God did not come to earth to make bad people good, He came to make dead people live.
We are living in a culture of death. The people of this world are believing and clinging to the lies that the devil is preaching, absorbing every word as if it is truth. One thing I'm not quite sure we understand about satan is that he is the master of mockery. Satan thrives on mocking all things good. He senses our weaknesses, any and all weaknesses that we may have, hones in on them and hits us where we are most vulnerable. It is so easy to give into temptation, to believe the lies that he tells and to just give up because it is easier that way. We (at least I) sometimes think that we will just live in this zone of comfort; even if that comfort is dragging us towards the devil.
This is from Dominum et Vivificantem, Pope John Paul II's encyclical on the Holy Spirit:
The analysis of sin in its original dimension indicates that, through the influence of the "father of lies," throughout the history of humanity there will be a constant pressure on man to reject God, even to the point of hating him: "Love of self to the point of contempt for God," as St. Augustine puts it.143 Man will be inclined to see in God primarily a limitation of himself, and not the source of his own freedom and the fullness of good. We see this confirmed in the modern age, when the atheistic ideologies seek to root out religion on the grounds that religion causes the radical "alienation" of man, as if man were dispossessed of his own humanity when, accepting the idea of God, he attributes to God what belongs to man, and exclusively to man!
this is perfectly explained. The Devil wants us to believe that God is holding out on us. We cannot be tricked into thinking the Devil wants anything less than our complete and total destruction, he plays hardball: but so does God. GOD DOES NOT HOLD OUT ON HIS CHILDREN. God gives over abundantly. When we give God our whole selves, He returns that gift with more gifts. We do not have to fear the Lord. In the Lord we are truly free to love.
This is from Hebrews...
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us 2 while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God 3 Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood. 5 You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons: “My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him …. 11 at the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.
This seriously blows my mind. Every verse is so powerful. LET US RID OURSELVES OF EVERY BURDEN AND SIN THAT CLINGS TO US AND PERSEVERE in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus... We are being called to rid ourselves of sin and burden. all of them, we should not hold onto anxiety, fear, confusion, sadness, and most especially despair. The Divine Mercy of Jesus is never ending. In seeking this Mercy, he will shower you with grace upon grace upon grace...
Verse 4: In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood. Imagine the agony in the garden... the pain and loneliness that our Lord went through, being completely human (and fully divine). He resisted his temptation to give up, to the point of sweating blood for us. To the point of being scourged, mocked, beaten.
Verse 11: at the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it. Our culture is also one that thinks that comfort = happiness. If you have all the luxuries in the world you will be happy. That is a lie. Discipline and Sacrifice are what we are called to as sons and daughters of the Most High King who is the exemplar of sacrifice. Sometimes God is calling us to sacrifice. Sometimes we need to do something that God is asking of us that seems to hurt us now, and we DO THAT, because we LOVE HIM. Sure it hurts, yes its tough to give up something that makes you feel good, but maybe, just MAYBE the creator of the universe has a better idea of what you need than you do. We ask God, where were you when I was suffering? When I went through trauma and tragedy and my whole world was falling apart? He was on the cross, calling out Your name for you to come back to Him. He was there through all of your suffering, he knows everything you went through and he was there with you through everything, waiting to embrace you like only the true lover of your soul can. And God will bless that sacrifice and suffering united to His passion. We sacrifice for those we love, we are supposed to love all our brothers and sisters in Christ, so it logically follows that we should sacrifice for all.
We are not in this alone. Brothers and sisters we need to look at what God has left for us, what is before us now. Jesus left us with the Sacraments. The Eucharist, Christ's very own body and blood to sanctify us and draw us ever nearer to him. The sacrament of Confession, where our Lord eagerly waits to wrap us in His love. We have Mary the most holy mother of God. Mary who contained within her the bread of life, she was the first tabernacle. Luke 1:42 ...most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Luke 1:28 … Hail, favored one! The lord is with you! The Lord has proclaimed Mary's glory to us."Am I not here with you? I who am your mother?" - Mary calls out to us to draw nearer to her Son. She is here with us to guide us when we need help. The whole communion of saints is here with us... who better to pray for you than our fellow Christians in Heaven, who could be closer to God?? (thanks fr. mike). Make use of the blessings and gifts God has given to you.
The Ruah Elohim, the breath of God, the Lord the giver of life, the Holy Spirit.
From Dominum et Vivificantem: It is precisely this Spirit of truth whom Jesus calls the Paraclete-and parakletos means "counselor," and also "intercessor," or "advocate." And he says that the Paraclete is "another" Counselor, the second one, since he, Jesus himself, is the first Counselor, being the first bearer and giver of the Good News. The Holy Spirit comes after him and because of him, in order to continue in the world, through the Church, the work of the Good News of salvation.
We need to rely and trust in the Trinity. We need to rely on the Holy Spirit to wash over us, to bestow gifts upon us. This isn't selfish to ask for, to want to receive, God wants to bestow gifts on us, to honor us, to help His children see himself. Gifts help us to know the Giver, and and the closer we get to the Giver, the more gifts we receive. Jesus longs to bless us, and that is hard for me to wrap my mind around because the world is not a place that seems to want to do good to people. But God is not of this world, but His people on earth are His alone. He is a jealous God who has redeemed His people, and he does not want us to be sold out to lies. Seek the graces from the Holy Spirit: WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, COUNSEL, FORTITUDE, KNOWLEDGE, PIETY, AND FEAR OF THE LORD.
It isnt easy to do, but we need to say “Jesus I trust in you. I trust in the plan you have for my life. I trust that you, my creator, redeemer, and breath of life, know what is best for me. I trust in you."
Stop running from the One who can heal you, who can help you and bring you to everlasting life. Quit trying to fill the pain you carry inside you with passing pleasures and empty lies. In full abandon to God we will be truly set free from the chains of the world. All of our despair will be turned to an everlasting peace we never could have imagined.
True abandon is my prayer for all of you, and I hope you will keep praying for me.
St. Faustina, Pray for us!!
Kelsey
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