The Word of God

 

Word of God, On 23rd August, 2024

Lord, let our thoughts and words give light to others 

  Sir 37: 16-18 Reason should be the basis for every activity, reflection must come before any undertaking. Thoughts are rooted in the heart, and this sends out four branches: good and evil, life and death, and mistress of them always is the tongue.Today, several thoughts were tormenting me in various ways, till a reflection occurred to me. However, the aforementioned Word of God provided the answer to my questions. Thoughts are always communicated with both good and evil intents; evil ways lead to sin. The Lord is speaking to us through His Spirit concerning this particular Word of God. Br Victor mentioned this verse during one of his talks. Br. Victor says, "The tongue is the sharpest weapon that can hurt people in their hearts and minds." The excellent words instill hope and life in people who hear them. The tongue used in bad ways will leave unhealing scars on those who hear it. Let us spread positive words and prevent the negative habits of thoughtless speech. Let us console others instead of hurting them. 

St Ignatius Loyola explains how the thoughts manipulate us: “It may be admitted as a principle that there arise in man three sorts of thoughts, of which one comes of itself, and the other two from the good and the evil spirit. A bad thought, which if consented to would become a mortal sin, may be an occasion of merit:

(1) When the thought, as soon as it presents itself, is resisted or banished;

(2) When the thought repelled, once or several times, returns soon afterward but is constantly resisted until vanquished: and this second victory is much more meritorious than the first.

Mortal sin is committed by thought, first, when the thought is consented to; and second, when the thought is acted upon, which is a more grievous sin:

(1) because it is entertained longer;

(2) because we give ourselves up to it more ardently:

(3) because we generally injure others by scandalizing them.”

The Word of God

 

Word of God, On 21st August, 2024

Lord is asking us to love our neighbour, even love our enemies! 

  Rm 13: 8-10 The only thing you should owe to anyone is love for one another, for to love the other person is to fulfil the law. All these: You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and all the other commandments that there are, are summed up in this single phrase: You must love your neighbour   as yourself. Love can cause no harm to your neighbour, and so love is the fulfilment of the Law. 

  We owe one other nothing more than to love one another. When we love one another, we fulfill the law. This is how we obey God's commandment. When we love our neighbors, we are fulfilling God's law and commandments. When we love our neighbor, we do not injure anyone; God’s love is unconditional. God is asking us to love even our enemies John 3:16 (NJB): For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. God loved the world by providing His Son for everyone's salvation. This is how God revealed to the world the fulfillment of the law. He does not discriminate in His love and care for the poor, rich, sinner, upright, wise, fool, gentle, or proud, but He does love those who have repented hearts. 

The Word of God

 

Word of God, On 20th August, 2024

Lord, let us give Your love to our brothers and sisters selflessly 

Rm 12: 9-12 NJB Let love be without any pretence. Avoid what is evil; stick to what is good. In brotherly love let your feelings of deep affection for one another come to expression and regard others as more important than yourself. In the service of the Lord, work not halfheartedly but with conscientiousness and an eager spirit. Be joyful in hope, persevere in hardship; keep praying regularly; share with any of God’s holy people who are in need; look for opportunities to be hospitable. 

Love must be poured out of our hearts without reservation. We cannot pretend that we love others. Genuine love comes from people who are humble and noble-hearted. It cannot be faked, and its scent will spread by avoiding evil and sticking to what is right. Brotherly love stems from a great passion for one another and cannot be evaluated; it will be limitless. Love is characterized by an expression of gratitude and the recognition that others are more important than oneself. God dislikes half-hearted people; instead, they should be conscientious and enthusiastic. Certain requirements must be met at all times: joy in hope, perseverance in adversity (without judgment or complaint), and consistency in prayer. We should share our resources and talents with our brothers and sisters who are living holy lives in Jesus Christ. We must seek out opportunities to help others in a warm and welcoming manner. 

The Word of God

 

Word of God, On 18th August, 2024

May God bless us and guide us to do His Will

Rm 11: 33-36 (NJB) How rich and deep are the wisdom and the knowledge of God! We cannot reach to the root of his decisions or his ways. Who has ever known the mind of the Lord? Who has ever been his adviser? Who has given anything to him, so that his presents come only as a debt returned? Everything there is comes from him and is caused by him and exists for him. To him be glory for ever! Amen. 

God's wisdom is enormous and profound. How can we get God's wisdom and knowledge, which are impossible to obtain through human means? We can have a glimpse of His wisdom through His mercy and grace. Who can grasp God's mind? Only those who do His will can get a glimpse into it. No one can offer advice to our Lord because He is the Almighty God. We are merely God's creatures and cannot approach Him unless He lets it. Everything is derived from Him, produced for Him, caused by Him, and exists because of Him. May God bless and lead us in carrying out His will in all that we do.