Christy Gabriel's Blog – March 2013 Archive (23)

“Am I not to drink the cup the Father has given me?” Jn.18:11

Reflection:

   The cup of the Father comes from the hands of the Father. This is why our Savior drinks it, knowing that it contains the sins of the whole world.

   Why do I hesitate to drink my cup? Don’t I realize that it is part of God’s saving plan?

Prayer:

   “My ‘father, I trust in You. Strengthen my weakness and make me always more generous in the spirit of sacrifice. In the…

“My heart is broken with sorrow.” Mt.26:38

Reflection:

   The Savior was at the end of His strength, afflicted and exhausted to death. But He surrendered Himself to His Father’s will and the Father comforted Him.

   I will think of this at the hour of my Gethsemani when I find no one to comfort me.

Prayer:

   “Heavenly Father, be always near me and strengthen me, your child, as You did Your Divine Son. Let Your holy will be fulfilled in me…

“If a man wishes to come after me, he must deny his very self.” Mt.16:24

Reflection:

   The struggle against self is not an easy one and requires constant effort. Its purpose is to rid ourselves of all that separates us from the will of God.

   But the reward is great and with God’s grace and our own effort we become better persons – disciples of Christ.

Prayer:

   “My Lord and my Savior, it is a grace to follow You. Grant me steadfastness…

“Such obedience is the will of God…. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cloak for vice.” 1Pt.2:15-16

Reflection:

   Human beings are free but remain forever subject to God. Thus freedom is protected against the abuses that produce evil.

   Do I feel fully responsible for everything I do or neglect to do?

Prayer:

   “Omnipotent Father, make me faithful to all my duties. Show me Your will and let it be my sole rule of conduct.…

“When a person strikes you on the right cheek, turn and offer him the other. Mt.5:39

Reflection:

   Persons possessed by evil do not improve when evil is paid back with another evil. They are conquered only by goodness.

   To bear wrongs in patience is the real meaning of love and only this has redeeming value. Am I prepared for such love?

Prayer:

   “Eternal God, help me to suffer for others that I may obtain Your blessings for them…

“Jesus made no answer.” Lk.23:9

Reflection:

   Jesus never forces our will or our love. He remains silent when we renounce Him by sin or by our lack of response to the graces He sends us.

   When we feel He is far away, we should examine our attitude toward Him.

Prayer:

   “My Savior, stay near me. Make me always hear Your voice and do everything You say to me. In the name of Jesus I pray. AMEN!!!”

“My hour has not yet come. Jn.2:4

Reflection:

   The “Hour of God” unites us with God and frees us from human beings. God does not fall short. When His Hour comes, He intervenes.

   Hence, we need more patience and trust in His holy will and in His Divine Providence.

Prayer:

   “Heavenly Father, let me place everything in Your hands. Guide me in the way of my life and make me obey Your Divine will with firm faith. . In the name of…

“Say ‘Yes’ when you mean ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ when you mean ‘No.’” Mt.5:37

Reflection:

   Honesty must be complete; otherwise it is dishonesty. Only by perfect, unconditional honesty can people’s confidence be won, not by affirmations and oaths.

   The confidence that is lost by dishonesty cannot be regained by a superabundance of affirmations.

Prayer:

   “God of truth, grant that everything I say or do may come from a contrite and upright…

“You too are living stones, built as an edifice of the spirit.” 1Pt.2:5

Reflection:

   To be stones used in the building up of God’s temple! What an honor and distinction. But I must let myself be chiseled and molded by God. Otherwise I will be rejected by Him as a useless stone.

   Am I always aware of this obligation?

Praise:

   “My Father, I give You thanks because You take care of me. May Your will be accomplished in me. In the…

“I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing.” Is.49:4

Reflection:

   God does not know the words “in vain.”

   Whatever is done for the love of God remains and bears fruit for all eternity, even if it goes unrecognized in this world.

