'Near Death' Experiences
Science cannot prove faith but only to acknowledge what it has denied. Before his death, Jesus clearly told his disciples and all those who will come to believe in him that: " Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God and believe in me.... I am going now to prepare a place for you... and I shall return to take you with me so that where I am you may be too. You know the way to the place where I am going...... I am the Way, the Truth and the Life...." (John 14: 1-6 ff) Those who experienced 'Near Death' experiences are blessed to come back to witness/remind us of God's love and reality of heaven and hell. Out of love, Jesus came to reveal and reconcile fallen humanity back to God. It was God who took the initiative; the death of the sinner is of no benefit to Him therefore His patience and compasion should not be taken for granted. Each new day is an opportunity to respond to God's compassionate love. What shall we do about it before it's too late?
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
Sunday, 18 March 2012
The Dilemma of being loved Unconditionally
"God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life" (Jn. 3:16)
God loves us with so great a love, while we were dead in our sins, he brought us to life with Christ that we are placed in a position where we are obliged to respond. It was God who took the initiative in our salvation history when he decided to empty himself and become a human being. Then he decided to die on the cross for love of us. Then he knocks on the door of our hearts so he can come in and permanently live inside us. Then he decided to give us his body and blood as food for our souls.
Of course we are free to ignore or accept Jesus' incarnation, crucifixion and repeated knocks on our doors, but if the Lord hadn't loved us so much and so faithfully, we wouldn't be in this constant dilemma of what to do about his amazing love. On the otherhand, if the Lord hadn't loved us so much, we wouldn't even have the opportunity to be free, saved, pure and holy.
Because God is love, he gave us freedom, he will not force a person to love Him; and because we are free, we can decide to accept or reject God, to be with him forever in heaven or without him forever in hell. He patiently awaits our coming back home as the death of the sinner is of no benefit to him. The greatness of God's love implies the existence of heaven and hell.
God has loved us with a perfect, infinite, crucified love. This is unchangeable fact. What are you going to do about it? Will you love him in return? Today is all we have as tomorrow is uncertain. Act now!
"God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life" (Jn. 3:16)
God loves us with so great a love, while we were dead in our sins, he brought us to life with Christ that we are placed in a position where we are obliged to respond. It was God who took the initiative in our salvation history when he decided to empty himself and become a human being. Then he decided to die on the cross for love of us. Then he knocks on the door of our hearts so he can come in and permanently live inside us. Then he decided to give us his body and blood as food for our souls.
Of course we are free to ignore or accept Jesus' incarnation, crucifixion and repeated knocks on our doors, but if the Lord hadn't loved us so much and so faithfully, we wouldn't be in this constant dilemma of what to do about his amazing love. On the otherhand, if the Lord hadn't loved us so much, we wouldn't even have the opportunity to be free, saved, pure and holy.
Because God is love, he gave us freedom, he will not force a person to love Him; and because we are free, we can decide to accept or reject God, to be with him forever in heaven or without him forever in hell. He patiently awaits our coming back home as the death of the sinner is of no benefit to him. The greatness of God's love implies the existence of heaven and hell.
God has loved us with a perfect, infinite, crucified love. This is unchangeable fact. What are you going to do about it? Will you love him in return? Today is all we have as tomorrow is uncertain. Act now!
“The Dilemma of Being Loved Unconditionally”
God so loved the world
that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him may not die but
may have eternal life." -John 3:16
God loves us with so great a love, while we were dead in our sins, he brought us to life with Christ that we are put in a position where we are obliged to respond. God took the initiative when he decided to empty Himself and become a human being. Then He decided to die on the cross for love of us. Next, He knocks on the door of our lives so He can come in and permanently live inside us. Then He decides to give us His body and blood as food to feed our souls under the appearance of bread and wine.
Of course, we are free to ignore Jesus' Incarnation, crucifixion, and repeated knocks on our doors; but if the Lord hadn't loved us so much and so faithfully, we wouldn't be in this constant dilemma of what to do about His amazing love. On the other hand, if the Lord hadn't loved us so much, we wouldn't even have the opportunity to be free, saved, pure, and holy.
Because God is love, He gave us freedom. He will not force a person to love Him. Because we are free, we can decide to accept or reject God, to be with Him forever in heaven or without Him forever in hell. He patiently awaits our coming back home as the death of the sinner is of no benefit to Him. The greatness of God's love implies the magnitude of our freedom. God's love implies the existence of heaven and hell.
