218. Through our heart
Jesus tells us as in John’s text:
“You also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.” John, chapter 16, verse 22
Jesus seems to be saying, “Yes, maybe now you are wondering, you don’t see clearly, you throw some grain in the wind and it doesn’t seem to fall into a fertile land. But your heart will rejoice, you will be happy, because you will follow me and you will have done the will of my Father under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Be confident! Do not be afraid!”
Then Jesus adds:
“On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.” John chapter 16, verse 23
Questions are no longer needed when Jesus goes through our life, through our heart, when we’re connected to the source.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s evangelize, Normand Thomas
Normandt' Bible reflexions
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
219. In people’s hearts
Let’s ask the Father, by the name of Jesus, to help us find trust, that the Father will rejoice to see us follow Jesus for the good of souls. As Therese of Lisieux, who never went out after entering the cloister, may we believe that God works in our hearts, even if we think we have empty hands.
One night, the Lord tells Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you.”
When we come closer to the Lord, we develop the confidence to evangelize with the testimonies of faith that we give and the acts we do.
With Jesus, our mission is growing and becoming more secure. Let’s pray, meditate on the Word with a regular presence at Mass, and we’ll continually enter into a relationship with Jesus.
We can observe more and more the Lord acting in the hearts and lives of the people around us. Also, by becoming more patient with ourselves, we’ll become more patient in front of the faults of others. Believing more in Jesus leads us on the path with him.
It’s not always simple or easy, especially when we’re distracted, but we know that making Jesus known is possible. Jesus tells us:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.” John, chapter 16, verse 20
Sometimes we’ll cry in the desert like John the Baptist, and we’ll have the impression that no one will listen, but the Holy Spirit is active in the world. We only have to watch him act in people’s lives and hearts.
Let’s read again:
You are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. John, chapter 16, verse 22
The joy of God is so deep and intense that no one can rob it. Joy is in God and of God.
The sole purpose of the mission is to enter the heart of God and to be Loved. May the kingdom of God be established in our hearts. Then, let’s continue to ask Jesus to guide us day by day and help us to embark in the touching and inspiring adventure of faith and evangelization. Let’s accept to be joyous and daring, filled with hope, since we can see that the Holy Spirit continues his work in the world.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s evangelize, Normand Thomas
Let’s ask the Father, by the name of Jesus, to help us find trust, that the Father will rejoice to see us follow Jesus for the good of souls. As Therese of Lisieux, who never went out after entering the cloister, may we believe that God works in our hearts, even if we think we have empty hands.
One night, the Lord tells Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you.”
When we come closer to the Lord, we develop the confidence to evangelize with the testimonies of faith that we give and the acts we do.
With Jesus, our mission is growing and becoming more secure. Let’s pray, meditate on the Word with a regular presence at Mass, and we’ll continually enter into a relationship with Jesus.
We can observe more and more the Lord acting in the hearts and lives of the people around us. Also, by becoming more patient with ourselves, we’ll become more patient in front of the faults of others. Believing more in Jesus leads us on the path with him.
It’s not always simple or easy, especially when we’re distracted, but we know that making Jesus known is possible. Jesus tells us:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.” John, chapter 16, verse 20
Sometimes we’ll cry in the desert like John the Baptist, and we’ll have the impression that no one will listen, but the Holy Spirit is active in the world. We only have to watch him act in people’s lives and hearts.
Let’s read again:
You are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. John, chapter 16, verse 22
The joy of God is so deep and intense that no one can rob it. Joy is in God and of God.
The sole purpose of the mission is to enter the heart of God and to be Loved. May the kingdom of God be established in our hearts. Then, let’s continue to ask Jesus to guide us day by day and help us to embark in the touching and inspiring adventure of faith and evangelization. Let’s accept to be joyous and daring, filled with hope, since we can see that the Holy Spirit continues his work in the world.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s evangelize, Normand Thomas
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
220. With Jesus
Evangelization is realized to the extent that we are in communion with Jesus. Without Jesus, without welcoming his Love in our heart, there’s no evangelization and null is the mission.
Whatever the function or mission in the Church, to achieve success, we must be on the move with Jesus. This is what the first Apostles understood. The author of the Acts of the Apostles describes it well:
“After staying there some time, he left and travelled in orderly sequence through the Galatian country and Phrygia, bringing strength to all the disciples.” Acts, chapter 18, verse 23
Paul is successful and this success is indebted to Jesus. It is with Jesus that Paul succeeds in the mission.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s evangelize, Normand Thomas
Evangelization is realized to the extent that we are in communion with Jesus. Without Jesus, without welcoming his Love in our heart, there’s no evangelization and null is the mission.
Whatever the function or mission in the Church, to achieve success, we must be on the move with Jesus. This is what the first Apostles understood. The author of the Acts of the Apostles describes it well:
“After staying there some time, he left and travelled in orderly sequence through the Galatian country and Phrygia, bringing strength to all the disciples.” Acts, chapter 18, verse 23
Paul is successful and this success is indebted to Jesus. It is with Jesus that Paul succeeds in the mission.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s evangelize, Normand Thomas
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
222. Offer Jesus
God hears what is said by some people:
“You have defied me in word, says the Lord, yet you ask, ‘What have we spoken against you?’ You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God, and what do we profit by keeping his command, and going about in penitential dress in awe of the Lord of hosts?’” Malachi, chapter 3, verses 13 to 14
It may be difficult for us to conceive of people thinking that about the Lord, but there are people who have let down by refusing God’s presence in their lives.
There’s nothing simpler than to get away from the Lord and there’s nothing more difficult thereafter than to return to him. Not because God would not welcome us if we come back, but because there are so many elements that get in the way of our march back. The reality should be the opposite; easy to approach Jesus and difficult to get away from him.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s evangelize, Normand Thomas
God hears what is said by some people:
“You have defied me in word, says the Lord, yet you ask, ‘What have we spoken against you?’ You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God, and what do we profit by keeping his command, and going about in penitential dress in awe of the Lord of hosts?’” Malachi, chapter 3, verses 13 to 14
It may be difficult for us to conceive of people thinking that about the Lord, but there are people who have let down by refusing God’s presence in their lives.
There’s nothing simpler than to get away from the Lord and there’s nothing more difficult thereafter than to return to him. Not because God would not welcome us if we come back, but because there are so many elements that get in the way of our march back. The reality should be the opposite; easy to approach Jesus and difficult to get away from him.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s evangelize, Normand Thomas