and show what you feel?

Are you simple and candid?

Do you over-analyze?

Are you open to what goes on outside yourself?

Do you look at things as they really are?

Is your ego small?

Is your consciousness brimming with people, objects, and happenings?

Are you open to and receptive of new ideas?

Are you open to all that comes from God, ready to accept consequences?

If you answer positively to all the above, you are childlike and have reached Christian maturity.


Holy Week Meditations

In 01 Daily Meditations on 2011/04/02 at 5:51 PM

CROWN OF THORNS

I wove You a crown of thorns with my indifference and self-love.

I wove You a crown of thorns everyday, as I forgot You,  thinking only of myself.

I wove you a crown of thorns, as I ignored my neighbors not seeing You in them.

You reply: “Come to me and I will give you life everlasting.”   “Come to me you who are burdened.”

Anonymous

FOR WHAT CRIME DID THEY CRUCIFIED YOU, LORD?

For what crime did they crucify You, my Lord? Was is for going about doing good?

For what crime did I crucify You, my Lord?  Was it for being the Truth? The Light? The Way?

For what crime did they crucify You, my Lord?  For sure it was not because of Lazarus or the man born blind; nor the Samaritan woman at the well or the adulteress?

For what crime did I crucify You, my Lord? For giving me life?  For sustaining me? For always being there for me?

For what crime did they crucify You, my Lord?  For what you taught?  For saying we should love our neighbors as ourselves?

For what crime did I crucify You, my Lord? For loving me?

For what crime did they crucify You, my Lord?    I know.

They crucified you because You told the Truth: that You are the Son of God,  that the Father and You are One;  that You would send the Spirit to guide us.

For what crime did I crucify You, my Lord?    I know.

I crucified you because You dethroned my ego and told me to do Your will instead of mine.

Your reply: “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.”

My reply: “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

Anonymous