May 7 Wed - Should I work or pray?

 

May 7 Wed
Should I work or pray?
You must be holy while working. Work cannot be sanctified without piety.
Working hard and well is only one condition. It is certainly the first, indispensable step to sanctify ourselves. The Lord tells us: “You shall not offer anything that has a blemish." But at the same time, he reminds us: “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? ... Bring no more vain offerings ... Learn to do good, seek justice."

The Lord is not interested in external acts if the right inner dispositions do not accompany them. “Thus, we will sanctify our work if we are holy, if we are truly striving to be holy. Our mission is divine, and we can only carry it out in union with God: Apart from me, you can do nothing."

“If you did not have interior life while doing your work, instead of "divinizing" it, you too could lose your strength, light, and fire. I don't want any work or apostolic projects unless my children improve in it. I measure the value and effectiveness of undertakings by the degree of holiness achieved by the instruments that carry them out."

“With the same insistence with which I previously invited you to work, and work well, without fear of tiredness, I now invite you to have interior life. I will never tire of repeating it: your Norms of piety, your prayer, come first. Without ascetical struggle, our life would be worth nothing; we would be ineffective, sheep without a shepherd, the blind leading the blind. ..."

Thus, we must have unity of life: neither piety without work, nor work without piety.
“We do not lead a double life, but a unity of life, which is simple and strong and in which all our actions are united."

“When we respond generously to this spirit, we acquire a second nature. Without realizing it, we are thinking of our Lord all day long, and we feel an impulse to put God into everything, for without him, nothing would have any attraction. The time then comes when we can't tell where prayer ends and where work begins; for our work is also prayer, contemplation, a true life of mystical union with God without any oddities. This is ‘good divinization’."

“For us, professional work, human friendship, and social relations, our effort to achieve the common good and the progress of society hand in hand with our fellow citizens, are all natural results and consequences of that life-giving energy which is Christ present in our souls. They are Christ's work, Opus Dei, operatio Dei."

“Work and piety are intimately united as two aspects of one and the same reality. This is the only way for us to become saints. Without work, interior life cannot be sustained, and if we lacked piety or were not continually attentive to our Lord, neither talent nor knowledge, no effort whatsoever, would suffice, for our Lord would leave us. Then we would go wrong, even in the most trivial things." Without piety, our work would not even yield fruit on the human level.

May 6 Tue - Can I reach heaven without sharing Jesus’ Cross?

 

May 6 Tue
Can I reach heaven without sharing Jesus’ Cross?
The Church continues to sing of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and she invites us to be filled with confidence. “Because we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also come to life with him."

However, our Lord's ascension, his departure, is now imminent. “I came from the Father, and have come into the world. Again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father". The time has come to think about Jesus' final recommendation to his disciples when He left them. “Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name. Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."

We need to pray, lifting our hearts up to God. He is watching us from heaven. We should ask him for everything we need. The Lord is infinite wisdom; He knows exactly what we require to become saints and apostles.

Still, prayer must be followed by mortification. As always,  the Christian finds Christ’s Cross along the way. Without personal sacrifice, there will be no fruit. “The Cross is present in everything, and it comes when one least expects it. But don't forget that normally, the Cross comes when you start to be effective.”

While embracing His Cross, we must allow Jesus to transform us, to raise us up to the level of divine life. Then, we shall have a divine way of thinking: our Faith; and a divine way of loving: our Charity.

“Far from discouraging us, the difficulties we meet must spur us on to mature as Christians. This fight sanctifies us and gives effectiveness to everything we do ... We must be convinced that to imitate Christ, and be good disciples of his, we must take his advice to heart: If any man has a mind to come my way, let him renounce self, and take up his cross, and follow me. That is why I like to ask Jesus, for myself: Lord, no day without a Cross! Then, through God's grace, our characters will grow strong, and we will become a point of support for our God, over and above our wretchedness.

