Rapture

There is a reason God warns us about chastisements; chastisements are meant to urge us to repent of sins that offend God, which we have committed. We risk hell if we never try to make up for our sins. Everyone will undergo a chastisement; there are no "get out of jail free" cards.

As such, "raptures" may happen, and some may be spared the full brunt of what others have to endure full force, but no one passes through the chastisement unscathed. Another meaning of the word "rapture" is from the Church and refers to being caught up suddenly into ecstasy by God to experience Him in an unprecedented way, and the "seizure", or being suddenly caught up in God is like a strong grip. In ecstasy, we remain in the body but it feels nothing, and is impervious to external stimuli, and afterward, a person may or may not remember much, though in the lives of many great saints, great discourses were experienced by the holy, in part, that was the reason for the union with God; so that some truth or extraordinary teaching may be imparted faithfully. God always has a purpose in everything He does, and if He causes  us to be caught up to Him in ecstasy, or at a moment of universal judgement, you can be sure He serious about what He does.

I do not get excited by such spiritual occurrences, and even though I welcome consolations, I do not go out of my way for them. The deeper the consolation, in my experience, even deeper suffering follows.

Besides all that, we are told to love and trust in God; either you trust Him or you don't, and if you have the humility by which to see, you will understand.

Some will live through the end of things, and witness the resurrection of the dead, and the Kingdom of God coming.

Before the demons are unleashed on the world, pray. Pray that their power is reduced, and that souls are safe and never separated from God. Beyond all else, there is nothing greater than to belong to God. 

THOSE WHO LOVE GOD BELONG TO GOD AND HE WILL RETAIN THOSE WHO LOVED HIM IN LIFE, AND PERSEVERED IN DEATH.

Unless you are blind deaf and dumb, you know evil is roaming about the earth, looking for someone to devour, and judging by the effects evil has had on the earth, one must come away stunned by the vileness and violence of the attacks. Pray that nothing worse befalls the earth and its inhabitants.

The mitigations we are granted in life, spring from the pure love of God toward us. His consolations are the joy that surrounds God in heaven and wherever He is. Just as a man who has come in from the rain enjoys a warm fire, so too, souls who love God enjoy growing closer to Him, and it is a case of fire growing stronger as the fire gets more powerful, and we dry off standing by the heat. Consolations are of the Spirit, and are not understood by ordinary people until God makes us understand. The realization of what consolations are, are amazing to us, and that is why we enjoy them only a short time, and He prevents us from trying to make them happen or intensify. There is only so much we can experience in the first place, and until we have matured spiritually, we cannot progress farther in our mystical journey. It is called "mystical" because it is a mystery only God can allow us to understand. If we think we understand, we should humble ourselves and wait for God.

In times past, a little boy would wear short pants when he was little, and longed for the day he could wear the "grown up" pants of a grown young man. When he was given his first pair, he was so proud to accept the love of his family and their welcoming as a maturing child on his way to manhood. It is too bad that isn't a tradition anymore. Experiencing the acceptance of a loving family is a transformative moment in a child's life, and it is no difference among those initiated into the mysteries of God's life.

Be At Peace

Rapture

There is a reason God warns us about chastisements; chastisements are meant to urge us to repent of sins that offend God, which we have committed. We risk hell if we never try to make up for our sins. Everyone will undergo a chastisement; there are no "get out of jail free" cards.

As such, "raptures" may happen, and some may be spared the full brunt of what others have to endure full force, but no one passes through the chastisement unscathed. Another meaning of the word "rapture" is from the Church and refers to being caught up suddenly into ecstasy by God to experience Him in an unprecedented way, and the "seizure", or being suddenly caught up in God is like a strong grip. In ecstasy, we remain in the body but it feels nothing, and is impervious to external stimuli, and afterward, a person may or may not remember much, though in the lives of many great saints, great discourses were experienced by the holy, in part, that was the reason for the union with God; so that some truth or extraordinary teaching may be imparted faithfully. God always has a purpose in everything He does, and if He causes  us to be caught up to Him in ecstasy, or at a moment of universal judgement, you can be sure He serious about what He does.

I do not get excited by such spiritual occurrences, and even though I welcome consolations, I do not go out of my way for them. The deeper the consolation, in my experience, even deeper suffering follows.

Besides all that, we are told to love and trust in God; either you trust Him or you don't, and if you have the humility by which to see, you will understand.

Some will live through the end of things, and witness the resurrection of the dead, and the Kingdom of God coming.

Before the demons are unleashed on the world, pray. Pray that their power is reduced, and that souls are safe and never separated from God. Beyond all else, there is nothing greater than to belong to God. 

THOSE WHO LOVE GOD BELONG TO GOD AND HE WILL RETAIN THOSE WHO LOVED HIM IN LIFE, AND PERSEVERED IN DEATH.

