Good News Reflection
September 14, 2014
FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
Sunday’s Readings:
Numbers 21:4b-9
Psalm 78:1bc-2, 34-38 (with 7b)
Philippians 2:6-11
John 3:13-17
When Things fall apart, Focus on God’s love
Meditation from Rick Warren and the Word among Us
Complaining is an indication that we’ve let our heavenly expectations push aside our earthly need to trust God. “Do not forget the works of the Lord,” the responsorial Psalm reminds us. Complaints mean that we have forgotten.
So when you feel like you’ve lost everything, stop focusing on what’s lost and start focusing on what’s left: God and his love for you.
The Gospel reading tells us that Jesus came down from heaven. That’s humility! Would you or I leave the comforts of heavenly perfection to enter into the bad, mean world to mingle with bad, mean people?
Did Jesus complain? He got upset sometimes, but he never complained, not even when they beat him and nailed him to the cross. Instead, he prayed for his persecutors. Because of this absolute love, we know without a doubt that “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world.”
Focus on God’s unconditional love. Remember that you can’t make God stop loving you. God loves you. He is God — the eternal, all-knowing, infallible God who created you to love you and will never leave you. Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The Lord is all I have, so in him I put my hope.” You don’t know God is all you need until God is all you’ve got. But that’s all you need, because God will take care of you.
“The thought of my pain and my homelessness is bitter poison. I think of it constantly, and my spirit is depressed. Yet hope returns when I remember this one thing: The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The Lord is all I have, so in him I put my hope.” (Lamentations 3:19-26 TEV)
We need to change our thinking. We need to remember, “The Lord is merciful and will not reject us forever. He may bring us sorrow, but his love for us is sure and strong. He takes no pleasure in causing us grief and pain” (Lamentations 3:31-33 TEV).
When your world is falling apart, it’s so easy to focus on the pain, the problems, the pressure and the difficulties. It’s the natural response. But the biblical response is to turn your focus to God’s love.
The Cross, the Ingenious Love of our Father
Benedictus Vicimus
The perfected love of our Father
The greatest love that was given us
When everything falls apart, love will find ways
God will make ways, for His beloved children
In the darkest, farthest path we chose
God will find ways to bring us to life.
Even with our pride and most mortifying moment to disregard him
He will still forgive and lead us back to His righteousness
The Mighty works of God to sustain us, to save us and give us salvation
Even if it will cost the suffering and crucifixion of his Only Begotten Son
The ingenious love of our Father, includes the Humiliation, Sufferings and Death of Christ
All for each one of us, BECAUSE HE LOVES US DEEPLY TO RESTORE US
It is the cross that reminds us of His love
It is the cross that brings us back to the Life everlasting
It is the cross that erased all our sins and our incompetence to show our gratitude to His love
It is the cross that gave us back the privilege to be the sons and daughters of God
The ingenious works of God, the cross
Through the cross, we are forgiven and has peace
Through the cross, we are enjoying the blessings of our Father in Heaven
Through the cross, we can enter the Kingdom of Heaven and find the ultimate happiness with Him
His ingenious love allowed us to humbly aspire to inspire and live with His harmony
His ingenious works empower us to act, to live, to speak in Righteousness and Holiness in His name.
His ingenious mercy allowed us to have mercy, to purify and sanctify our life and the lives of others.
His ingenious Holy Spirit will lead us, protect us, and enlighten us so we can continue to live in His Grace to appreciate the Provisions and Promises of God till life everlasting. Amen.
John 3:16-17
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
Prayer of the soul
Prayer before a Crucifix
Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus while before Your face I humbly kneel and with burning soul pray and beseech You to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity; true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment.
While I contemplate, with great love and tender pity, Your five most precious wounds, pondering over them within me and calling to mind the words which David, Your prophet, said to You, my Jesus: “They have pierced My hands and My feet, they have numbered all My bones.” Amen.
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