Feeling

Day's Saints
Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Carmelite Martyr
Blessed John of Alvernia, Hermit

Gospel Mt 15: 21-28

At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,
"Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!
My daughter is tormented by a demon."
But he did not say a word in answer to her.
His disciples came and asked him,
"Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us."
He said in reply,
"I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
But the woman came and did him homage, saying, "Lord, help me."
He said in reply,
"It is not right to take the food of the children
and throw it to the dogs."
She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps
that fall from the table of their masters."
Then Jesus said to her in reply,
"O woman, great is your faith!
Let it be done for you as you wish."
And her daughter was healed from that hour.

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I would rather the lance in my side than
the cold indifference of men.

We read of the confidences of Jesus to St. Padre Pio and are inspired to offer ourselves to Him, for His investment in us is something we cannot repay.

The awesome fact that we can offer anything to Jesus that is worthy is motivating. So if you are moved to respond to His complaints, what can you offer?

Love Him as He deserves, asking for His grace to do what is not possible for unaided mortals. Love one another, and forgive from the heart, offering that emptiness to be filled with His love, regardless of consequence.

Men often gambol for money or power, sometimes taking human lives in the process, and they do not see the evil they have committed and so continue committing crime upon crime until there is no hope of salvation for them.

As they do so, they feel less and less, and so nothing stands in the way of continuing to be disaffected toward God, and following only their own evil appetites, until they are worth nothing and are discarded in the trash heap of hell.

If you feel the cold of your indifference, quickly offer your love and plead with the Lord to enkindle you again, so you may be one with Him.

The loving care and committment to the Sacred Heart is worth whatever pleasure you might wish to exchange for His love so that you are most certainly united to Him in your affections, for the pleasures you forego out of love enkindle love, so that whatever you offer will never be rejected, and indifference is overcome by supernatural flames of divine love which perfects all things forever.

If you are afraid, do not hesitate to reveal that to your Lord who is Himself the remedy for your misgivings. Once you have felt His love, do not fear that you will never feel it more again, for that would be impossible.

"I cannot forget you; on the contrary, my Heart remembers all those who grew cold in the satisfactions that were gained by sins in the world. I forgave all, and resolved never to forget those who loved me, even when they grew distant. Now is the time while there is no one to restrain you, to offer yourself to me as a holocaust of love in which I may join you. Offer yourself as love, to me, and you will always be remembered and I will not stand afar from you, but will approach repeatedly until you can give yourself to me without reserve, and I will protect and defend you so you may serve me in a pleasing way."

"So do not be saddened by the thought of how you were treated by my servants, even though you offered me all you could give, and to bear the woundedness of my Heart because you loved me. Could my Heart ignore such an offering? Indeed, such holocausts cannot be ignored, and you will be rewarded."

"Even if I seem distant, and I seem not to console you anymore, do not believe that you are lost, but draw close to me anyway, so that you may be closer to me. Am I less than your feelings? Can feelings bar you from my Heart? No, I tell you, because I feel you moving in my Heart and being as a child is felt in its mother's womb. Therefore the mother finds the strength and courage to give birth in spite of pain, and once the child is in her arms, she loves the baby with all she is. Love me again and again and do not grieve over feelings because they do not think they only feel, and are part of the weakness of human beings which they overcome to please me."

"Pray that you may see the victory over evil, and the coming of the New Heavens and Earth. Pray so that I may know the bliss of listening to the sound of your voice. Cold, indifferent men cannot feel what you feel, and so they are ill-informed and lack understanding, otherwise they would grieve for what they did and you would see your vindication." "You are my servant, and I love my servants because they love me. Therefore, always love me, and you will have served me."