“Take a nail, for instance. If you meet no resistance when you hammer it into a wall, what can you expect to hang on it? Likewise, if we do not let God toughen us through sacrifice, we will never become our Lord's instruments. On the other hand, if we decide to accept difficulties gladly and make use of them for the love of God, then in the face of what is difficult and unpleasant, when things are hard and uncomfortable, we will be able to exclaim with the Apostles James and John: Possumus! Yes, we can!” St Josemaría

To achieve the reward in heaven, we need to embrace Christ’s Cross and use all the human means available, regardless of the cost. There is no possible comparison between the effort required of us, limited and only for a certain number of years, and the infinite reward that is forever. With a supernatural outlook, with serenity and peace. That is the way to see things, people and events -from the viewpoint of eternity.

And then, whatever barrier blocks your way -even if it is, humanly speaking, enormous - when you really raise your eyes to heaven, how tiny it becomes! We must not be afraid of the difficulties that crop up. The thought of glory should move us to greater self-giving, to steer clear of anything that could draw us away from our path to heaven.

May 5 Mon - What is the purpose of my life?

 

May 5 Mon
What is the purpose of my life?
God's glory should be the sole purpose of created beings.

In the Book of Revelation, St John reveals the glory which is given to God in heaven: I looked and behold, a great multitude … standing before the throne and before the Lamb, … crying out with a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb!"

Glory belongs to God alone because He is the Lord of all things. Everything is his, and all things should proclaim the glory of their Creator, who conserves them and takes care of them in his Providence. The whole of creation is united in this praise, which is the true purpose of its existence.

Through Christian doctrine, we know “that our Lord is the beginning, the end, and the center of all creation. And on being made man and coming to live among us, He has shown us that we are not on this earth to seek a passing, temporal happiness. We are here to reach eternal happiness, following in his footsteps. And we will only attain this by learning from him."

The only purpose of created beings, man included, is to give glory to God. We were born to give him glory. “If life did not have as its aim to give glory to God, it would be detestable - even more, loathsome."

Our life should be one of continuous praise, ceaselessly giving glory to God. How can we achieve this? By always attributing to the Lord every good thing He has placed in us.

Whatever is lovable in us belongs to God. Convinced of this reality, “we must not work for our own glory, but to disappear from view; and with our sacrifice, we shall put Christ at the summit of all human activities."

“Our motto should be that of John the Baptist: It is right that Christ grow in me, and that I become smaller."

“We have already seen Jesus' example. Let us return to it once more by reading a marvelous text from St Paul, which I have already quoted to you on another occasion: We ought not to please ourselves ... For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, ‘the reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.’"

As well as our Lord's example, we also have another very useful remedy to overcome our tendency towards self-complacency. “Do you want to free yourself from vainglory and people's praise? St John Damascene asks. Do not show your deeds to men. Work quietly so that no one sees you but God alone."

St. Josemaría told us: “Give all the glory to God. With your will aided by grace, ‘squeeze’ out each one of your actions, so that nothing remains in them that smacks of human pride, of self-complacency."

“I have insisted on the need to put aside all earthly ambitions and to be filled with a continuous concern to serve. We are convinced that nothing is worthwhile, that nothing is of any importance, and that nothing is of any consequence, when compared to that sublime mission of serving Christ our Lord. Because we have learned to shun human applause and any show of vanity, our desire to preserve the treasure of humility must be ever more attentive and careful."

May 4 Sun - Should everyone be an apostle?

 

May 4 Sun
Should everyone be an apostle?
As an eyewitness, St. John recounts this amazing encounter of Peter and five other disciples with the risen Christ. Peter decides to go fishing, and the others follow. They fish all night but catch nothing.
Then at dawn, the Lord gives them something to eat: fish and bread He cooked for them on a charcoal fire.

Our Lord’s concern is so homely. He wants to make sure they are fed. Then he turns to something very serious and deep: Peter’s love, his vocation of service to lead Christ’s Church, and his future martyrdom.

One of the reasons we say that the Church is Apostolic—that is, founded on the apostles—is that the Apostles were the witnesses chosen and sent on mission by Christ himself. Likewise, every Christian must be a witness of Christ, an apostle.

What God has done for us, we must do for others. And out of love, we want to.
However, we should not consider anything we do as done on our own, but rather begun and made possible only by grace; at the same time, God is counting on us for our efforts.

