The Catholic Message Board

302. We did some wrong


Let’s return briefly to what distances us from God and from ourselves.
Who among us could say that they do not have these defects, before God? We have a good reflection here:
“We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws.” Daniel, chapter 9, verse 5

Sometimes we miss the opportunity to truly be children of God.
Confession of Daniel’s journey:
“Ah! Lord, great and awesome God, you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and observe your commandments.” Daniel, chapter 9, verse 4

God Loves us even when we are at fault. He waits for our return every time with open arms. He Loves us beyond everything. It is our faults that keep us away from him. We simply stay away.

It’s up to us to check if we love each other and if we want to walk forward in God’s Love. Many people do not like this reality that God Loves every person, whatever sin they did. Why? Because God cannot be any other than Love!

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

303. Damned? No… Loved!


We all know this popular phrase: “Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.” There are moments in life when we feel that everything we try to achieve seems to be compromised without really knowing why. This is a good sign, the right time to return to our inner self and allow more precious time with God.

But this English expression is transformed with God: “We are Loved by God if we do it, Loved if we do it not.” We are Loved even with our failings, mishaps, bad luck, mistakes, because God is Love.

Does this mean that God encourages the harm we do? That we can do anything wrong? Never. Does that mean to do nothing more? Not at all. And this is not the question.

God Loves us and he wants his Love to take us back to the path of life and truth. It is we who cause evil and succumb to sin. We freeze away from God. But still, God Loves us, forever! When we shy away from him, we block his Love.

Jesus tells us, as to the crowd:
“Be merciful, just as (also) your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.” Luke, chapter 6, verses 36 to 37

Whether we love God or not, he continues to Love us. Our decision to be with God or against God leads us either in Love or away from Love. We are the only ones responsible for our decision. And this is a decision we must make as soon as possible.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

304. Let’s dive in


It’s quite difficult to believe that one person would not want God’s Love. Let’s dive into his Love now:
Let’s read:
“Remember your compassion and love, O Lord; for they are ages old.” Psalm 25, verse 6

Why should we say, “Remember your compassion and love, O Lord; for they are ages old?”

Wouldn’t it be better to say: “Lord, your compassion, your Love is always with me!”

But what is written in the Psalm is, “Remember, Lord.” Does the Lord need to remember about his Love? No need for him to remind himself of it. He is Love.

It’s certain that when we are suffering, it is possible to think that God has let us down. We would like him to remember, we plead him to not let us down. But it isn’t so.

Even in suffering, the Lord is always with us, with the same infinite Love, with the same tenderness and compassion, the same mercy at every moment, totally and continually. We think that God will remember, but it is we who must remember that God is here, now, with us.
Shouldn’t we be remembering his Love?

God’s Love is priceless. God is not a mystery. Nor is he a mystery to himself. The greatest mystery is that we don’t really understand God. We’re still not totally convinced that he is Love. The mystery is on us. It is we who don’t understand how deeply God Loves us. This is a mystery! Jesus wants us to do exactly as he does, to Love.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

305. We are forgiven


Peter doesn’t seem to be aware that Jesus will answer that his Love is infinite.
The answer that Jesus will give to his question on forgiveness shouldn’t surprise anyone. Peter approaches Jesus and asks him:
“Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Matthew, chapter 18, verse 21

We might have submitted our proposition: “Once?” To forgive once is enough! Forgiving sincerely is effective. But when mistakes are repeated, we can go up to seven times, too, like Peter.

Thanks to Peter, we get an answer. Peter offers him his idea, which is already a good idea: “Up to seven times?” Jesus answers him:
“I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” Matthew, chapter 18, verse 22

It’s not easy to forgive, it takes practice. The less we practise forgiving, the more difficult it will be to forgive. All our life, we need to forgive, we need to be forgiven, we need to forgive ourselves. We need God’s forgiveness to stay sane, in holiness.

Honestly, we wouldn’t have known that Jesus’s response would be as demanding as his Love is Mercy. Yet we cannot expect less from Jesus than the answer he gives us. He is God!

So, Jesus delivers the challenge on a silver platter and offers it to us. Forgive God 100% because God has never hurt anyone. Forgiving others to help us and also help them to improve, to become the image of God. We personally forgive ourselves to touch the Love of God in us and to become a complete child.

