Our only desire and our one choice should be this: I want and I choose what better leads to God's deepening life in me." St. Ignatius Loyola
We either choose God or we choose what is not of God. We either move towards the light of his grace or we move deeper into the darkness of alienation. Either we walk on the narrow road through the narrow gate which leads to eternal life or we join the many on the wide road, leading to destruction. All is a choice. The question is will we make the right choice or the wrong one. Like Adam and Eve there will always be a Tree of life in our journey. Will we admire it and care for it or will we grab its fruit for our selfish use. Or to put it differently, will we choose to unite our will to God's or will we choose contrary to God. Life is a choice. God gives us the life. It is our choice how we will live it.
"The sign of the cross is the most terrible weapon against the devil. Thus the Church wishes not only that we have it continually in front of our minds to recall to us just what our souls are worth and what they cost Jesus Christ, but also that we should make it at every juncture ourselves: when we go to bed, when we awaken during the night," when we get up, when we begin any action, and, above all, when we are tempted.
John Vianney
Thu, Aug 6 at 9:48 AM
How often do we think of the sign of the cross as a shield against the attacks of the devil? How often do we consciously sign ourselves as sign of our gratitude to Jesus for the gift of salvation? The cross is not a good luck charm or an ornament to wear. It is a source of power and strength that needs to be tapped. Making the sign of the cross at different times during the day will keep our attention on the gift we have received and the gift awaiting us. When we were baptized, when we are forgiven, when we were confirmed, when a couple is married, when a priest is ordained, when the Anointing of the Sick is administered. the sign of the cross is traced.. It is the seal that identifies us as children of God.
"You either belong wholly to the world or wholly to God." St. John Vianny
This saying is in line with what Jesus said. "You cannot serve God and Mammon." Some people try to straddle the fence. There is no straddling allowed by God. We are either wholeheartedly in the Kingdom of God or we are not. God does not cater to the lukewarm. At one point in his life, St. Augustine was in that state. He told the Lord, "I want to be holy, but not today." While God may in his mercy give us time to repent and turn totally to him, this does not mean he is satisfied with us in our lack of choice. It is presumptuous for us to believe that we have time to make the choice.
"He who goes about to reform the world must begin with himself, or he loses his labor." St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Jesus puts it another way. "Remove the beam in your own eye before removing the speck in others.? It is easier for us to focus on the faults of others and fail to see our own faults. It is the blind leading the blind. There is more than enough garbage in our own hearts that needs to be dealt with before, in love, we reach out to another. What does God see in us that is not pleasing to him? If you love God and want to be one with him eternally, deal with that which separates you from him. Then when you reach out to another, you will do so in humility and love rather than judgment and condemnation.
"Begin nothing on earth unless it has its end in heaven; do not walk on a path that does not lead to heaven." St. Sharbel
Like the Saints we are called not to lose our way once we have been baptized. Whatever does not lead ultimately to heaven is not work our time or effort. Even the mundane aspects of our life have a purpose in the eternal plan of God. There are many exits on our road to God, none of which leads to God but away from him. We should not be fooled by signs that say a shortcut or detours. The Lord goes before us, even though we don't see him. He is the only guide we need on this journey. Though we may stumble many times on the road, like the marathon runner we need to get up and keep moving forward. We don't have to be first to cross the finish line. We just need to cross the line.
"O man, why do you think so little of yourself when God thinks so highly of you?" St. Peter Chrysologus
How often we have such a negative view of ourselves because of our sinfulness and past failures, or because of what others say about us and how they treat us.! Yet, this is not who we are. To see ourselves as we really are, we need to see ourselves in the eyes of God. How does God truly see us. He sees us with the eyes of love as his beloved sons and daughters. As Jesus said: "You are worth more than many sparrows, whom God provides for." We have been chosen in Christ Jesus to be holy, blameless in his sight, full of love to share in his glory forever. When sin disfigured us, then he became Man out of love and gave his life as the price of our ransom. He baptized us, adopted us, sanctified us, anointed and empowered us--all out of unconditional love. Does that sound like we are someone special in God's eyes? Reject the lies. Learn to believe, accept and live in this reality of who you really are.
"What you think you possess in this world is what possesses you in reality." St. Sharbel
Jesus put it another way. "Where your heart is there is your treasure." If our focus is on material possessions, then we are possessed by them in reality. But if God is our possession, then God possess us in reality. What is really at the center of our heart? What is most precious to us, there is our treasure. If we want to be with God eternally, then we have to learn to be with him in this moment of life. Maybe we need to re-evaluate our heart's desires and priorities to find out what is really in control of our life. If it is not God, then while there is time, clean out the closets of our heart of the darkness and let the light of God fill us with his love.
