Christy Gabriel's Blog (128)

“The power that has conquered the world is this faith of ours.” 1Jn.5:4

Reflection:

   Faith has a conquering power over the world. It joins us to the Conqueror of the world, risen from the grave.

   The more solid my faith is in Christ Jesus, our Lord, the better I will triumph over the world with its sorrows and its joys.

Prayer:

   “Heavenly Father, grant me a living faith that I may discover eternal things behind those that are merely…

“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” Ps.118:22

Reflection:

   Rejected by human beings on Good Friday, acknowledged by God on Easter Sunday and made the chief cornerstone - Christ takes His place in the center of history.

   Those who place their foundations in Him and His Church will never be lost. However, those who reject Him will themselves be rejected.

Prayer:

   “Christ, my King, I promise to be…

“Did not the Messiah have to undergo all this so as to enter into His glory?” Lk.24:26

Reflection:

   Every sorrowful way is a Divine way that can lead me to eternal happiness.

   Therefore, I want to follow it strengthened by keeping my eyes on Him Who goes before me and helps me carry my cross.

Prayer:

   “God of love, the Cross is to me the key to paradise. Let me never forget this so that I will never reject it. In the name of Jesus I…

“This day you will be with me in paradise.” Lk.23:43

Reflection:

   This is God’s answer to the supplicating cry of the repentant thief.

   God does not reject anyone who even at the last minute raises a longing and repentant heart to Him.

Prayer:

   “Heavenly Father, I come before You like the prodigal son. Be merciful and lenient to me, especially in the hour of my death. In the name of Jesus I pray. AMEN!!!”

“My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass Me by. Still, let it be as You would have it, not as I.” Mt.26:39

Reflection:

   My Father, if it is possible… But this was not possible for the Redemption.

   In like manner, God cannot take every cup away from me, because this is necessary for my salvation.

Prayer:

   “Father, I know that it is not the human will but only Your will which is our Paradise. May Your will alone…

“We too must lay down our lives for our brothers.” 1Jn.3:16

Reflection:

   To love means to give our most prized possession, our very selves, our own lives. Am I ready to do this?

   Is my life faithful to the words: “One for all.”? Only in this way can I be Christ – like and worthy of Christ.

Prayer:

   “O my Savior, Your entire life was a loving immolation. Let my own life be filled with deeds of love, so that I may become like You. In the…

“The way we came to understand love was that He laid down His life for us.” 1Jn.3:16

Reflection:

   God has loved us even to death on the Cross. Never can we doubt God’s love for us.

   Anything coming from His hands is love, nothing else but love, Divine love.

Prayer:

   “Most loving Redeemer, I give You thanks because You love me so much that You have died for me. Grant that I may love You back in the same manner. In the name of…

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.” Gal.5:24

Reflection:

   It is a manifest contradiction and indeed impossible to wish to belong to the innocent Christ and, at the same time, still live in sin.

   A life of union with Christ demands a daily crucifixion of the flesh, absolute denial of everything that separates us from Him.

Prayer:

   “Lamb of God, take my heart with all its…

“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…