Yesterday I returned from my annual Roman Catholic retreat and, WOW, did I ever learn something shocking. I must admit, though, that I should have known this revelation long ago; was I ever BLIND!
What I learned was from a meditation written by Father Joseph Langford, MC, co-founder of Mother Teresa’s priests’ community. It is excerpted from his book, Secret Fire: The Encounter That Changed Her Life and How It Can Transform Your Own (© 2008, Published by Our Sunday Visitor). In the meditation, we are invited “to picture Jesus right next to [us], saying [these] words directly to [us]:”
“…I come with My mercy, with My desire to forgive and heal you, and with a love for you beyond your comprehension, a love every bit as great as the love I have received from the Father…”
WOW, is this ever mind-boggling!!! Jesus loves you and me as much as our Heavenly Father loves Him, His only begotten Son, our Lord.
A Son who, in lovingly obeying His Heavenly Father’s will, became the Saviour of mankind. A Son and Lord who saved us from the snares of the devil, by willingly accepting His suffering and agony during His Passion. By being crucified and dying on the cross — by His Holy sacrifice — he redeemed mankind from sin and restored order to our fallen, disordered human nature.
Do you doubt His love for you is that MASSIVE? If so, read Jesus’ very words from the Holy Bible:
“As much as the Father has loved me, I have loved you…” (John 15:10)
I read this passage before, however I didn’t read it slowly and I didn’t meditate upon it — I didn’t ask myself what Jesus’ words fully and truly meant. And so, I completely missed the profound meaning and extreme importance of His message.
This is a reminder to me that if I want to grow spiritually and build a close and strong relationship with God, I must ALWAYS read His Word, the Holy Bible, SLOWLY followed by ALWAYS meditating upon it.
The second best way of getting to know God and His ways, is perhaps by reading and studying the lives of the great Saints of the Church.
Their lifetime of experience in their route toward holiness and purity — in their journey toward God — can guide us more easily during our own passage. Such great knowledge, insight, wisdom and foundation — if learned and applied to our daily lives — will help us make right, wise and Godly decisions. It will help us avoid the snares of the devil and our disordered society.
There are a plethora of great Saints to assist us. Who are these Holy people of God? Who are these Saints? They are ordinary people who didn’t give up and ended up accomplishing so much. Mother Teresa (Saint Teresa of Calcutta) — whom we all know — is one such example.
Let us all invite the Saints to be our MENTORS throughout our journey.