Christy Gabriel's Blog (128)

“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…

“Whenever you pray, go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in private.” Mt.6:6

Reflection:

   To pray in our room means to immerse ourselves interiorly and exteriorly in silence and recollection. This is no way excludes a joyful profession of faith.

   Christ prayed frequently enough in public and with a loud voice. Would I have the courage to do the same?

Prayer:

   “God of holiness, fill me with holy fear in Your…

“John was clothed in camel’s hair, and wore a leather belt around his waist.” Mk.1:6

Reflection:

   How completely different is Christ from John His precursor! His piety is natural and life-endorsing. His message is a message of joy. There is nothing gloomy about Him; everything is bathed in light and love.

   What is my attitude toward the things of this world? Why do I think that I must become unnatural and opposed to life in order to be…

“Power went out from him which cured all.” Lk.6:19

Reflection:

   Christ wishes to reveal Himself as powerful in our weakness. He waits only for us to reach out to Him with unshakable faith.

   Even today His power is manifest. Why don’t I try to reach out to Him?

Prayer:

   “Omnipotent Father, strengthen my faith and my trust. Grant me all the graces that I need. In the name of Jesus I pray. AMEN!!!”

“While we live we are constantly being delivered to death for Jesus’ sake.” 2Cor.4:10

Reflection:

   We are not like Christ if we do not share in His sufferings. His Passion must become my passion.

   This is how I show forth His life within me.

Prayer:

   “Savior of the world, be my guide in all my ways. Help me, so that at difficult times I may remain faithful to You. In the name of Jesus I pray. AMEN!!!”

YBU all !!!

“You will live in My love if you keep My commandments.” Jn.15:10

Reflection:

   God desires obedient children who show their love through the faithful fulfillment of their duties.

   Love is not only an emotion but an action, a living action. Is this true of my love?

Prayer:

   “Merciful Father, save me from indifference and mere external worship. Let me always try to follow in the way of Your commandments with ever…

“For when I am powerless, it is then that I am strong.” 2Cor.12:10

Reflection:

   Of themselves, human beings are nothing, but with God’s grace, they are everything.

   God bestows His grace upon all who acknowledge their own weakness and pray with humility and confidence.

Prayer:

   “Eternal God, let me recognize the riches of Your grace. May I be forever grateful to You and worthy to receive additional grace to deepen my spiritual…

“Come by yourselves to an out-of-the-way place and rest a little.” Mk.6:31

Reflection:

   Our inner life needs the best; it needs solitude. Indeed, the soul needs times of silence that it may not be overcome by dissipation. In this way it can be recollected in God and be prepared for all the tasks and struggles that lie ahead.

   During this time of meditation we communicate with God and learn what He expects of us. Do I regularly seek this…

“For here we have no lasting city; we are seeking one which is to come.” Heb.13:14

Reflection:

   Faith in eternity does not seek to escape from the world, but rather to conquer it. Let’s not proclaim ourselves as incompetent but as sacred. Let’s attend to our daily tasks with courage and joy, always carrying our eternal goal in our hearts so that we may not be lacking in perseverance.

   This should be our daily task. Do I measure up to…

“And the world with its seductions is passing away, but the man who does God’s will endures forever.” 1Jn.2:17

Reflection:

   I am also part of the world, subject to its temporal law. But God’s love has called me to eternity. I live, to be renewed; I die, to live forever.

   It depends upon my faithful fulfillment of God’s will whether my life  will be one of everlasting joy. Am I faithfully fulfilling His will?

Prayer:

   “Heavenly…

“Everyone who grows angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment.” Mt.5:22

Reflection:

   A wicked thought destroys the foundation of human society and uproots mutual trust and love.

   Hence, Christ demands a perfect and fraternal kindness that will not tolerate even a bad thought about one’s neighbor, for external courtesy and politeness are not enough. What is my attitude toward my neighbor?

Prayer:

   “God of love, grant…

“You are not of the world.” Mt.5:14

Reflection:

   How can I in my surroundings be a light that will illuminate the dark lowliness of daily life; a light that warms, enlightens and vivifies?

   I can do so only if I myself am in the luminous circle of God. Christ must enlighten me. Then I will be able to radiate His light widely and effectively to others.

Prayer:

   “My Lord and my God, You are my light and my strength. Grant that…

“Like a weaned child on its mother’s lap, so is my soul within me.” Ps.131:2

Reflection:

   Ambition and selfishness make us demanding, uneasy, and unhappy. The more I try to correspond to everything that God gives me and to renounce those things that He denies me, the more peacefully and happily I shall rest in Him.

   I shall try to trust in God like a contented child lying in its mother’s arms.

Prayer:

   “Lord, grant me a…