"Do not worry..." Lk 12: 22-30

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today I realized, there are 61 rather than 60 “utterances” of Jesus, which St. Louis de Montfort listed in Chapter 12 of “The Love of Eternal Wisdom”. I discovered this because the #61 contains all 8 Beatitudes. God willing, I’ll post # 61 tomorrow, with his concluding paragraphs for Chap. 12. Today, we begin with Jesus’ words which we often find difficult to obey. I’ve put in bold print also , some other of Jesus’ “utterances”, which are not easy for most of us either:

1. Do not worry over what you are to eat or how you are to clothe your body; your heavenly Father is well aware of all your needs. Lk. 12:22,30.
2. All that is hidden will be made known and all that is covered up will be revealed. Lk. 8:17.
3. Anyone who aspires to be the greatest among you must become the servant of all, and anyone who wishes to be the first must serve as if he were the last. Mt. 20:26,27.
4. How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of heaven. Mk. 10:23.
5. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Lk. 18:25.
6. And I say to you, love your enemies; do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who persecute and calumniate you. Mt. 5:44.
7. Alas for you who are rich; you have your consolation in this world. Lk. 6:24.
8. Enter by the narrow gate, for the road that leads to perdition is broad and spacious and many pass along that way. But the gate and the road that lead to eternal life are narrow and only a few find them. Mt. 7:13,14.
9. The last will be first and the first will be last; for many are called but few are chosen. Mt. 20:16.
10. If anyone strikes you on the right cheek turn to him the other, and if anyone takes you to court to claim your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. Mt. 5:39,40.
11. You must always pray and never become discouraged. Lk. 18:1. Keep watch and pray, lest you fall into temptation. Mt. 26:41.
12. Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and everyone who humbles himself will be exalted. Lk. 14:11.
13. Give alms and everything will be clean for you. Lk. 11:41.
14. If your hand or your foot become a cause of sin for you, cut it off and cast it from you. If your eye is a cause of sin for you, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better that you enter heaven with only one hand or foot or one eye than to enter hell with two hands, two feet, and two eyes. Mt. 18:8,9.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful. Kindle in us the Fire of Your Love, that we may hear and by God’s Grace, obey the words of Jesus – as Mary, and Joseph and all the Saints have done in their time on this earth.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Beryllos and Greenfields,

Thank you both for your “hearts”-- it is an encouragement to know others are reading and appreciating the Words of Jesus, which St. Louis de Montfort points out in Chap. 12 of his book “The Love of Eternal Wisdom”. As I mentioned before, this is possibly the third (at least) time I’ve read this little book and it has meant so much more to me in the re-reading of it.

It is a similar experience in the re-reading of Scriptures that we may have read many times before, and yet at a given moment those same words can take on a far deeper meaning by God’s Grace. How important it is then – not only to LISTEN to all that Jesus said and did (as Our Mother Mary did) but to do this OFTEN!!! We need to ponder as Mary did so that we do not forget:

"…Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in Him, “If you remain in My Word, you will truly be My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Jn 8: 31-32)