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In a seaside town, we can gaze at the busy streets and harbour, or turn to admire the sky and the calm sea. So, in our souls, we can gaze at our problems, in gloom and confusion, or we can choose to 'turn' to look towards God, to rest in Him, and to gain wisdom and peace.
If we claim to be walking on a path towards Heaven, how many unnecessary things on the way are distracting or corrupting us?
The Lord is no more concerned by my distraction at Mass, when I'm tired and in pain, than if I were a sick child on her father's lap, at Mass. He is glad that I am present at Mass out of love for Jesus.
As each of us moves towards either Heaven - through God's grace - or Hell, moving because of our own thoughts, words and actions, we are at the same time helping others to move towards Heaven or Hell, by our influence.
Christ asks us to conduct a fundamental reappraisal of our current attitudes and actions to do with reverence towards Him. It is time that we acted as if we recognise Christ as our Lord and God, each time we enter a church or receive Him in Holy Communion or welcome Him into our homes in the Sacrament of the Sick.
Christ does not expect us to become perfect just because we spend time with Him at Exposition. He delights is our prayers of adoration; yet He understands when our minds wander, and when we reflect on ordinary aspects of life - as guests do at a wedding reception who don't spend every second talking about the bridge and groom.
Christ showed me that when I am sick and exhausted and find it hard to pay attention at Mass, I am no more to blame than an exhausted child who cannot help falling asleep on her father's shoulder, held safely in his loving arms.
An astronaut who looks back towards the earth he has left can see things in their correct perspective, seeing what was important for the flight and what caused needless worry. We ought to examine our lives, to see what is essential, as we prepare for eternal life, and what is distracting or even dangerous.
A person trapped in sin can benefit from the prayers of other people on her behalf. Through them, God can shine a light on that sinner's life and actions, so she can see things clearly, and decide to change. God is merciful - but some people refuse to act in response to His love.
Jesus would be the first to help a friend in need. Likewise, He urged me not to worry about leaving my prayer in order to deal with a little mishap. Friends understand one another.
There are a thousand ways in which the enemies of Christ try to draw us away from prayer, or from His service. Horrible images can be driven away by the use of Holy water and prayer, and the sign of the cross.
The Lord told me that I can more easily avoid distraction during Holy Communion if I remember that to meet Christ in Person, flanked by His holy Angels, is a far greater privilege than if I were to meet the Queen in person, in her palace, flanked by her companions.
I 'saw' falling straight into Hell, at death, an unrepentant soul who had kidnapped and abused a child, for his own pleasure, and with no charity towards all involved who would suffer from his actions.
How can a man 'lose' God after death, by being in Hell, separated from God, when it is God Who holds everyone in existence? It is as if a man were living in a bright, beautiful home, but insisted on building concrete walls of sinfulness around Himself, which he refused to destroy. He would have 'lost' the company of His family and friends, while his suffering would be entirely due to his own actions.
The power given to us in Baptism can draw us up to holiness and Heaven; but we can be hampered from 'flight' by these attachments: timidity in sharing our Faith, worrying about what people think our about particular vocation, concern for physical comfort, or neglect of everyday duties. The last 'string' to be cut is death.
We can usually see little on a flight. Just as when, on an aircraft, we have little glimpses of bright fields or snowy mountains, so, in the spiritual life, God allows us 'glimpses' of spiritual joys, because He knows one of our greatest dangers is discouragement, and wants us to know that we are on our way to Heaven.
The Lord showed me His torn flesh, and said: It is the same work, beating a human being to a bloody pulp, and tearing an infant, limb from limb, in the womb. The same hard-heartedness enables people to do such things or allow someone else to do them - especially if they don't see the results of their actions.
The Lord showed me His torn flesh, and said: It is the same work, beating a human being to a bloody pulp, and tearing an infant, limb from limb, in the womb. The same hard-heartedness enables people to do such things or allow someone else to do them - especially if they don't see the results of their actions.
The Lord showed me His torn flesh, and said: It is the same work, beating a human being to a bloody pulp, and tearing an infant, limb from limb, in the womb. The same hard-heartedness enables people to do such things or allow someone else to do them - especially if they don't see the results of their actions.
Just as the Titanic was lost, with many hundreds of lives, because of the decisions and actions of a small number of people, so the human race was 'lost' - deprived of supernatural life - because of the decisions and actions of a small number, who were our first parents. Yet Christ came to save us. The Father could not allow mankind to sink in hopelessness and sin.
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