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The journey of faith leads to light and joy, but we must be careful not to fall into the darkness through carelessness or pride
The journey of faith leads to light and joy, but we must be careful not to fall into the darkness through carelessness or pride
By a sincere prayer for help, a person can receive from God enough grace to be able to turn round, move away from spiritual danger, and climb up high, to rejoin the narrow way that leads to light, which is life in Christ.
Sometimes, when we are tired, Christ calls us to rest, and 'helps us' to find that rest in our lives.
When people accept God's call, and approach Him, some halt soon afterwards, being afraid that He will ask them to do uncongenial tasks, or make sacrifices they don't want to make. They do not really open their hearts to Him in prayer, for the same reason, and picture the Godhead as a massive fortress or walled city, with an open door they do not want to enter. They do not discover, therefore, all the joys and delights found inside by God's friends.
People who are trapped in their sins have no lasting happiness. Those who are enslaved by particular sins or bad habits have confined themselves to even greater isolation and futility. All need the 'outside help' which is God's grace, to achieve freedom and true joy.
We should never doubt the love of Christ. He forgives all our sins and failings if we turn to him with trust and contrition.
If we claim to be walking on a path towards Heaven, how many unnecessary things on the way are distracting or corrupting us?
God the Father looks on with infinite kindness whenever a person who has failed in virtue has then repented. It is just as when the father greeted his son with extravagant delight, in the Gospel story about the young man who wanted his inheritance.
God the Father looks on with infinite kindness whenever a person who has failed in virtue has then repented. It is just as when the father greeted his son with extravagant delight, in the Gospel story about the young man who wanted his inheritance.
We distance ourselves from Christ by our carelessness and lukewarmness.
To move carelessly into serious sin is to be in danger of being cut off from God forever. It's like when a diver in a flooded cave keeps moving into the next cave, without a guideline. Catholics are wise if they rely on sure doctrine and regular prayer.
A person trapped in sinful ways needs help to change: even vigorous help, which he might not much like, though he has little strength of his own. He's as if in a desert, within sight of the 'oasis' of sanctity and peace. A good, brave person will vigorously help him to persevere on the path, even if receiving no thanks.
People throughout the world need to hear the amazing news about Jesus Christ, and the whole plan of salvation. God came down to earth from Heaven: that is the single most important thing for people to know. He came, therefore He loves us. He spoke, therefore we should listen and obey.
It is worthwhile to persist in prayer for people in need, or in great trouble, and to pray even when there seem to be few results and little help. By prayer, a fervent soul can stop another from committing worse sins. By prayer, we can even prevent dying souls from falling into Hell.
To intercede for someone trapped in grave sin is like holding out a hand to a man trapped on a broken ladder, with only Hell below.
To persevere in intercession, and help someone to abandon grave sins, is to save him from the fires of Hell.
To commit grievous sin is like climbing down towards Hell, where the suffering of unrepentant sinners is so great that it can be pictured as 'fire', in which the demons wait for new victims to torment.
Many people stroll around, ready to sin, saying 'There is no Hell'; but by our choices we move towards Heaven or Hell.
The Lord showed me the Cross at the bottom of a steep slope. All who held onto the Cross were saved from falling into the Abyss beyond, which is the place where sinners go who have not repented. By a living faith in Christ, we can be freed from the fear of death and Hell.
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