Acceptance

 

I am sensitive to rejection, and in thinking about the last supper of Jesus, I encounter Him pondering the depth of rejection by human beings, that led to His dying. How He could go on to finish what He began in such a humiliating way, I cannot fathom.

In the face of the passion-life of Jesus, from the triumphant entry into Jerusalem to the rolling of the stone to seal His sepulcher, the physical component was devastating enough, but to be able to persevere and endure until His death, is unimaginable in merely human terms.

Let us not forget how much He loved the human race, including those who rejected Him and sought His death by crucifixion from Pontius Pilate.

One can make no sense of the suffering without a feeling for the love. To imagine one could cooperate with being nailed to a cross is impossible, because it only exists as an outcome of a Will that is divine and totally dedicated to love.

Neither can a man desire and achieve the crucifixion without a grasp of love, especially divine love. St. Padre Pio described how Jesus appeared to Him during his prayers, holding a lance which He thrust into the side of Padre Pio, and the imposition of nails into his feet and hands. There is also the matter of the suffering of the crown of thorns, the scourging and the physical abuse He endured. These too he encountered and suffered with for at least fifty years, quietly, silently and patiently amongst a humanity drowning in sin without realizing what was happening. That has not stopped, nor has it diminished until this moment.

Jesus still endures this in all the ages since until right now. Our prayers are weak, but we still must say them, and to say them we must want to say them, in order that His love might pervade reality until we do love and want to pray.

There are certain truths which we cannot reject and still call ourselves Christians. Men avidly embrace spurious creeds and beliefs that go counter to logic, reason and God's truth, and they reject the creed of Jesus which He handed down to us which can be used to make us saints and assure a place at His side in triumph. The rejection of the truths of Jesus in arrogance is equally painful to Him, and He will do all He can to counter lies with truth, but men who reject the truth have fallen off the earth and are adrift in darkness until the new reality begins. Until then, those willing to atone are few but very well blessed. Padre Pio could not accept what Jesus brought him the day Jesus penetrated his side, and pierced his hands and feet so he could be like Him and He could be with him as He was as he prayed to save souls. His acceptance of the Will of Jesus was accomplished by the same love with which Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.

So, if you are sad with an endless sorrow, suffer loneliness and emptiness in the desert that is life, we should realize how close we are to sharing with the love that enabled Jesus to receive crucifixion. We cannot love enough on our own to be able to accept the offer of the cross, regardless of what it means. For Jesus, it meant suffering beyond imagining and a labor of divine love to incorporate the cross into the divine life, from whence all suffering of His passion comes forth from Him.

One might reflect that his own personal share in the cross this Lent does not amount to much, no matter how deeply we suffer pain and rejection in life.

Yet, enough people evidently have received enough love to accept a great deal, or life as we know it might already have been extinguished in the world. The light we have and that is, emanates from the love in Jesus and His cross and the adherence to the Faith and the truth. No one can say they are Christian, let alone Catholic, who are actually willing to accept as truth, what is a lie and contrary to what He has revealed to us.

Do not fear that you realize your weakness, but fear that anything might separate you from the suffering Jesus and a participation in His passion life.

To be saved means not to cease to exist separate from Jesus. The whole universe will change in an instant to a new reality we cannot imagine; Scripture tells us so. Jesus bore the agony of their loss and the loss of their love. We cannot imagine not being, but it is possible to not be. To be missing from the  universe would be bad enough, but to be suddenly aware that we also are separated from Jesus is incomprehensible. Our enemy who hates truth and hates love hates us and Jesus as well. We must be  counted one way or the other, do we accept the truth, and union with Jesus, and all that must be endured in order to be with Him forever, or not? At some momentous point in life we will be asked; pray that you may say the word that saves you and fulfills His Will at the same instant of His love.

Acceptance

 

I am sensitive to rejection, and in thinking about the last supper of Jesus, I encounter Him pondering the depth of rejection by human beings, that led to His dying. How He could go on to finish what He began in such a humiliating way, I cannot fathom.

In the face of the passion-life of Jesus, from the triumphant entry into Jerusalem to the rolling of the stone to seal His sepulcher, the physical component was devastating enough, but to be able to persevere and endure until His death, is unimaginable in merely human terms.

Let us not forget how much He loved the human race, including those who rejected Him and sought His death by crucifixion from Pontius Pilate.

One can make no sense of the suffering without a feeling for the love. To imagine one could cooperate with being nailed to a cross is impossible, because it only exists as an outcome of a Will that is divine and totally dedicated to love.

Neither can a man desire and achieve the crucifixion without a grasp of love, especially divine love. St. Padre Pio described how Jesus appeared to Him during his prayers, holding a lance which He thrust into the side of Padre Pio, and the imposition of nails into his feet and hands. There is also the matter of the suffering of the crown of thorns, the scourging and the physical abuse He endured. These too he encountered and suffered with for at least fifty years, quietly, silently and patiently amongst a humanity drowning in sin without realizing what was happening. That has not stopped, nor has it diminished until this moment.