It is both an honor and a great responsibility to have been chosen by God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ. “A Christian knows that he is grafted onto Christ through Baptism. He is empowered to fight for Christ through Confirmation, called to act in the world, sharing the royal, prophetic, and priestly role of Christ. He has become one and the same thing with Christ through the Eucharist, the sacrament of unity and love. And so, like Christ, he has to live for others, loving each one around him and indeed all humanity."

We have to give testimony to the whole world of everything that God the Father has made us know and love through Jesus Christ. “Ut eatis! (Go forth!), St. Josemaría said, I am very happy that you are spread all over the world. This is how it should be… I would like to have you beside me always, materially very close to me. But at the same time, I love to see how you are spread out, sowing with love, with hunger for the harvest... What a beautiful wheat field, my children! What a blessing from God!"

“Forward! Each of you must be secure in your Christian vocation, without admitting a shadow of doubt!... Ut eatis! So, we will go... everywhere in the world, to all the points of the compass. And there, completely immersed in our part of the world and in all human activities, we will become salt and light; light to enlighten minds and hearts, salt to give flavor and preserve from corruption. If we lacked apostolic zeal, we would become insipid, useless; we would be cheating others, and our life wouldn't make sense."

St John Chrysostom said, “If others become insipid, you can restore their flavor; but if you become insipid, you will drag down the others as well. So, the more responsibility you have, the more fervor and zeal you need."

Every Christian should make Christ present among men. He ought to act in such a way that those who know him sense the bonus odor Christi, the fragrance of Christ. People should be able to recognize the Master in his disciples.

We must do apostolate, whatever our age, and in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. “Father, what about when I turn eighty? Just the same: in your family life, with your colleagues, with your friends..." We must enkindle the light and warmth of genuine Christian life in everybody: we cannot let any soul who comes close to us be lost.

May 3 Sat - What is to be wise?

 

May 3 Sat
What is to be wise?
The Holy Scripture speaks of wisdom frequently. To begin with, God is Wisdom and Might. His is counsel and prudence. Thus, all God’s works are ordained perfectly. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, the concern to avoid offending Him.

There is no doubt about Solomon's extraordinary wisdom, the fame of which extended to the countries neighboring Israel. As the book of Kings puts it: "God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and eagerness of mind like the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east, and all the wisdom of Egypt" (1 Kings 4:29-30).

From these writings, we can say that the wise man is above all a man of faith, a prudent man, interested in the cultural and religious development of his people; a genuine teacher, whose mission is one of counseling and is different from that of a priest or a prophet. The book of Jeremiah contains this reference: "The law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet" (Jer 18:18).

These, among others, are features that distinguish the wise man of Israel:

a) He is a man of faith, deeply religious, who nourishes his spirit by reading and meditating on the Law of Yahweh. From that Law, he draws moral principles which he then applies by giving his advice in the form of maxims and proverbs.

b) He is also a realist: he understands the problems of the time he lives in. He studies what is happening and shows how events and behavior fit in with the moral precepts of the Covenant.

c) He does not lay down the law: rather, he proposes counsels and teachings in a gentle way, suggesting the right line of action. He respects the freedom of his listeners and tries, by simple but effective reasoning, to build up their convictions.

d) He clearly shows the need for consistency between faith and living, because he is conscious that true wisdom should lead a person to obey God in everything, in high spiritual matters and also in the prosaic activities of everyday life.

The book of Job is included among the wisdom writings precisely because it teaches man that pain and suffering are a mystery of divine wisdom. According to the sacred writer, the truly wise man should realize that "the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil, that is understanding" (28:28).

In a Christian, wisdom is manifested in the knowledge of the Will of God, and the means to accomplish it. The humble people acquire wisdom. Yet frequently, wisdom looks foolishness in the eyes of the world. God’s Wisdom is revealed above all in the mystery of the Cross, which every Christian must reproduce in his own life.

“Christ invites us to go regularly to the professorial chair of the cross, to fill ourselves with a new wisdom... A light of extraordinary clarity passes from the cross of Christ to the intelligence of men. The wisdom of God is given to us and the highest meaning of our existence is manifested to us, since the One who hangs on this tree is "the true Light which, coming into this world, enlightens every man" (Jn 1:9). And our will receives from the cross new joy and strength, which allow us to walk living according to the truth in charity" (Eph 4:15). St. John Paul II.