God doesn’t have to remember his Love for us, since he is eternally Loving. There is no failure in his Love. May we discover it. We only need to believe, remember and embrace it.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

306. God seduces


Jerusalem continues to be unfaithful. The people are unfaithful to God. The inhabitants take unspecified paths, which keep them away from an authentic relationship with God.

God wants to conquer us as he does with his people, because he knows that we are beings of love, since we are beings created by Love:
“[My unfaithful wife], I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart.” Hosea, chapter 2, verse 16

God wants to seduce, not to force. He wants to seduce his unfaithful wife. We recognize ourselves in this unfaithful wife towards Love, when we move away from him by ways contrary to his will. God goes beyond our unfaithfulness.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

307. To listen


God knows that the strength of his Love can do anything. God wants to drag us to the desert, in the silence of our heart:
“So I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart.” Hosea, chapter 2, verse 13

We just need to listen. We often think that living a personal desert is painful and that there seems to be a growing void. We feel so alone.

The desert is rather the ideal place where we can enter into a relationship with God. A heart to Heart relationship is never a refusal for him. God wants to be in touch with us all.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

308. More faith


God keeps on giving:
“I will give her the vineyards she had, and the valley of Achor as a door of hope.” Hosea, chapter 2, verse 14

Only God can give us hope. Today we see churches half-filled. And we see sufferings in the world. It’s not necessary to describe them. We observe them, we know them, their misfortunes.

But God tells us to open the door to hope. He wants to unite us with him. God adds:
“I will allure her [unfaithful]; I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart.” Hosea, chapter 2, verse 13

God will make of what we think to be a misfortune in a “valley of Achor [tears] (v. 13)”, an air of youth, faith and freedom. Whatever our age, human youth comes from inflamed faith for God and in God.

Let’s ask for more faith in God so that our life reaches its inner youth, so that people around us reach it too and that our Church enters a turning point of constant faith, hope and charity, rejuvenated in the Heart of the Trinity. May everyone benefit because we are created for God and live it forever.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

309. Peace


Paul’s salutation:
“To all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans, chapter 1, verse 7

It is realistic to say that holiness leads to grace and peace from God. Let’s continue to place our trust in Jesus and walk with him on the road to holiness. Jesus doesn’t lead us anywhere else. He is merciful and even though we are at fault, he wants us to stay with him, to improve ourselves and that he leads us to holiness.

If we see people in churches who are not perfect, let’s say they’re in the right place. It’s in the Church that we find ways to improve ourselves with Jesus and with others. We are in the Church for this reason, because we know that we are sinners and we want to improve on a path of faith and hope. People are usually in Church for that reason.

In the beginning, when we start going to church, it’s more our mistakes that make us not want to go back. We think we’re not worth it. On the contrary, we are worth the joy! Let’s give our sins to Jesus and walk in the Church. May we convert day after day. This is the pathway to enter eternal life.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

310. Abide in Jesus


Jesus is Love. We have no reason to pull away from him. He is our joy. Let’s take the example of food. As soon as we eat better, we feel better and with more vitality. Jesus leads us to spiritual vitality.

The desert is filled with Jesus’s presence. It is there that he touches our hearts with his tenderness, compassion and mercy. Coming to Jesus leads to holiness. By a sustained journey toward him, we feel the benefits and much more vigour, intensity, endurance. Even if we seem to be used to this well-being with Jesus, let’s continue.

According to Paul:
“God is righteous and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans, chapter 3, verse 26

We have the best example in Jesus to receive what is right for us. That’s what Paul recommends. May we abide in Jesus to receive what we need most, to continue on the road.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

311. We receive everything


We need the Love of God, patience, peace, strength to go through hardships. We receive all this and more in Jesus, in the Church. It is the hope that fills the hearts of children.

All holiness and perfection of soul lies in our love for Jesus Christ our God, who is our Redeemer and our supreme good. It is part of the love of God to acquire and to nurture all the virtues which make a man perfect.

Has not God in fact won for himself a claim on all our love? From all eternity he has loved us. And it is in this vein that he speaks to us: “O man, consider carefully that I first loved you. You had not yet appeared in the light of day, nor did the world yet exist, but already I loved you. From all eternity I have loved you.”