God has loved you with a perfect, infinite, crucified love. This is an unchangeable fact. What
are you going to do about it? Will you love Him in return? Time is running out as toomorrow is uncertain so do what can be done today, now.
may have eternal life." -John 3:16
God loves us with so great a love, while we were dead in our sins, he brought us to life with Christ that we are put in a position where we are obliged to respond. God took the initiative when he decided to empty Himself and become a human being. Then He decided to die on the cross for love of us. Next, He knocks on the door of our lives so He can come in and permanently live inside us. Then He decides to give us His body and blood as food to feed our souls under the appearance of bread and wine.
Of course, we are free to ignore Jesus' Incarnation, crucifixion, and repeated knocks on our doors; but if the Lord hadn't loved us so much and so faithfully, we wouldn't be in this constant dilemma of what to do about His amazing love. On the other hand, if the Lord hadn't loved us so much, we wouldn't even have the opportunity to be free, saved, pure, and holy.
Because God is love, He gave us freedom. He will not force a person to love Him. Because we are free, we can decide to accept or reject God, to be with Him forever in heaven or without Him forever in hell. He patiently awaits our coming back home as the death of the sinner is of no benefit to Him. The greatness of God's love implies the magnitude of our freedom. God's love implies the existence of heaven and hell.
God has loved you with a perfect, infinite, crucified love. This is an unchangeable fact. What
are you going to do about it? Will you love Him in return? Time is running out as toomorrow is uncertain so do what can be done today, now.
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Where can we find rest?
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.." (Mat,11:28-30) This is a clear invitation to each one of us. Listen to how Jesus invites, come to me, come with your burdens, come to me with your anxieties... and where can we find Jesus as if He's waiting for us? in the park? in the forests? on the beaches? on the mountains? in the rain, wind, and snow? all these of course are the work of His hands; therefore He is present in His creation. However where can we find Him really present waiting in expection to see us come and sit at His feet. In the Tabernable in every Catholic Church, He is truly present and as the Divine prisoner of love waiting for you. Out of love He has hidden his awesome majesty so that he can be approached. He is present in his entirety, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Consecrated Host, yet in faith the eye of the soul can rent the veil to see the Angelic choirs and all heavenly Powers adoring Him without cease and without cease they are saying Holy, Holy, Holy...Here you can allow yourself to be caught up in this unending praise and worhip with this unseen/unheard Choir. This is a great gift and testament of God's mercy, for without seeing, yet we believe in his Real Presence.
Here you don't only unload your burdens to the best of friends but you also learn to listen to what He has to say to you. Here, you learn humility from Him who is God yet humble himself by emptying himself of all his glory. Here, you learn acceptance from Him who submitted to the will of his Father. You learn to grow or begin to love Him, who out of love instituted the Holy Eucharist so as to remain always with us, to be our food and strength during this life pilgrimage. The discipline of frequent visits and spending time in Eucharistic Adoration will make you a faithful disciple ever ready to meet Him in trust and love without fear.
"It is love for souls that keeps Me a Prisoner in the Blessed Sacrament. I stay there that all may come and find the comfort they need in the tenderest of Hearts, the best of Fathers, the most faithful of Friends, who will never abandon them.Were you weak or ill in body surely you would find time to see a doctor who could cure you?... Come, then, to One who is able to give you both strength and health to your soul, and bestow the alms of love on this Divine Prisoner who watches for you, calls for you and longs to see you at His side. " (Excerpt from The Way of Divine Love of Sister Josefa Menendez)
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.." (Mat,11:28-30) This is a clear invitation to each one of us. Listen to how Jesus invites, come to me, come with your burdens, come to me with your anxieties... and where can we find Jesus as if He's waiting for us? in the park? in the forests? on the beaches? on the mountains? in the rain, wind, and snow? all these of course are the work of His hands; therefore He is present in His creation. However where can we find Him really present waiting in expection to see us come and sit at His feet. In the Tabernable in every Catholic Church, He is truly present and as the Divine prisoner of love waiting for you. Out of love He has hidden his awesome majesty so that he can be approached. He is present in his entirety, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Consecrated Host, yet in faith the eye of the soul can rent the veil to see the Angelic choirs and all heavenly Powers adoring Him without cease and without cease they are saying Holy, Holy, Holy...Here you can allow yourself to be caught up in this unending praise and worhip with this unseen/unheard Choir. This is a great gift and testament of God's mercy, for without seeing, yet we believe in his Real Presence.