Unless you are blind deaf and dumb, you know evil is roaming about the earth, looking for someone to devour, and judging by the effects evil has had on the earth, one must come away stunned by the vileness and violence of the attacks. Pray that nothing worse befalls the earth and its inhabitants.

The mitigations we are granted in life, spring from the pure love of God toward us. His consolations are the joy that surrounds God in heaven and wherever He is. Just as a man who has come in from the rain enjoys a warm fire, so too, souls who love God enjoy growing closer to Him, and it is a case of fire growing stronger as the fire gets more powerful, and we dry off standing by the heat. Consolations are of the Spirit, and are not understood by ordinary people until God makes us understand. The realization of what consolations are, are amazing to us, and that is why we enjoy them only a short time, and He prevents us from trying to make them happen or intensify. There is only so much we can experience in the first place, and until we have matured spiritually, we cannot progress farther in our mystical journey. It is called "mystical" because it is a mystery only God can allow us to understand. If we think we understand, we should humble ourselves and wait for God.

In times past, a little boy would wear short pants when he was little, and longed for the day he could wear the "grown up" pants of a grown young man. When he was given his first pair, he was so proud to accept the love of his family and their welcoming as a maturing child on his way to manhood. It is too bad that isn't a tradition anymore. Experiencing the acceptance of a loving family is a transformative moment in a child's life, and it is no difference among those initiated into the mysteries of God's life.

Be At Peace

Free

DAY'S SAINTS

Our Lady of Lourdes

Blessed Henry of Vitskol, Cistercian

Gospel Mk 1:40-45

A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said,
“If you wish, you can make me clean.”
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, 
touched him, and said to him, 
“I do will it. Be made clean.”
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. 
He said to him, “See that you tell no one anything,
but go, show yourself to the priest 
and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them.”
The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.
He spread the report abroad
so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.
He remained outside in deserted places,
and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

+

Fly, be free :)

Jesus did not annul the Law of Moses regarding leprosy, but superseded it by simply healing the man, instead of quibbling if he had leprosy or not. He did not destroy the man's life, but healed it so he might live among his friends and relatives in peace and honor.

Blessed the man who speaks of peace in such ways, and heals those who come, so they are able to come to the Lord to rejoice in the power of God.

If a man has found God, he has found all, the very utmost important thing of all.

We need not theologize much, but if God touches others through us, we should be happy. Peace is where God is, and not amongst thieves of criminals or demented dictators of the world who are not capable of thinking right because they are in the power of hell. God alone can deliver such a one, but it happens not often at all. Still, in the midst of all persecutions from the time of Jesus Himself until now, He reaches out to snatch one or another from the clutches of evil so they may be happy in God as they desire.

If you forgive someone, your sins are forgiven and your joy should compel you to recruit others to rejoice with you that God may be praised and a joyful sound be heard in the plain and on the mountaintop because Jesus is Lord.

As it happens, a woman was brought to Jesus because she was caught committing adultery with a man. They asked Jesus what they should do with her because the Law specified that she should be stoned to death. He then said, "let he who is without sin cast the first stone." No one threw even a single stone at her, but all dispersed elsewhere, whereupon He asked "Where are your accusers?". He then said, your sins are forgiven, but avoid sinning again."

All of us are in that woman's same position, and we need not think we are privileged like Jewish men ready to stone the woman, while nothing was said of the man at all. Jesus knew full well the consequences of the sin. If we have received mercy, are we not obliged to be merciful to others as well, regardless of status or position? Jesus did not say, persecute those caught in sin; He forgave the sin, and that example should be our own. Forgive sinners, and lead them to God who knows how to save from any situation and to dispense mercy abundantly to everyone. Those who seek and find Him will lead them to His light and joy, and that place will know peace.

The consequences of sin are the weaknesses that evil exploits to put us into its power where we can be easily tormented to amuse the demons. Great storms and calamities of drought and devastation follow, and death and destruction follow as well, and all sorts of moral and other  catastrophes arise, and peace is destroyed. But it is not that way with those who love God as He makes us able. 

Let us place ourselves in Jesus's arms continually, and surrender ourselves to our troubles so we may find ourselves embracing Jesus as He delivers us from our sufferings. But if we may offer some small thing, to God for others, let us gladly do it, for He honors us if He asks us, because by that means we enter into His cross to help Him and and we do not by that means dishonor Him who has done so much for us. If He has forgiven us, then we by all means should acknowledge what He has done.

He is not ignorant of our sufferings or the afflictions that evil used to ensnare us, but if we continually offer our will to Him, then we are already safely in His arms.

