M
MariaChristi
Guest
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
St. Louis De Montfort urges us in the first 12 days on our 33 day journey to rid ourselves of “the spirit of the world”. I listened again to St. John’s First Letter: "…all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world… When we look around us, most of us can “see” how “the spirit of the world” values sensual lusts. The advertisements for food, clothes, and entertainment entice the eyes to want those things. Men, women and even children become more and more hungry for pleasure. Many will seek things even when they cannot afford them. Some will even “pretend” they have them and act as if they are “richer” than they are. I wonder, how many have heard the Truth of Jesus, to know what is opposed to Him? Have we as Church been Christ’s Light for them?
It seems to me humankind in every generation is repeating the first sin – the original sin of Adam and Eve who disobeyed. They did not listen to God’s Word carefully enough to be able to discern the lie of satan. God had told them what they could and could not do, but they began to “lust” after what satan offered. The forbidden fruit “looked good” and satan told them they would be like God. How sad that our first parents lost their first love of God! How many in the Church today have not passed on the Truth God gave to us? How important these verses from John’s First Letter:
Come Holy Spirit, kindle in us the Fire of Your Love. Cleanse our hearts that we may love You more than ourselves. Bring us more and more into the complete Truth of Jesus, through Mary our Mother, that we may not believe the lies of satan, or be tempted to love anything more than God.
Mary, Mother and Model for the Church intercede for us, that we may learn from you to offer ourselves with Jesus to our Father, in all we do. Pray that we may look to you and Jesus on Calvary and offer our prayers, works, joys, and sufferings in union with Jesus, for all in need of His Mercy.
Jesus, we trust in You.
St. Louis De Montfort urges us in the first 12 days on our 33 day journey to rid ourselves of “the spirit of the world”. I listened again to St. John’s First Letter: "…all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world… When we look around us, most of us can “see” how “the spirit of the world” values sensual lusts. The advertisements for food, clothes, and entertainment entice the eyes to want those things. Men, women and even children become more and more hungry for pleasure. Many will seek things even when they cannot afford them. Some will even “pretend” they have them and act as if they are “richer” than they are. I wonder, how many have heard the Truth of Jesus, to know what is opposed to Him? Have we as Church been Christ’s Light for them?
It seems to me humankind in every generation is repeating the first sin – the original sin of Adam and Eve who disobeyed. They did not listen to God’s Word carefully enough to be able to discern the lie of satan. God had told them what they could and could not do, but they began to “lust” after what satan offered. The forbidden fruit “looked good” and satan told them they would be like God. How sad that our first parents lost their first love of God! How many in the Church today have not passed on the Truth God gave to us? How important these verses from John’s First Letter:
St. Louis de Montfort was a holy priest who lived the Truth he heard in the Scripture. He was willing to do without the “things of this world” because He loved God. He preached God’s Truth tirelessly and sought to give the example of one who loved God with all his heart and mind and soul and strength. He urges us to do the same, by seeking to follow Jesus, our Way, our Truth and our Life. To follow Jesus, is not an “easy” or a “comfortable” life – Jesus told us this in His Gospel:
If we are to “rid ourselves of the spirit of the world”, it seems to me, we need to be willing to accept the “cost” of discipleship. Are we willing to suffer in this world? The “spirit of the world” does not want to suffer anything. It refuses to acknowledge sin and the consequences of sin. It seeks its happiness without any reference to God. It opposes God. Jesus, knew what sin is and what terrible consequences the original sin caused for all of us. He was willing to suffer all that we suffer and accept the pain caused by sin even though He was Himself sinless. Mary our Mother also without sin was willing to stand beneath the cross of Jesus and suffer with Him.
Come Holy Spirit, kindle in us the Fire of Your Love. Cleanse our hearts that we may love You more than ourselves. Bring us more and more into the complete Truth of Jesus, through Mary our Mother, that we may not believe the lies of satan, or be tempted to love anything more than God.
Mary, Mother and Model for the Church intercede for us, that we may learn from you to offer ourselves with Jesus to our Father, in all we do. Pray that we may look to you and Jesus on Calvary and offer our prayers, works, joys, and sufferings in union with Jesus, for all in need of His Mercy.
Jesus, we trust in You.