Here you don't only unload your burdens to the best of friends but you also learn to listen to what He has to say to you. Here, you learn humility from Him who is God yet humble himself by emptying himself of all his glory. Here, you learn acceptance from Him who submitted to the will of his Father. You learn to grow or begin to love Him, who out of love instituted the Holy Eucharist so as to remain always with us, to be our food and strength during this life pilgrimage. The discipline of frequent visits and spending time in Eucharistic Adoration will make you a faithful disciple ever ready to meet Him in trust and love without fear.
"It is love for souls that keeps Me a Prisoner in the Blessed Sacrament. I stay there that all may come and find the comfort they need in the tenderest of Hearts, the best of Fathers, the most faithful of Friends, who will never abandon them.Were you weak or ill in body surely you would find time to see a doctor who could cure you?... Come, then, to One who is able to give you both strength and health to your soul, and bestow the alms of love on this Divine Prisoner who watches for you, calls for you and longs to see you at His side. " (Excerpt from The Way of Divine Love of Sister Josefa Menendez)
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Passing the buck:
Our mordern world is very fond of passing the buck. That is to say, of denying responsibility. It began in the garden. Adam blamed Eve. When Adam was asked why he sinned, he said,"it was on account of the woman you gave me." he did not say his wife but he blamed God. "On account of the woman you gave me." Then Eve blamed the serpent, and the buck was passed on. Children blame their parents; people blame their pastors and pastors blame the curates; the curates blame their pastors. All blame their bishops, and bishops blame the congregations. Psychiatrists and psychoanalysts blame the grandparents; they blame the lack of sufficient playgrounds. Bad instict is the victim for no one is responsible, and so the buck is passed on. But where does the passing of the buck and denial of responsibility cease? At the cross. There it ends. . At last there's someone to blame. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Upon Him was the chastisement that made us whole and by His stripes we have been healed. When He cried out: "It's Finished", the price was fully paid. he took full responsibility for reconciling us to the Father. Out of Love for the Father and mankind he learned to be obedient even unto death, death on the Cross. There it ends!
Our mordern world is very fond of passing the buck. That is to say, of denying responsibility. It began in the garden. Adam blamed Eve. When Adam was asked why he sinned, he said,"it was on account of the woman you gave me." he did not say his wife but he blamed God. "On account of the woman you gave me." Then Eve blamed the serpent, and the buck was passed on. Children blame their parents; people blame their pastors and pastors blame the curates; the curates blame their pastors. All blame their bishops, and bishops blame the congregations. Psychiatrists and psychoanalysts blame the grandparents; they blame the lack of sufficient playgrounds. Bad instict is the victim for no one is responsible, and so the buck is passed on. But where does the passing of the buck and denial of responsibility cease? At the cross. There it ends. . At last there's someone to blame. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Upon Him was the chastisement that made us whole and by His stripes we have been healed. When He cried out: "It's Finished", the price was fully paid. he took full responsibility for reconciling us to the Father. Out of Love for the Father and mankind he learned to be obedient even unto death, death on the Cross. There it ends!
Monday, 27 February 2012
How much is enough?
How much do we have a right to use? and what constitutes exploitation? We all have the right to life but what does this mean? The right to life includes more than questions about reproduction or war or capital punishment. It means each person has a right to eat, to be clothed, to be sheltered and to be nourished by the beauty of the world of which we are all a part. But how much and what quality / and or quantity of food do we have a right to when others who also have the right to eat do not have enough to live on? How many changes of clothing do we have a right to when others who have the right to be clothed go naked? How elaborate a home do we have a right to when others who also have a right to shelter are homeless? How much beauty do we have a right to when other gentle spirits live in squalor?
