Day 7 - Feb. 27 - "a heart that sees"

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We are over half-way through these 12 preliminary days of our 33 Day journey, praying to “rid ourselves of the spirit of the world”. Today in reading Pope Francis’ Address to a conference on “Deus Caritas ESt” (God is Love) the First Encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI, I was touched by the phrase “a heart that sees”. In his Address, Pope Francis said:

… The Encyclical reads: “Jesus’ programme is ‘a heart which sees’. This heart sees where love is needed and acts accordingly” (no. 31). Charity and mercy are in this way closely related, because they are God’s way of being and acting: his identity and his name.

The first aspect which the Encyclical recalls for us is the face of God: who is the God we can encounter in Christ? How faithful and unsurpassable is his love? “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15:13). All our expressions of love, of solidarity, of sharing are but a reflection of that love which is God. He, without ever tiring, pours out his love on us, and we are called to become witnesses to this love in the world…(Pope Francis’ Full Address is HEREutm_source=ZENIT+English&utm_campaign=ae8270c380-English_Daily_Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9d61d53235-ae8270c380-41856565))

Mary was the first to look on the Face of God encountered in Jesus Christ. She was the first to perfectly reflect His love by her simple human expressions of love in all she did and said. As Mary did on this earth, so are we called to do : “become witnesses to this love in the world.” We do not rid ourselves of the spirit of the world by continuing to love the world and the things of the world to the distain of God, but rather we are called to love God with our whole hearts, and minds and souls and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are called to love as Jesus loves if we truly desire to follow Him as Mary did on this earth. Jesus tells us:

This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. (John 15:12)

By God’s Grace and our Mother’s intercession, let us continue our journey, uniting our hearts with the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Let us learn the complete Truth of Jesus, Meek and Humble of Heart as Mary learned through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us keep all that Jesus said and did in our hearts, Let us ponder prayerfully in order to see with a pure heart, “God’s way of being and acting”. By God’s Grace, can rid ourselves of the Spirit of the world, more and more and be filled with His Spirit, obeying Jesus Who said “Remain in Me” (Jn 15:4)

 

[Tablefor9]

Amen. Lord, help me love as you love.

 

[MariaChristi]

Amen. Lord, help me love as you love.

Dear Tablefor9,

Thanks for your reply and for your desire to love as our Lord loves. As one grows in Him, we all grow stronger in the Body of Christ, through Mary our Mother. By God’s Grace, may we keep the eyes of our hearts on our Mother who radiates the Face of God.

Mary, Mother of Mercy, pray for us.
Jesus we trust in You!