From a sermon Alphonse-Marie de Liguori on the Love of Christ, Office of readings, August 1, Tract. de praxi amandi Iesum Christum edit. latina. Romae, 1909, pp. 9-14

Sometimes we feel superb when we serve God and live in his Presence. May we never think we have succeeded though. This is a trap. We risk becoming lukewarm and let go of what we have lived for. The best way to make sure we move forward is to always deepen our faith through reading, teaching, Mass, to keep having questions and to search continually even if we think we have reached the goal.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

312. Whom you will serve


Joshua questions the people of Israel of what should be a priority, for us as well, to bring us back to basics:
“Decide today whom you will serve.” Joshua, chapter 24, verse 15a

Let’s choose who we want to serve. What is the god (other gods) to whom we give our life, our time, our habits, our desires? Is it to God? Where are our priorities? Is God first in our life? Joshua finishes and confirms:
“We also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.” Joshua, chapter 24, verse 18b

We want to serve the Trinity. We want to follow Jesus, let ourselves be transformed by the Holy Spirit and be children (sons) of the same Father.

Are we really united to the Trinity wholeheartedly, with all our soul, with all our being? It’s quite possible that we aren’t. We are making efforts, but we know that we aren’t succeeding alone in being captivated by the Trinity.

Let’s ask God to come and surprise us with his presence and teach us how to love him, be Loved by him.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

313. Our relationship with Jesus


Jesus sent the Spirit to his Church to continue on his behalf to guide his family. The catechism is the fruit of the Holy Spirit transmitted to the authority of the Catholic Church. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (version 1999) is the christian reflection on what Jesus taught us, a Bible study, and all that the Church believes and teaches about the Testaments that complement each other, and that God has given as our heritage.

Let’s ask Jesus to help us deepen our faith and our relationship to him by being firmly anchored in the Catholic Church. The Church conveys all the care we need by receiving it from God.

Jesus confers the authority of his Church to the Apostles and sends the Holy Spirit to nourish her in her roots. Let’s subscribe, adhere to the Church of the Lord which continues to watch over the Body and Blood of Christ.

May Mary, our Mother of all, with Joseph, the Apostles and saints, teach us to take care of Jesus who is in our heart and to accept the teaching of the Church he has founded.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart’s mission, Normand Thomas

314. Let’s pray with s. Joseph


Joseph, with Jesus and Mary, you knew hunger, uncertainty, and illness.
You turned your heart to God to lift up your needs and those of your family.
In faith you accepted the Father’s response as events unfolded.
Be with me today as I offer my requests to the Father.

Joseph, help me recognize God’s will as I open my hands to accept what God bestows in loving kindness. With tenderness, God fills creation with life and love. Open my eyes to the wonders that God works without ceasing.

Help me learn the true intention behind my request so that I may discover
within myself the lowly one that God commends. Amen.

I lift up my needs in prayer: Website of Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal:
Prayers to Saint Joseph - Saint Joseph's Oratory of MountRoyal
Mary and Joseph, like all the saints, assist us with your prayers. Pray for us, with us!

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart’s mission, Normand Thomas

315. We hope


Through the liturgy, we celebrate the entrance to heaven. We hope for life in God and we give thanks for all the wonders he does in the world and in our lives.

Here is how it is expressed:
“On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: ‘A strong city have we; he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us. Open up the gates to let in a nation that is just, one that keeps faith.’” Isaiah, chapter 26, verses 1 to 2

A sung canticle is part of the liturgy. Let’s put our trust in God. Let’s lean onto him. We will become the righteous nation, the believers who enter through the doorway to salvation.

Protection and salvation come from the Child Mary carries in her. This Child is the only one who can protect us and lead us as a nation of sheep to the enclosure of eternal joy. Generations have hoped for him. And we have the grace to know that this Child has come to Love and save us.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart’s mission, Normand Thomas

316. The House, the Church


The strong city is the Jerusalem on earth that represents the City of God, as also the Church, it is the New Jerusalem from above that nothing can destroy. To succeed:
“Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal Rock.” Isaiah, chapter 26, verse 4

The house, the Church that is built on the rock that is Jesus, is our life that is built on the faith of the Apostles and on the promise of God for our salvation. Many will be converted because they will see us walking behind Jesus, walking on the mission road.

Jesus tells us:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” Matthew, chapter 7, verse 21

Let’s seek Jesus, or even simpler, let’s find Him. Let’s become available. Let’s welcome him as Mary welcomed him into her and learn from him all that is necessary for the pilgrimage here below and to present ourselves to heaven in thanksgiving.

