M
MariaChristi
Guest
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Trusting God as we journey toward renewing or consecrating ourselves totally for the first time, we begin again to ponder and do the Truth we hear from Him through Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium of the Church. St. Louis de Montfort, as I’ve said before seems to echo so often what Jesus says in the Scripture.
When listening to Jesus in the Gospel yesterday, telling us to “Seek first the kingdom of God…” and also warning us that we cannot serve two masters, I was so conscious of St. Louis’ words about these preliminary 12 days of “emptying” ourselves of the spirit of the world which is opposed to the Spirit of Jesus." Today’s Gospel speaks of the rich young man in MK 10:17-27.
The rich young man had kept the commandments from his youth but when Jesus told him he lacked one thing, and to sell all he had, give it to the poor and then follow Him, the young man went away sad for He had many possessions. God created us to be eternally happy, and Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount begins with the Beatitudes which can make us happy but… how many are sad in this world – who like the young man in today’s gospel are unwilling to give all to follow Christ? What about ourselves?
Is there something in our hearts that comes before the Kingdom of God? Is there even one thing we are unwilling to surrender in order to give ourselves to Jesus? These 12 days may not be enough time to discover all that may be holding us back, but if we can at least give time to ask for the Grace to see ourselves as God sees us, that is a great grace with which to begin.
God has told us “Be Holy, for I am Holy” ( Lev. 11:44; 1 Peter 1:16) and He says that because all things are possible with Him. Without Him we can do nothing (cf Jn 15:5), but if we ask, we will receive; if we seek we will find; if we knock, the door will be opened (cf Mt. 7:7-11). God gives us one day at a time, and our lives are an ongoing conversion. By His Grace, we continue to learn how to choose Him first, trusting Him to give us all that we need.
Trusting God as we journey toward renewing or consecrating ourselves totally for the first time, we begin again to ponder and do the Truth we hear from Him through Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium of the Church. St. Louis de Montfort, as I’ve said before seems to echo so often what Jesus says in the Scripture.
When listening to Jesus in the Gospel yesterday, telling us to “Seek first the kingdom of God…” and also warning us that we cannot serve two masters, I was so conscious of St. Louis’ words about these preliminary 12 days of “emptying” ourselves of the spirit of the world which is opposed to the Spirit of Jesus." Today’s Gospel speaks of the rich young man in MK 10:17-27.
The rich young man had kept the commandments from his youth but when Jesus told him he lacked one thing, and to sell all he had, give it to the poor and then follow Him, the young man went away sad for He had many possessions. God created us to be eternally happy, and Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount begins with the Beatitudes which can make us happy but… how many are sad in this world – who like the young man in today’s gospel are unwilling to give all to follow Christ? What about ourselves?
Is there something in our hearts that comes before the Kingdom of God? Is there even one thing we are unwilling to surrender in order to give ourselves to Jesus? These 12 days may not be enough time to discover all that may be holding us back, but if we can at least give time to ask for the Grace to see ourselves as God sees us, that is a great grace with which to begin.
God has told us “Be Holy, for I am Holy” ( Lev. 11:44; 1 Peter 1:16) and He says that because all things are possible with Him. Without Him we can do nothing (cf Jn 15:5), but if we ask, we will receive; if we seek we will find; if we knock, the door will be opened (cf Mt. 7:7-11). God gives us one day at a time, and our lives are an ongoing conversion. By His Grace, we continue to learn how to choose Him first, trusting Him to give us all that we need.