May 2 Fri - Why did Jesus say that He would attract everyone?

 

May 2 Fri
Why did Jesus say that He would attract everyone?
From the Cross, Jesus Christ attracts the gaze of all; he is the center of the faith and the meaning of life.

God has laid his hands on the bread, on pain, and on the apostles: with their participation in the Priesthood of Jesus Christ, they will be able to spread the Good News throughout the world.

"And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to me." Hostile glances then, loving glances from his Mother Mary and some women, and glances from a few men prove the fulfillment of his words. From then on, men and women will understand the meaning of pain, of Redemption, of God's Love. And the hearts of the disciples united to the Cross will bring everything back to God.

Man cannot live without love. Man remains for himself an incomprehensible being, his life is devoid of meaning if love is not revealed to him, if he does not encounter love, if he does not experience it and make it his own, if he does not participate in it vividly. For this reason, Christ the Redeemer (...) fully reveals man to man himself. This profound surprise regarding the value and dignity of man is called the Gospel, that is, the Good News. It is also called Christianity." John Paul II.

The origin of evil is in man; evil does not originate in God but in the freedom of men, created in the image of God, hence they can choose to do good or to do evil, in rebellion against Him, as happened at the beginning of human history.

Yahweh is unique and good; He has definitely bet on man. We are not the playthings of mythical and capricious gods engaged in their wars, who come and go, causing tragedies among humans as if they were puppets, as developed especially in Greek and Roman mythology.

We know that God did not ignore the good creation or the sin of mankind, but that He promised, with mercy, a radical liberation while respecting the freedom of mankind. This explanation, which may not convince many, it is quite coherent and explanatory of history with its lights and shadows. That is why millions of men and women believe in Jesus Christ as Savior of the world.

The living and true God judges each one according to his works. God is not an anonymous force, nor a rational principle, nor a myth invented by men. He acts in history, is provident, and always seeks the good of men.

God intervenes in history: Christian faith in Jesus Christ is implicit in the psalms, they are the prologue of the imposing history of hope that God offers to the freedom of all men.


In the heart of every person nestles hope as a desire and expectation of goodness, even if no one knows what tomorrow will bring. However, the unpredictability of the future often gives rise to conflicting feelings: from confidence to fear, from serenity to discouragement, from certainty to doubt. We often meet people who are discouraged, who look to the future with skepticism and pessimism, as if nothing could offer them happiness. May the Jubilee be for everyone an occasion to rekindle our hope. The Word of God helps us to find the reasons for it.

There is hope with Mary. Let us allow ourselves to be guided by her toward Christ.

Excerpts from Jesús Ortiz López

May 1 Thu - Why did God choose Saint Joseph, a worker?

 

May 1 Thu
Why did God choose Saint Joseph, a worker?
Saint Joseph was a good worker. With admirable simplicity, an ancient document from the early Christian era shows that Christians need to work. “If anyone wishes to live amongst you, let him have a job; let him work and thus feed himself. And if he has no job, make provision for him with prudence so that no lazy Christian is in your midst. If he does not want to act in this way, he is a trafficker in Christ. Be on your guard against such people."

A Christian should not be content with keeping himself busy all day long with different activities. He must sanctify everything he does. “If we want to live this way, sanctifying our profession or job, we really must work well, with human and supernatural intensity." This means using our time well, dedicating whatever time may be necessary, and putting to the best use the tools which God has placed in our hands.

The life of Saint Joseph was not spent amongst miracles, but in hard and steady work. “Saint Joseph was not one for easy solutions and little miracles, but a man of perseverance, effort, and, when needed, ingenuity. The Christian knows that God works miracles, that He did them centuries ago, and that He continues doing them now, because 'the Lord's hand is not shortened'. But miracles are a sign of the saving power of God, not a cure for incompetence nor an easy way to dodge effort."

“The 'miracle' which God asks of you is to persevere in your Christian and divine vocation, sanctifying each day's work: the miracle of turning the prose of each day into heroic verse by the love you put into your ordinary work. God waits for you there. He expects you to be a responsible person, with the zeal of an apostle and the competence of a good worker."

