NOVENA ST. JOHN VIANNEY-FULL BUCK MOON
2 Corinthians, Chapter 7, Verse 5
For even when we came into Macedonia, our
flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way—external conflicts,
internal fears.
The
devil is the author of fear. The opposite of fear is not bravery but love.
Christ showed his love for us by breaking the power of the devil by overcoming
death. He showed us His love by sharing our human nature. He asks us in
the gospel to love as He loved. ”I give you a new commandment: love one another
as I have loved you.” (John 13:34) Christ therefore restores Gods original
intend to give man life eternal and voiding the death that the devil had
brought into the world.
The fear
of death is a fear based on the false conception that death marks the end of a
person’s kindred with God. Jesus deliberately allied himself with us in order
to be a merciful and faithful high priest in our behalf; expiating our sins as
one who experienced the same tests as we.
We
usually give in to our sinfulness when we are Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired
(HALT). To halt sinful behaviors, we must practice acts of love so that when we
are hungry let us give food to the hungry; when we are angry let us remember to
secure justice for the oppressed; when we are lonely let us remember to keep
faith with our brethren; and when we are tired let us take up the yoke of
Christ; for his yoke is easy and his burden is light.
Ponder
this day if the Lord is calling you to the Priesthood or the religious life.
The word, perpereúetai, denotes vainglory, the
need to be haughty, nit-picking and somewhat pushy. Those who love not only
refrain from speaking too much about themselves, but are focused on others;
they do not need to be the center of attention. The word that comes next – physioútai
– is similar, indicating that love is not arrogant. Literally, it means that we
do not become “puffed up” before others. It also points to something more
subtle: an obsession with showing off and a loss of a sense of reality. Such
people think that, because they are more “spiritual” or “wise”, they are more important than they really are. Paul
uses this verb on other occasions, as when he says that “knowledge puffs up”,
whereas “love builds up” (1 Cor 8:1). Some think that they are important because they are more
knowledgeable than others; they want to lord it over them. Yet what really
makes us important is a love that
understands, shows concern, and embraces the weak. Elsewhere the word is used
to criticize those who are “inflated” with their own importance (cf. 1 Cor 4:18) but in fact are filled more with empty
words than the real “power” of the Spirit (cf. 1 Cor 4:19). It is important for Christians to show their
love by the way they treat family members who are less knowledgeable about the
faith, weak or less sure in their convictions. At times the opposite occurs:
the supposedly mature believers within
the family become unbearably arrogant. Love, on the other hand, is marked by
humility; if we are to understand, forgive and serve others from the heart, our
pride has to be healed and our humility must
increase. Jesus told his disciples that in a world where power prevails, each
tries to dominate the other, but “it shall not be so among you” (Mt 20:26). The
inner logic of Christian love is not about importance
and power; rather, “whoever would be first among you must be your slave” (Mt 20:27). In family life, the logic of
domination and competition about who is the most intelligent or powerful
destroys love. Saint Peter’s admonition also applies to the family: “Clothe
yourselves, all of you, with humility towards one another, for ‘God opposes the
proud, but gives grace to the humble’” (1 Pet 5:5).
Ardent
Faith
Our
Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Full Buck Moon
According to the almanac today we are having a Full
Buck Moon; plan to spend some time if you are not a hunter out hiking with your
children or grandchildren.
"Read
these counsels slowly. Pause to meditate on these thoughts. They are things
that I whisper in your ear-confiding them-as a friend, as a brother, as a
father. And they are being heard by God. I won't tell you anything new. I will
only stir your memory, so that some thought will arise and strike you; and so
you will better your life and set out along ways of prayer and of Love. And in
the end you will be a more worthy soul."
29. You never want to get to the heart of the matter. Sometimes,
through politeness. Other times, most times, through fear of hurting yourself
Sometimes again, through fear of hurting others. And, always, through fear! As
long as you are so afraid of the truth you will never be a man of sound
judgment, a man of worth.
·
Please
Pray for Senator
McCain and our country; asking Our Lady of Beauraing to
intercede.
[1] Pope Francis, Encyclical on Love.
[2]http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=1129
[3]http://www.escrivaworks.org/book/the_way-point-1.htm
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