Food for Thought
SOMETHING TO GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO DURING THIS LENTEN SEASON…..
Finding Freedom Through Forgiveness and Repentance
When five-year-old boys get in a fight, they seem to be able to get past their differences quickly. But for adults, repentance and forgiveness seem much more difficult. Perhaps it’s because we can tell the difference between saying or hearing a cursory “I’m sorry” and humbly asking someone – or being asked – for forgiveness.
We can become more forgiving persons only as we come to see how much we have been forgiven by God. As we become more sensitive to the sins and defects in our own lives and turn to the Lord in repentance, we find not only that He is eager to give us His mercy, but that repentance itself leads to a new grace that can transform us. We find that forgiveness not only leads us closer to God; it also leads us closer to our brothers and sisters in Christ. The Sacrament of Reconciliation offers us the opportunity and the grace to be reconciled at all times with God and with one another. Taking our faith personally means that we say often, both to God and to those close to us, “I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” It also means that when we are asked for forgiveness, we readily forgive. How different our world would be if every Christian practiced this essential element of our faith!
——”Taking it Personally – How Your Catholic Faith Can Transform You”—-by Leo Zanchettin
Working for God on Earth doesn’t pay much…but His retirement plan is out of this world. ………..Author Unknown
Hearing God’s voice in a Busy World…………..
Have you ever noticed how quickly people can react when the phone rings? Have you ever “dropped everything” to answer? Some calls are urgent. Others are simply invitations to chat. Whatever the purpose of the call, we want to ensure that we have the chance to respond. With the advent of answering machines, caller ID, and e-mail, we are nearly guaranteed not to miss a single message. If telephone calls from family and friends are so important to us, how much more so are the messages God wants to give us and the conversations he wants to have with us!
Many people have lost a sense that God wants to speak to them on a daily basis. Although many Christians know that they should pray, they may lack confidence that they can actually hear from God. How can we discern the Holy Spirit’s/God’s voice from that of others?”
….. Taking It Personally, How Your Catholic Faith Can Transform You by Leo Zanchettin
CONSIDER THE PAST 24 HOURS….I know that God has been present to me because this is Jesus’ promise. Have I felt, seen, or acknowledged His presence during the last 24 hours? Was He present in some situation, person, or suffering? Did I realize that presence and give Him thanks at that moment? Or have I spent these last 24 hours totally unaware of God’s presence in my life? If I have acknowledged Him, let me now give more thanks and praise. If I have not acknowledged Him, let me ask for forgiveness. Then let me recommit to TRY to acknowledge His presence in the coming 24 hours. “O Lord, help me to be more aware of your saving, personal presence in my life every day.”