Serious work goes united to prayer – Saint Joseph knew how to listen to God, and to talk to Him. He had Him, as a Man, right there, at home, in the workshop. This is prayer.

Prayer is the lifting up of the heart and mind to God. In every moment of our day, we must follow the path of love, desiring the good of the other. God is love and that is all He is.

“Every day we should set aside time especially for speaking with God, but without forgetting that our prayer must be constant, like the beating of our heart: aspirations, acts of love, acts of thanksgiving, acts of reparation, spiritual communions. When we walk along the street, when we close or open a door, when we see a church bell-tower in the distance, when we begin and end our tasks, and while we are carrying them out, we direct everything to God. We are obliged to make a continual prayer of our ordinary life, for we are contemplative souls along all the pathways of the world.” (Saint Josemaría)

Thank you, Father, for conferring on me the passion and courage with which I must fulfill your will. I humbly beseech You to increase my faith and my hope.
Lord, I ask that I may not reject your Love, that I may always be close to You as the little hatchlings to the hen. May my freedom be always to choose You.

When someone goes that way, the Blessed Trinity transforms the soul in which it dwells, imprinting signs of its presence on it, making it more and more like Itself.

Apr 30 Wed - What is the way to a full and happy life?

 

Apr 30 Wed
What is the way to a full and happy life?
Find your life's purpose through love, service, and faithfulness to God.

In the New Testament, the term "He chose us" appears as a definitive action carried out by God, for the benefit of the recipients of the election.

He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we might be holy and blameless before him for love. God chooses everyone for something, not just some privileged persons.
        
“Before the foundation of the world, " the election has a permanent, ethical, and spiritual purpose: "that we may be holy and blameless."

Vocation is a deeply Christian concept that invites us to discover God’s will for our lives. It is not just a call to pursue a career or profession, but a divine invitation to live according to a higher purpose that gives meaning to our existence. Every human being, regardless of their condition, has been created with a unique and special plan, and finding that vocation is part of the spiritual journey that leads us to holiness.

The Purpose of Vocation: Following Christ.
Vocation is not about being recognized or achieving worldly success, but responding to a call to live with purpose, love, and service. As Christians, we are called to follow Christ and live according to His example, and to participate in His redemptive work in the world.

We all have a vocation, a call to holiness. Each of us has a special mission to fulfill in the world, and it is through our vocation that we accomplish that mission fully. There is no small or great vocation; each has eternal value in the eyes of God.

Vocations are diverse; each has its path and is equally valuable in God’s eyes. Saint Augustine tells us: “A vocation is not in what you do, but in how you do it,” emphasizing that holiness does not depend on our occupation, but on the dedication with which we live that occupation.

For those who feel the call to the priesthood or consecrated life, the path is one of total dedication. Lay apostolic life is another manifestation of love and sacrifice for the Kingdom of God.

Marriage, like other vocations, is a divine calling. It is where love is made visible, where spouses support each other in their pursuit of holiness and forming a Christian family. It is a path of sanctification for spouses, a path traveled together with Christ.

Marriage and family are the primordial vocation of humanity, and the family is the first school of love. The call to marriage is not only an act of love between two people, but a sacred covenant with God to build a Christian family that will be a light in the world.

Discernment helps us tune into divine will and hear God’s call for each of us, not in an imposing way, but in profound inner peace.

On the journey to holiness, all vocations call us to live according to the Gospel. No matter your path, the important thing is that you live with love, generosity, and service to others. Love is not something we give when we have time or when we feel good. Love is given now. Each of us has a calling to live in love, and that is the very essence of every vocation.

Living our vocation is the path to a fulfilling life, full of peace, love, and purpose. Whatever your path, always remember that your vocation is a call to live in love, and it is through it that we find the true happiness and peace that only God can give.

May each of us discover and live our vocation with joy, confidence, and generosity, knowing that in service to God and others lies the path to holiness.

April 29 Tuesday _ Should I defend freedom?