There are many circumstances that contribute to the complexity of these question making them difficult to answer. We cannot be censured for putting resources aside for future use, for education of our children for possible medical needs, for retirement and even for a long deserved vacation. But the question remains: how much do we need? How much do we have a right to? Our consumer society might tell us we have a right to everything we can earn and does that mean at the expense of the poor? In a world of limited resources how much do we have have a right to? What does the balance of the world's natural resourcdes tell us? What does the the legitimate needs of others tell us? Finally what does our religious tradition tell us? There may not be easy answers to these questions but as Christians we are not merely children of this world; we are also children of light. We are more than insatiable consumers. Our value is not to be found in the measure of our possessions but rather in the quality of our relationships, in particular our relationships with our 'deprived' sisters and brothers for the sake of Christ. "....for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me. I was ill and you comforted me, in prison and you came to visit me.......as often as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me......" (Mat. 25, 31-46)
There are many circumstances that contribute to the complexity of these question making them difficult to answer. We cannot be censured for putting resources aside for future use, for education of our children for possible medical needs, for retirement and even for a long deserved vacation. But the question remains: how much do we need? How much do we have a right to? Our consumer society might tell us we have a right to everything we can earn and does that mean at the expense of the poor? In a world of limited resources how much do we have have a right to? What does the balance of the world's natural resourcdes tell us? What does the the legitimate needs of others tell us? Finally what does our religious tradition tell us? There may not be easy answers to these questions but as Christians we are not merely children of this world; we are also children of light. We are more than insatiable consumers. Our value is not to be found in the measure of our possessions but rather in the quality of our relationships, in particular our relationships with our 'deprived' sisters and brothers for the sake of Christ. "....for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me. I was ill and you comforted me, in prison and you came to visit me.......as often as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me......" (Mat. 25, 31-46)
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Counting the Snowdrops:
The Northern hemisphere is at the moment enjoying what is called a 'Crocus Holiday'. The schools are closed and many families take their winter holidays going sking. But many others begin to pick up going walking as the temperatures begin to rise. This is a beautiful time to walk in the woods to see the snowdrops bursting forth from under the layers of leaves which a while ago was covered with snow. It's fun to see both adults and children counting the snowdrops. My own mind went back when I used to enjoy this snowdrop counts.
Recollecting these thoughts lead me to see this activity diferently. During winter when the ground is covered with snow, and every thing seems frozen, the naked eye cannot see the life growing underneath. We may recall the story of Jesus about the man who scatters seed upon the earth and forgot about them. He went about doing other things. The seed sprouts and grows, he knows not how. The soil produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain.... (Mk. 4:26..ff) This man has no control over the growth of the seed he has scattered. The elements needed for growth are beyond his power. God is the source of life and he nurtures growth.
The seed growing by itself is the mystery of grace at work in our hearts even if we are not aware of it. It is the presence of grace in the Church even if not seen with the naked eye. Grace is at work in each one of us and this gives hope to persevere in prayer that God's grace will flower in us and in the lives of our loved ones. At Baptism the Trinitarian love of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. Even if we wander away, His love is with us, prompting and reminding us of His love and mercy. It's not His will that we should die without acknowledging Him as that will not benefit Him. Jesus came and died on our behalf to reconcile us to the Father so that we can be with Him after this short span of our earthly life compared to eternity.
As you count or admire the snowdrops and soon the crocusses, on the carpet- landscape around you, remember the same power that produced this is also working in you, bursting and/or waiting to burst forth even though you may not know or have forgotten this.
The Northern hemisphere is at the moment enjoying what is called a 'Crocus Holiday'. The schools are closed and many families take their winter holidays going sking. But many others begin to pick up going walking as the temperatures begin to rise. This is a beautiful time to walk in the woods to see the snowdrops bursting forth from under the layers of leaves which a while ago was covered with snow. It's fun to see both adults and children counting the snowdrops. My own mind went back when I used to enjoy this snowdrop counts.
Recollecting these thoughts lead me to see this activity diferently. During winter when the ground is covered with snow, and every thing seems frozen, the naked eye cannot see the life growing underneath. We may recall the story of Jesus about the man who scatters seed upon the earth and forgot about them. He went about doing other things. The seed sprouts and grows, he knows not how. The soil produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain.... (Mk. 4:26..ff) This man has no control over the growth of the seed he has scattered. The elements needed for growth are beyond his power. God is the source of life and he nurtures growth.
The seed growing by itself is the mystery of grace at work in our hearts even if we are not aware of it. It is the presence of grace in the Church even if not seen with the naked eye. Grace is at work in each one of us and this gives hope to persevere in prayer that God's grace will flower in us and in the lives of our loved ones. At Baptism the Trinitarian love of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. Even if we wander away, His love is with us, prompting and reminding us of His love and mercy. It's not His will that we should die without acknowledging Him as that will not benefit Him. Jesus came and died on our behalf to reconcile us to the Father so that we can be with Him after this short span of our earthly life compared to eternity.
As you count or admire the snowdrops and soon the crocusses, on the carpet- landscape around you, remember the same power that produced this is also working in you, bursting and/or waiting to burst forth even though you may not know or have forgotten this.
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