Prayer:

   “Loving Father, do not look upon what I have done but upon what I aspired to do. Let Your blessings descend upon me and grant that, one day, my good will may share in the glory You have…

“When you pray do not behave like the hypocrites.” Mt.6:5

Reflection:
Deceit and hypocrisy are poison to the soul. Nothing is hidden from God and He knows what we really are.
Can we attempt to be what we are not? God is not deceived by our pretenses.

Prayer:
“Eternal Light, kindly enlighten my spirit. Let me always walk in truth and humility before You. In the name of Jesus I pray. AMEN!!!”
JBU all !!!

“In giving alms you are not to let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” Mt.6:3

Reflection:

   To seek human gratitude and acknowledgment is to seek not God’s glory but to satisfy our own selfish pride.

   Those who wish to please God must do good for His sake. Hence, every offering bears the mark of a true and unconditional dedication.

Prayer:

   “Lord, grant me a pure love that neither knows nor wishes anything else…

“That we have passed from death to life we know because we love the brothers.” 1Jn.3:14

Reflection:

 Love for neighbor is the sign of new life in God. Those who bear God within them and love Him will also extend their love to their neighbor.

   Those who show no concern for their neighbor show that they have not found the life in God, or that they have lost it again.

Prayer:

   “Father of all creatures, give me a child’s heart. Make…

“Treat others the way you would have them treat you.” Mt.7:12

Reflection:

   Refraining from evil is not enough. God commands us to do good.

   Is this the rule of my life? One day I will be judged according to the deeds of love.

Prayer:

   “Loving Savior, pour Your love into my heart. Make me ready and willing to give myself to others as You have given Yourself for me. In the name of Jesus I pray. AMEN!!!”

“I am The Way.” Jn.14:6

Reflection:

   As the sea is necessary to the ships that sail on it, so Christ is needed by our souls. He is The Way.

   Those who are not in Christ but go their own way will never attain their goal.

Prayer:

   “My Savior, be always at my side and lead me, through this life on earth, to Your eternal dwelling, to Your Father and mine. In the name of Jesus I pray. AMEN!!!”

“The way we know we remain in Him and He in us is that He has given us of His Spirit.” 1Jn.4:13

Reflection:

   God in me and I in Him. This means that I must not let myself be dominated by my natural instincts but must allow the Holy Spirit to be the driving force of my life.

   Is this true in me?

Prayer:

   “Eternal God, pour forth Your Spirit into my heart. Let me go through this life as a pilgrim heaven bound. In the name of…

“The man who loves his life loses it, while the man who hates his life in this world preserves it to life eternal.” Jn.12:25

Reflection:

   Natural life is the foundation of spiritual life; but it cannot become an end in itself because it bears within it the seed of death.

   The spiritual life is active only where there is sacrifice for the sake of God’s love.

Prayer:

   “God of holiness, make me faithful and strong. Willingly I…

“You too go along to my vineyard.” Mt.20:4

Reflection:

   God’s vineyard is not only inside the soul but also outside. It is in the world that we manifest His grace in our soul by doing everything for the sake of His love.

   In this way my ordinary deeds become work in the Lord’s vineyard. Do I think about this every day?

Prayer:

   “My Lord, I give You my entire life. May everything that I think, say, do or suffer be consecrated to…

“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Mk.2:27

Reflection:

   Letter-perfect submission paralyzes and kills. God’s commandments are intended to strengthen and encourage the life of the soul, not to suffocate it.

   The stamp of Christ is love. When this is lacking, the mere observance of the law accomplishes nothing.

Prayer:

   “Heavenly Father, sanctify my heart and fill it with the Spirit of Your love. Grant that…

“This kind does not leave but by prayer and fasting.” Mt.17:21

Reflection:

   Prayer by itself is not enough. It must be made fruitful by fasting.

   This means by sacrifice, by the denial of our own desires, comforts, and search for pleasure. Then miracles can be accomplished.

Prayer:

   “Eternal God, Your grace is my hope and my strength. Grant me a heart joyfully willing to sacrifice, so that I may be worthy of Your help. In the…