 

April 29 Tuesday
Should I defend freedom?
Almighty God has created us free.
“We have learned with gratitude, because it makes us realize the happiness we are being called to, that all creatures have been created out of nothing by God and for God: both men, who are rational creatures, although we so often act unreasonably, and the irrational beings who roam the surface of the earth, or burrow in its inmost recesses, or sail the azure skies - some soaring so high that they come face to face with the sun. But in all this wonderful variety, it is only we men (I am not referring now to the angels) who can unite ourselves to the Creator by using our freedom. We are in a position to give him, or deny him, the glory that is his due as the Author of everything that exists."

“This possibility makes up the light and shade of human freedom. Our Lord invites us, urges us to choose the good, so tenderly does he love us! ‘See, today I set before you a choice between life and death, good and evil. If you pay heed to the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you this day, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, then you shall live... Choose life, that you may live.’ "

God's plans always take into account and respect our freedom. There is no love where there is coercion. But since our freedom is limited, it entails the possibility of rebelling against God, saying ‘No’ to his demands.

“Ask yourself now (I too am examining my conscience) whether you are holding firmly and unshakably to your choice of Life. When you hear the most lovable voice of God urging you on to holiness, do you freely answer ‘Yes’? Let us turn our gaze once more to Jesus, as he speaks to the people in the towns and countryside of Palestine. He doesn't want to force himself upon us. If you have a mind to be perfect..., he says to the rich young man. The young man refused to take the hint, and the Gospel goes on to say: he went away forlorn. That is why I have sometimes called him the ‘sad lad’. He lost his happiness, because he refused to hand over his freedom to God."

Loving and defending freedom is an essential characteristic of a Christian.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. “We should be great friends of freedom: in love with freedom, defenders of freedom, propagators of freedom. Of the freedom of everyone: first, the freedom of others; then our own. Of personal freedom. But - always! - of freedom with responsibility. They are two things that should always go together."

“The only freedom that can assail the faith is a misinterpreted freedom, an aimless freedom, one without objective principles, one that is lawless and irresponsible. In a word, licentiousness. Unfortunately, this is what some people are advocating, and their claim does indeed constitute a threat to the faith."

“The greatest expression of our freedom is to tell our Lord: put iron shackles on me, tie me to you, for all I want is to serve you and love you."

Apr 28 - Who is the right person to date?

 

Apr 28
Who is the right person to date?
There you have a list with several points to consider.

1. People don't change much. What you see is what you get.
If you fall in love with someone who talks a lot, she will talk more later.
The “I'll change her” later doesn't work.
You may like your partner to change, but you can't do anything to make her change. One can change only when one decides to change. But first, you have to tell her with affection what you expect.

2. Keep yourself open to dialogue.
You must be able to ask: “What about me that you don't like? How could I improve?”
If you have a boyfriend who asks you this, don't leave him; he's good.
But you don't have to throw him the cavalry. You also have defects.

3. You must not want to manipulate and change people.
You marry a person with his virtues and his defects. We all have virtues and defects. If you see and think that your boyfriend has no flaws, leave him, or try to discover his flaws, until you know him well.

4. About laziness.
Some don't make an effort for anything. If, when asked to do something, the answer is, “I can't,” or “I'm already trying, but I can't,” he is a bad candidate for courtship and marriage.

5. About drinking.
Likewise, a point to consider.

6. About pornography.
There are a lot of people hooked on porn. There is no ‘lite’ pornography; addicted people imagine that sex is what they see in pornography; this has affective and physiological consequences and leads the person to self-centeredness.

7. About gluttony.
An honorable person should know how to handle things well.

8. Courtship should make you a better person.
Falling in love should get the best out of yourself; to become the best friend, best student, best son, and best brother. If courtship separates you from others or makes you more unlikable, that infatuation is not good.
 
9. Listen to your parents.
They have good intentions, even if there are parents who objectively never find a good enough boyfriend, a good enough girlfriend for their child.

10. Listen to your friends.
If you have a friend who is doing badly, you have to tell him so. Yet the decision will be made by him. Because falling in love blinds us, and hormones make us see things differently. It's great to have someone warn you. Even if, at first, out of pride, you don't want to recognize it.
A courtship should not separate you from anyone. A good courtship should give you peace and bring you closer to all. It should make you a radiant person.

11. A good courtship should be based on respect for each other and delicacy in treatment.
Disrespect cannot be tolerated. A suitor who is physically violent with his girlfriend is not a good future partner.