Peace be with you

Free

DAY'S SAINTS

Our Lady of Lourdes

Blessed Henry of Vitskol, Cistercian

Gospel Mk 1:40-45

A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said,
“If you wish, you can make me clean.”
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, 
touched him, and said to him, 
“I do will it. Be made clean.”
The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.
Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. 
He said to him, “See that you tell no one anything,
but go, show yourself to the priest 
and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;
that will be proof for them.”
The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter.
He spread the report abroad
so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly.
He remained outside in deserted places,
and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

+

Fly, be free :)

Jesus did not annul the Law of Moses regarding leprosy, but superseded it by simply healing the man, instead of quibbling if he had leprosy or not. He did not destroy the man's life, but healed it so he might live among his friends and relatives in peace and honor.

Blessed the man who speaks of peace in such ways, and heals those who come, so they are able to come to the Lord to rejoice in the power of God.

If a man has found God, he has found all, the very utmost important thing of all.

We need not theologize much, but if God touches others through us, we should be happy. Peace is where God is, and not amongst thieves of criminals or demented dictators of the world who are not capable of thinking right because they are in the power of hell. God alone can deliver such a one, but it happens not often at all. Still, in the midst of all persecutions from the time of Jesus Himself until now, He reaches out to snatch one or another from the clutches of evil so they may be happy in God as they desire.

If you forgive someone, your sins are forgiven and your joy should compel you to recruit others to rejoice with you that God may be praised and a joyful sound be heard in the plain and on the mountaintop because Jesus is Lord.

As it happens, a woman was brought to Jesus because she was caught committing adultery with a man. They asked Jesus what they should do with her because the Law specified that she should be stoned to death. He then said, "let he who is without sin cast the first stone." No one threw even a single stone at her, but all dispersed elsewhere, whereupon He asked "Where are your accusers?". He then said, your sins are forgiven, but avoid sinning again."

All of us are in that woman's same position, and we need not think we are privileged like Jewish men ready to stone the woman, while nothing was said of the man at all. Jesus knew full well the consequences of the sin. If we have received mercy, are we not obliged to be merciful to others as well, regardless of status or position? Jesus did not say, persecute those caught in sin; He forgave the sin, and that example should be our own. Forgive sinners, and lead them to God who knows how to save from any situation and to dispense mercy abundantly to everyone. Those who seek and find Him will lead them to His light and joy, and that place will know peace.

The consequences of sin are the weaknesses that evil exploits to put us into its power where we can be easily tormented to amuse the demons. Great storms and calamities of drought and devastation follow, and death and destruction follow as well, and all sorts of moral and other  catastrophes arise, and peace is destroyed. But it is not that way with those who love God as He makes us able. 

Let us place ourselves in Jesus's arms continually, and surrender ourselves to our troubles so we may find ourselves embracing Jesus as He delivers us from our sufferings. But if we may offer some small thing, to God for others, let us gladly do it, for He honors us if He asks us, because by that means we enter into His cross to help Him and and we do not by that means dishonor Him who has done so much for us. If He has forgiven us, then we by all means should acknowledge what He has done.

He is not ignorant of our sufferings or the afflictions that evil used to ensnare us, but if we continually offer our will to Him, then we are already safely in His arms.

Peace be with you

Hard

The hummingbirds loved to forage in this flower's
blossoms

Sometimes people tell me I am hard on myself, and other people. But if I were not hard enough, I would accomplish nothing worthwhile, and I only expect people to do the utmost that they can, realizing the power of God at work in people to change the landscape of earth into a lush garden where silence allows our minds to hear God and respond to Him.

If i were indeed hard on others, that would be a fault, and a sin, because God moves us within ourselves and  has no need of anyone else's effort unless He has requested it.

I expect people to do good because it is beautiful to see love flourish, being expressed and thereby given the opportunity  to be happy.

I do not expect God will permit me a sin of pleasing myself because I am some special character. The fact that He allows illness and pain reasserts His power in us, and the appreciative soul is glad for it, especially when it goes away <s>.

But we need, as sinful people, to repent and show the gratitude we should have been pouring forth into His Heart. Our failure through sin, costs us minutes of our life that were wasted, when it might have been better spent simply giving thanks for God and our friends and ourselves.

Certainly this fits in with the coming penitential season of Lent during which we are confronted with  the monstrous cruelty imposed by men on Christ, who died in love with us, even while we paid Him no attention at all, while were whiling away our time on frivolities.

Having so recently encountered the physical and spiritual side of illness, my heart is fresh cut open sharing His love with me, His passion life. It is a side we do well to confront periodically by confronting what happened to Jesus, and by realizing that He went through everything He suffered for our love, even knowing all the while that we would be incapable of rising to the occasion. He knew too that we would be hungry for a way to atone for that weakness and failure, to mend the injury we caused. In order to hear Him tell us what we can do tor Him, we will have to forget our faults and sins and realize He has forgiven us and prayed for our future perfection. He created no junk; He did not make garbage, but people make themselves into such monsters, sometime, that all we can do is look down and weep.