Mary did not run after Jesus. The Holy Spirit simply offered to receive him. It’s too simple to receive Jesus. Let’s try it, to receive him in our heart. We don’t have to beg, we only need to ask him to reveal himself in our heart. May he take off the veil we place before him.

Let’s continue to deepen our relationship with Jesus just as Mary carries him in her and Joseph welcomes him into him, in his own way. Let’s welcome him as we are. It is our mission, our personal base.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart’s mission, Normand Thomas

317. To know Jesus


Paul offers us his thoughts:
“Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.” Ephesians, chapter 4, verse 32 to chapter 5, verse 2

To unite ourselves with God’s plan, it’s necessary to know Jesus. Then we will become: “kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving”.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart’s mission, Normand Thomas

318. God’s work is our joy


It all starts with Jesus. With him, we are walking in the right direction. The path is straighter, simpler, narrower. With Jesus, we are on the move and he leads us through the work he has established. His work will become our joy.

Definitely, we know that his work is for us. His work is already our joy! Paul invites us:
“Live as children of light.” Ephesians, chapter 5, verse 8
To live as “children of light”, we are invited to ask for the Light of the Holy Spirit.

May the light of God extend to those who wish to receive it in them and who dare to let it pass. May we let Jesus pass through our life.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart’s mission, Normand Thomas

319. Love passing through


Philemon is an example for Paul:
I have experienced much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the holy ones have been refreshed by you, brother. Philemon, chapter 1, verse 7

Philemon’s charity is the Love and Mercy of God in action and passing through him. Paul’s joy is that he’s conscientious and charitable toward others. It pleases his heart.

For his part, Jesus has a way of spreading joy:
“The whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.” Luke, chapter 13, verse 17

What is the vivid action Jesus is doing right now in us, on this day, simply offered to us?

Let’s always trust Jesus, let’s continually give him what we are living, so that he purifies our journey, the bridge that connects us to him. We will discover his presence in our life and for a better world.

We will gradually discover our talents throughout the mission. Our talents are different from those of others, but together we will bring to the world faith received from God.

The new American bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart’s mission, Normand Thomas

320. Grace and peace


Our first pope Peter wishes us what we also want to wish each other:
“May grace and peace be yours in abundance through knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” 2 Peter, chapter 1, verse 2

“May grace and peace be yours!” Grace and peace to all, but also knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ! The more we engage in Jesus’s “knowledge”, the more our faith rises in humility and charity for every person who meets with us on the road.

As for any realization, Peter invites us to the effort of reception, to the effort to be there. We can read it slowly:
“Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love.” 2 Peter, chapter 1, verses 5 to 7

There is a clear progression of faith in what Peter describes to us. In short, virtue serves and leads to know God. Virtue is the door that opens to conversion and progression through sincere and lived faith.
Knowing God gives us control on our thoughts, our senses, our language, our actions, in order to live humbly and to edify our neighbour.
Self-control brings balance and perseverance, endurance.

Piety and virtue develops shoulder to shoulder with perseverance.
Fraternity is the fruit of piety. Fraternity is intimately linked to Love. It is the mission that God proposes to us.

We embark on a virtuous life to join a Loving meeting in God, Love that forms and ends the loop: virtue - knowledge of God - self-control - perseverance - piety - fraternity - love. May we commit ourselves to repeat it and live it, in a loop, in order to stretch out our heart, to bind it to Love and thus to obtain eternal life. By knowing God.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart’s mission, Normand Thomas

321. Summit of Hope


This text of Paul is called the Kenosis. It is the descent of God and he passes into our human reality:
“Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.

Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.

“Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians, chapter 2, verses 5 to 11

He came into human nature, through the “yes” of Mary. Mary carries him in her until she gives him back to the world.

God shows us his great mercy and Love by embracing our human condition, in order to transform it for the sole purpose of gathering us together and leading us to the Father’s house.

God could’ve stayed aloof and seem from another world, as we search for answers to our life on earth. But God wears our reality.

Jesus shows us his mercy by taking a body like ours and giving it back its nobility, its beauty. He rectifies and converts through purification our sin-prone fragile body and brings it back to its natural condition.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart’s mission, Normand Thomas