12. Courtship should bring you closer to God.
If it separates you from God, you must be strong and decide.
And if you are not a believer, still, courtship should make you a better person. These are alerts that must be taken into account.

Apr 27 Sun - Lord, I am weak. Increase my faith!

 

Apr 27 Sun
Lord, I am weak. Increase my faith!
Ours is a God who doesn’t give up on us easily. This Sunday of Divine Mercy, among other things, shows us that Jesus is the Lord of do-overs.
Doubting Thomas’s quick turnabout serves as a lesson to anyone who dares to doubt or disbelieve in matters of faith. It says: the impossible is possible. The faithless can become faithful. Even the unbelieving can believe.

What do you think of this? Do you think that the absence of Thomas the disciple on the previous occasion was a mere chance? Was it by chance that when he came, he listened, and on listening he doubted, and through doubting he touched, and by touching he believed? No, this did not happen by chance, but was willed by Divine Providence. God's mercy worked admirably, so that, at the touch of that unbelieving disciple on the wounds of the Master, God would be able to heal the wounds of our unbelief. To some extent, Thomas' incredulity was more advantageous for our faith than the faith of the disciples who believed, because by his deciding to believe only by touching, our soul is affirmed in faith, and all our doubts are dispelled.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ, is a child of God. Indeed, faith helps us recognize that Christ is God; it shows us that he is our Savior; it brings us to identify ourselves with him and to act as he acted.

Without faith, there is no hope; still less charity, because no one can love what they do not know. Without faith, there is no true and profound humility, which is the foundation for all the other virtues. Without faith, life will be worldly and choked by the worries of the earth. Faith is so necessary that without it, it is impossible to please God.

“Humbly ask God to increase your faith. Then, with new lights, you will see clearly the difference between the world's paths and your way as an apostle.

“Let us take another look at the Master. You, too, may find yourself now hearing his gentle reproach to Thomas: ‘Let me have your finger: see, here are my hands. Let me have your hand; put it into my side. Cease your doubting, and believe’; and, with the Apostle, a sincere cry of contrition will rise from your soul: 'My Lord, and my God!' I acknowledge you once and for all as the Master. From now on, with your help, I shall always treasure your teachings and I shall strive to follow them loyally."

Illustration: The Incredulity of Saint Thomas, Caravaggio, c.1601

Apr 26 Sat - Should I be faithful constantly?

 

Apr 26 Sat
Should I be faithful constantly?
“When we were baptized in Christ Jesus, we were baptized in his death; in other words, when we were baptized, we went into the tomb with Him and joined Him in death, therefore, as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father’s glory, we too might live a new life.”

“I want to remind you of a comparison which I have used several times. Think of those great birds that have the gift of soaring high in majestic flight. They don't feel the weight of their wings, despite their enormous size and weight. If their wings were cut off, or if they could take them off themselves, the birds would weigh less, but they wouldn't be able to fly anymore. Live the Christian spirit, I beg you, in the conviction that the obligations flowing from it are not a dead weight, or something negative. They are a constant declaration of genuine Love."

And by the faithful fulfillment of your obligations, we will fly very high, because despite our individual insignificance, we will all be living God's life. We will soar up to the sun, like ascending eagles.

Faithfulness is a "yes" we each say to God every day, and since we all belong to the one Mystical Body, it is also something we offer to others.

“Being faithful to God demands a struggle. And it means close combat, man to man, - the old man against the man of God - in one small thing after another, without giving in."

I am like a little child held in the arms of my Father God, facing my mother, the Blessed Virgin. Thus, Christ calls me every day to a new life in the glory of the Father, and then He appears to make it happen. I should not delude myself into thinking that I am the protagonist of my Christian life, for better or worse,  but I am not.

He is the protagonist of history, and the protagonist of my salvation. My job is to realize that his grace is operating in me; my duty is to cooperate, to receive, and to respond — not to stand in his way.

I should ask him to remind me, each time, when and where He is showing up in my life, and to praise him for that presence. My wish is to seek him constantly, to find him, to open the door for him, to let him in, to sit down with him, to talk to him, to be always accompanying him.