Jesus wept for us realizing what we would encounter in what He asks us to do.  We should share with one another, in some way, the beautiful things we discover. The little bits of beauty we share with each other, like the little love we share with each other is in no way trivial in the mission of Jesus to win hearts to Himself. But we cannot approach Him paralyzed with selfish concerns, fearful of what He may ask of us and which we might discover we are not strong enough to lift. One man might not lift the cross from Jesus as He lay gasping on the ground when He fell under the cross, and one woman might not be able to do anything but touch His cheek for a moment to convey a tenderness. But if all of us spiritually connect and lift our hearts to Jesus, we must be able by our mutual strength to overcome weakness and pain in order to connect with him and feel His Spirit coursing through us like a lightening bolt.

Hard

The hummingbirds loved to forage in this flower's
blossoms

Sometimes people tell me I am hard on myself, and other people. But if I were not hard enough, I would accomplish nothing worthwhile, and I only expect people to do the utmost that they can, realizing the power of God at work in people to change the landscape of earth into a lush garden where silence allows our minds to hear God and respond to Him.

If i were indeed hard on others, that would be a fault, and a sin, because God moves us within ourselves and  has no need of anyone else's effort unless He has requested it.

I expect people to do good because it is beautiful to see love flourish, being expressed and thereby given the opportunity  to be happy.

I do not expect God will permit me a sin of pleasing myself because I am some special character. The fact that He allows illness and pain reasserts His power in us, and the appreciative soul is glad for it, especially when it goes away <s>.

But we need, as sinful people, to repent and show the gratitude we should have been pouring forth into His Heart. Our failure through sin, costs us minutes of our life that were wasted, when it might have been better spent simply giving thanks for God and our friends and ourselves.

Certainly this fits in with the coming penitential season of Lent during which we are confronted with  the monstrous cruelty imposed by men on Christ, who died in love with us, even while we paid Him no attention at all, while were whiling away our time on frivolities.

Having so recently encountered the physical and spiritual side of illness, my heart is fresh cut open sharing His love with me, His passion life. It is a side we do well to confront periodically by confronting what happened to Jesus, and by realizing that He went through everything He suffered for our love, even knowing all the while that we would be incapable of rising to the occasion. He knew too that we would be hungry for a way to atone for that weakness and failure, to mend the injury we caused. In order to hear Him tell us what we can do tor Him, we will have to forget our faults and sins and realize He has forgiven us and prayed for our future perfection. He created no junk; He did not make garbage, but people make themselves into such monsters, sometime, that all we can do is look down and weep.

Jesus wept for us realizing what we would encounter in what He asks us to do.  We should share with one another, in some way, the beautiful things we discover. The little bits of beauty we share with each other, like the little love we share with each other is in no way trivial in the mission of Jesus to win hearts to Himself. But we cannot approach Him paralyzed with selfish concerns, fearful of what He may ask of us and which we might discover we are not strong enough to lift. One man might not lift the cross from Jesus as He lay gasping on the ground when He fell under the cross, and one woman might not be able to do anything but touch His cheek for a moment to convey a tenderness. But if all of us spiritually connect and lift our hearts to Jesus, we must be able by our mutual strength to overcome weakness and pain in order to connect with him and feel His Spirit coursing through us like a lightening bolt.

Storm Time

 

Several days ago, if you had offered me the Last Rites, I would have gladly accepted. I was so miserable with pain in difficult breathing through  my stuffed head and lungs that I was near the end of my energies. Having gotten the flu shot, I don't understand why I got so way-laid. Since I got the shots ( COVID and FLU), for free, I can't complain on that account, but as far as efficacy is concerned, I have to give zero percent satisfaction rating. I even bit my tongue in a bad spot in the midst of a violent sneezing fit, but fortunately I got through all that and now am on the mend. I had one bout with diarhea, but took some medication for too, and it has mended as well.

We have a pretty dawn underway, in the midst of winter. The mountains are getting their snow pack refreshed, so enthusiasts of skiing are happy. I miss not seeing some snow for a couple days, but it seems the present weather pattern if not favorable for lowland snow this year.

As for the rest of the world, I can understand all the suffering being necessary, as the world has gone mentally ill. I commend the world to the Lord in all my prayers and hope you will too, not pay any attention to headlines sensationalizing politics and news, spreading lies and hate everywhere. As you pray, remember those who need your prayers and offer your prayers to God who can relieve their hearts.

He has opened my heart all the way, and the love is so beautiful. 

THERE IS MORE TO LIFE THAN BEING SOMEONE'S DINNER.