116. Nourished by Love The heart of flesh is one who is nourished by the Love of God and shares it with his neighbour: “To everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich.” Matthew, chapter 25, verse 29 The one who has shares, the one who has and does not share, has nothing. That is to say, the one who blocks the talents that God offers him closes up and he will go so far as to believe that he has nothing to share. This sentence can be a good indicator: “Ah, I’m never doing anything good… I’m not able. It’s impossible.” Do continue and you’ll get there! Give yourself small goals and, with experience, you will achieve bigger ones. Blocking God’s Love prevents him from circulating in us and sharing it. This causes us personal suffering and distress. Graces will become numerous when they are passed on to others by the one who shares the Love of God. Let’s continue with the catechism: “Freedom is the power, rooted in reason and will, to act or not to act, to do this or that, and so to perform deliberate actions on one’s own responsibility. By free will one shapes one’s own life. Human freedom is a force for growth and maturity in truth and goodness; it attains its perfection when directed toward God, our beatitude.” Catechism of the Catholic Church, number 1731, website: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P5N.HTM Our freedom becomes total when our whole life is given to God for the neighbour. This attention to the other teaches us to become also charitable toward ourselves. Our freedom becomes mature when it is also engaged by the mercy of God. He seeks mercy givers. Book: … for Love Normand Thomas
118. Our judgment From God’s Love and Light, we can observe in ourselves and in people the shadows and the lights. Then, discern with wisdom what would be the best way to help. If we move away from God, we close the shutters of the windows, and instead of having the full light of day, we glimpse at some rays that seek to join us. Again, it will be necessary to be aware of these rays and not worry too much for the specks of dust in it. Dust does not alter or define the purity of light. The less we let the light in, the more we seek to protect our eyes. This phenomenon occurs during night time. When we wake up at night and open the light switch, our eyes close alone. We try to move away from the light. We even place our hands on our eyes. Even sometimes, we immediately turn off the light. This is what happens when we move away from God. The less we seek God, the more we sink into darkness. We have trouble supporting what is clear and bright. Then we have difficulty receiving the power of his light. We may not find the door. To flee the Light, to flee Wisdom, to flee the Love of God is already our judgment. The judgment of others is not necessary since we judge ourselves. We develop a fear of God, we close the Light … on God. Then we dig deeper into the illusion that we are better, surrounded by our defences, going deep down and away from the Light. This passage of wisdom has been transmitted for our greatest joy: “If you choose you can keep the commandments; it is loyalty to do his will.” Sirach, chapter 15, verse 15 That’s totally God! He tells us: “If you choose.” Around a buffet, we choose whatever we want. It’s not for others to choose for us. They will also choose for themselves. It’s also up to each of us to remain faithful and to unite our life to Jesus or not. We are free, we are responsible for our faith. If we accept what God offers us, then we will have an overflowing buffet where everything will be good for us and for humanity. Book: … for Love Normand Thomas
119. A personal choice The author continues: “Before man are life and death, whichever he chooses shall be given him.” Sirach, chapter 15, verse 17 According to the choice of each person, life is proposed to them by God and death remains a personal choice … “whichever he chooses”. It’s not God’s choice. Death is not God’s choice. He does not offer us this choice. The choice for death is nothing but the rejection of God’s Love, the refusal to let us love God, the refusal to welcome him and share the immense love that everyone expects. The refusal to receive Jesus’ Love leads to evil and finally, to death. Yet it is much easier to share what we receive. The buffet is not only there for us. Let’s receive the Love of God and share it. Book: … for Love Normand Thomas
120. God does not command This sentence, which makes us smile, allows us to meditate and deepen it: “No man does he command to sin, to none does he give strength for lies.” Sirach, chapter 15, verse 20 God commands nothing that is destructive to us and to our neighbour: “To none does he give strength for lies.” He does not allow anyone to sin. Sin is not God’s choice. God does not impose anything on us. Let’s say it like this: “He did not allow anyone to be stupid.” Because the lack of intelligence, understanding and reflection is the sign of a closure to God and to others. We are free as wind, free as children of God. It is up to us to discern and want what God offers us. Book: … for Love Normand Thomas
121. That’s wisdom! Paul understood: “We do speak a wisdom to those who are mature, but not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away.” 1 Corinthians, chapter 2, verse 6 We are entertained … while we are far from reality. The world, more specifically the mundane, entertains us and moves us away from good. “The ruler of this age”, mentioned by Paul, is usually the power that submits the neighbour. They entertain us while we pay or others pay the price. The only one that can lead us to reality is Jesus: “You, Lord, give light to my lamp; my God brightens the darkness about me.” Psalm 18, verse 29 Jesus is “the Light” of our lamp if we welcome it. Night turns into day with the Lord. Book: … for Love Normand Thomas
122. God’s invitation Caution: “You were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love.” Galatians, chapter 5, verse 13 Our freedom lies in God’s welcome. Our freedom lies serving “one another through love”. Jesus tells us: “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John, chapter 8, verses 31 to 32 Do we want to follow Jesus? Do we want to live within his truth? May we give our heart to Jesus. Do we want to love the neighbour? Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to Love with our hearts. We want to live forever? Let’s ask the Father to lead us to Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus invites us to deeply meditate on his will. The others will not think about it for us. It is our responsibility to constantly ask Jesus to cleanse us, so we can grasp all the good that we can achieve for the world, in the world. Book: … for Love Normand Thomas
