What kind of things do you look at in a day? A computer screen? A newspaper article? A Facebook account? A book? A TV screen? A phone screen? Another person's eyes? It's amazing how many things a person can look at in a day! What is even more amazing is that which we often forget to look at--OURSELVES. What do I mean? We can so easily become infatuated with the world outside of us, the material things around us. But how often do we simply close our eyes? Simply close our eyes and find out what is going on within our own hearts? How much MORE FULFILLMENT would we find in the things around us if we knew how much they meant to us? If we knew why we desired them? Today, I challenge each of us (myself included) to look within ourselves and encounter the God who created us, He who gives meaning not only to those things around us but to our own hearts and our own lives.
Be not afraid to close your eyes in order to truly see.
Today, as Salesians, we remember the lives of all those Salesian confrere (Salesian priests and brothers, those of our Salesian family) that have left this world and have been born into eternal life. We offer our prayers and our Holy Mass up for their repose and their intentions. But, at the same time, we are incredibly mindful of their strong intercession on our behalf. So, today especially, we are reminded to constantly pray to them for our own holiness and for faithfulness to follow the Lord's will. What a blessing we have as Salesians, as Catholics, to recognize the ability of our loved ones to intercede for us after they have passed on.
May this become our prayer today:
O deceased Salesians, who enjoy the pleasure of eternal happiness beside Mary, Help of Christians and Saint John Bosco, be our aid in bringing Eucharistic joy to the poor and the youth we serve. May we continue to look through the lens of our Holy Founder in bringing life to a world of darkness. Come, O Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of your faithful! Come, and nothing shall ever be the same!
This past weekend, I was thinking of Jesus and His relationship with Mary, Martha's sister. Jesus loved going to Bethany to hang out with them, but lets not forget Mary was a prostitute, she was hungry for the truth, but it took Him dying on the cross for her conversion to take place. We need to embrace the love that Jesus had for sinnners and also embrace our own cactus (the ugly side of ourself) because loving others begins with us loving ourselves. When we are able to look in the mirror and admit to our sinful behavior, we are also able to embrace the ugly side of our brothers and sisters. We are all sinners. I really have a hard time grasping the idea that young people actually look up to me, my imperfections are so easily seen and I am constantly beating myself up over it. I ask many questions to God--why this, why that. But when I really sit down and began to reflect on my life, I am able to see God's healing hand ever upon me. Through my experiences and my love for Jesus, I became aware of God constantly pouring His awesome love upon me and also giving me the grace to become that channel to all around me. In this crazy world saturated with counterfeit love, we need to be firm yet loving! We need to be comfortable around the things of this culture, but not let it change us! We need to become aware of how much God truly loves us and the commandment that Jesus gave us! Love another as I have loved you! Lets not forget that it is not through words that our brothers and sisters will change, but through little acts of kindness and love! Forgive yourself for any wrong that you have done and embrace your cactus! "I tell you, her sins--and they are many--have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love."- Luke 7:47. Love unceasingly and be the light for all!!
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves"
Only through the love of Christ, can we break the walls of our fallen brothers and sisters!!!
We are SINNERS!!! We are not better than them!!! We Just have been giving a tremendous gift! OUR FAITH!!