Jesus still endures this in all the ages since until right now. Our prayers are weak, but we still must say them, and to say them we must want to say them, in order that His love might pervade reality until we do love and want to pray.

There are certain truths which we cannot reject and still call ourselves Christians. Men avidly embrace spurious creeds and beliefs that go counter to logic, reason and God's truth, and they reject the creed of Jesus which He handed down to us which can be used to make us saints and assure a place at His side in triumph. The rejection of the truths of Jesus in arrogance is equally painful to Him, and He will do all He can to counter lies with truth, but men who reject the truth have fallen off the earth and are adrift in darkness until the new reality begins. Until then, those willing to atone are few but very well blessed. Padre Pio could not accept what Jesus brought him the day Jesus penetrated his side, and pierced his hands and feet so he could be like Him and He could be with him as He was as he prayed to save souls. His acceptance of the Will of Jesus was accomplished by the same love with which Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.

So, if you are sad with an endless sorrow, suffer loneliness and emptiness in the desert that is life, we should realize how close we are to sharing with the love that enabled Jesus to receive crucifixion. We cannot love enough on our own to be able to accept the offer of the cross, regardless of what it means. For Jesus, it meant suffering beyond imagining and a labor of divine love to incorporate the cross into the divine life, from whence all suffering of His passion comes forth from Him.

One might reflect that his own personal share in the cross this Lent does not amount to much, no matter how deeply we suffer pain and rejection in life.

Yet, enough people evidently have received enough love to accept a great deal, or life as we know it might already have been extinguished in the world. The light we have and that is, emanates from the love in Jesus and His cross and the adherence to the Faith and the truth. No one can say they are Christian, let alone Catholic, who are actually willing to accept as truth, what is a lie and contrary to what He has revealed to us.

Do not fear that you realize your weakness, but fear that anything might separate you from the suffering Jesus and a participation in His passion life.

To be saved means not to cease to exist separate from Jesus. The whole universe will change in an instant to a new reality we cannot imagine; Scripture tells us so. Jesus bore the agony of their loss and the loss of their love. We cannot imagine not being, but it is possible to not be. To be missing from the  universe would be bad enough, but to be suddenly aware that we also are separated from Jesus is incomprehensible. Our enemy who hates truth and hates love hates us and Jesus as well. We must be  counted one way or the other, do we accept the truth, and union with Jesus, and all that must be endured in order to be with Him forever, or not? At some momentous point in life we will be asked; pray that you may say the word that saves you and fulfills His Will at the same instant of His love.

Purpose

What keeps you from seeing His light?

A Hermit's Response to Life

The purpose of solitude is not so you can enter into yourself and drown, but so you are free to love God besides all other things. Being intent on yourself is a trap so long as it does not lead to union with God.

If God is leading you into yourself, there is something He wants you to see. If you do the fasting and privations called for to live the solitary life, you will have a sense of God leading you, revealing you to yourself so that you can see the obstacles that stand between you and the perfect vision of God.

If the fasting and privations lead you relentlessly back into yourself, then you should be busy with your hands, perhaps encouraging someone else and healing those in need of healing. For those activities, one needs to be aware of the presence of God, and to be motivated by His love, since that is where all good things have their origin. Helping someone fix a tire, or buying someone homeless a meal is a good choice.

To perform the works of mercy only means to realize what other people are going through, and doing what you can do for them. 

To perform the works of mercy only means to see the passion of the Christ and how the world has been drawn into it. It was easy enough to see the works of mercy Jesus did while He was with us, preaching and teaching and healing and delivering people across the width and breadth of Israel. He sent out disciples because He could not be physically present to them all to preach the coming of the Kingdom of God.

It is still that way. Each of us participates personally in the passion of Jesus. Make room in the time you have available to you to encounter your participation in Jesus and His passion. It is uncommon for most to see vividly enough the wounds of His death so as to inform our hearts how we love the Lord. Too often we have injured our relationship with God, sinned, and become so broken hearted about it we forget the offense we committed or the need to get past the all too real pain of guilt or shame. Acknowledge sin, ask forgiveness and make atonement and your heart will be free, and then you are ready to embrace Him as in the Garden. There, time is still, and quiet lets us hear His love, and rest invades out mortality to comfort us.

Jesus does not begrudge anyone rest or peace or comfort. He endured a great deal to be able to give it to us, but in return He wishes us to actually give ourselves to Him as we have not before, so that He can give Himself as He wishes, He might have been able to give Himself to us.

You who feel the burden of your sins, forget them. Remember instead how Jesus loves you and the visibly certain signs that He loves us all infinitely.

Purpose

What keeps you from seeing His light?

A Hermit's Response to Life

The purpose of solitude is not so you can enter into yourself and drown, but so you are free to love God besides all other things. Being intent on yourself is a trap so long as it does not lead to union with God.

If God is leading you into yourself, there is something He wants you to see. If you do the fasting and privations called for to live the solitary life, you will have a sense of God leading you, revealing you to yourself so that you can see the obstacles that stand between you and the perfect vision of God.

If the fasting and privations lead you relentlessly back into yourself, then you should be busy with your hands, perhaps encouraging someone else and healing those in need of healing. For those activities, one needs to be aware of the presence of God, and to be motivated by His love, since that is where all good things have their origin. Helping someone fix a tire, or buying someone homeless a meal is a good choice.

To perform the works of mercy only means to realize what other people are going through, and doing what you can do for them. 

To perform the works of mercy only means to see the passion of the Christ and how the world has been drawn into it. It was easy enough to see the works of mercy Jesus did while He was with us, preaching and teaching and healing and delivering people across the width and breadth of Israel. He sent out disciples because He could not be physically present to them all to preach the coming of the Kingdom of God.

It is still that way. Each of us participates personally in the passion of Jesus. Make room in the time you have available to you to encounter your participation in Jesus and His passion. It is uncommon for most to see vividly enough the wounds of His death so as to inform our hearts how we love the Lord. Too often we have injured our relationship with God, sinned, and become so broken hearted about it we forget the offense we committed or the need to get past the all too real pain of guilt or shame. Acknowledge sin, ask forgiveness and make atonement and your heart will be free, and then you are ready to embrace Him as in the Garden. There, time is still, and quiet lets us hear His love, and rest invades out mortality to comfort us.

Jesus does not begrudge anyone rest or peace or comfort. He endured a great deal to be able to give it to us, but in return He wishes us to actually give ourselves to Him as we have not before, so that He can give Himself as He wishes, He might have been able to give Himself to us.

You who feel the burden of your sins, forget them. Remember instead how Jesus loves you and the visibly certain signs that He loves us all infinitely.

Refresh

DAY'S SAINTS

Patrick
Blessed Gertrude of Trzebnica

Yellow crowned sparrow in a dense tree.

We may not see the fruition of our dreams, but God's Will is more than a match for any dream, and if we allow Him, He surpasses all our expectations. A subtle nuance is all we have to go on, sometimes, Then  someone shows up on our stage, and the air is suddenly cool and clear and our soul refreshed by what someone is being, and in the being, we are bid to go forth and evangelize the world for Jesus who chooses not to be so easily accessible to us. 

We may not be aware of just how refreshing we are to souls when we have embraced the Lord and He transformed us. All our little labors seems so inconsequential, but what does it hurt us if His coming could not be anticipated, and in all our unworthiness, He chooses to let us be refreshed as we were refreshing others. Labors are never meant to be fruitless. All our feeble gesticulations may not catch anyone's gaze, but God has no trouble being visible to us when He wants.

I may not be bleeding so that men may see, but whatever I am doing, He ratifies in me when it pleases Him, and what was hidden is made visible, accessible to me, so I may still serve Him however humbly.

What was, still is, and if we seek Him we will become like Him, and that is always a refreshing moment. They may not do what we ould want, but What God has in mind is always better, the choicest part, even the unspeakable pain. To love enough to please Him, we must hurt and awful hurt, but let it not be because we saddened Him with our sin and selfishness.

Make offerings of love, for they will be received, and if we have given indeed, we shall be pleased ourselves.

There is only one of us. Let us be like Jesus. Let us rest, and when they come for Him, let us respond by being at His side at least in our desires.

Refresh

DAY'S SAINTS

Patrick
Blessed Gertrude of Trzebnica

Yellow crowned sparrow in a dense tree.

We may not see the fruition of our dreams, but God's Will is more than a match for any dream, and if we allow Him, He surpasses all our expectations. A subtle nuance is all we have to go on, sometimes, Then  someone shows up on our stage, and the air is suddenly cool and clear and our soul refreshed by what someone is being, and in the being, we are bid to go forth and evangelize the world for Jesus who chooses not to be so easily accessible to us. 

We may not be aware of just how refreshing we are to souls when we have embraced the Lord and He transformed us. All our little labors seems so inconsequential, but what does it hurt us if His coming could not be anticipated, and in all our unworthiness, He chooses to let us be refreshed as we were refreshing others. Labors are never meant to be fruitless. All our feeble gesticulations may not catch anyone's gaze, but God has no trouble being visible to us when He wants.

I may not be bleeding so that men may see, but whatever I am doing, He ratifies in me when it pleases Him, and what was hidden is made visible, accessible to me, so I may still serve Him however humbly.

What was, still is, and if we seek Him we will become like Him, and that is always a refreshing moment. They may not do what we ould want, but What God has in mind is always better, the choicest part, even the unspeakable pain. To love enough to please Him, we must hurt and awful hurt, but let it not be because we saddened Him with our sin and selfishness.

Make offerings of love, for they will be received, and if we have given indeed, we shall be pleased ourselves.

There is only one of us. Let us be like Jesus. Let us rest, and when they come for Him, let us respond by being at His side at least in our desires.

Truth

 Youtube video about gender

It is refreshing to hear the truth and to witness it being defended. Children are not objects of sexual manipulation in any sense. Bravo for defending the truth.