Tag Archives: justice

Transformation

11 Thursday Feb 2016

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Tolerance of Jesus Final
Today’s Reading: Colossians 3:12 Version ESV

If you are accustomed to say, “I cannot stand that person!” maybe you are suffering from an intolerance disorder. Be careful, because the feeling of intolerance is the result of a lack of love and ability to forgive.

When we begin to judge others, we risk losing the sense of justice, peace and joy. Assuming false attitudes of love and forgiveness, does not solve the problem. To disguise our tendency for intrigues and confusions will only sprout roots of bitterness and develop trees of dullness and weariness.

Every day we find ourselves in a number of situations that require patience and understanding. As Christians, our attitudes should transpire kindness, humility, patience and gentleness.

Every day we must face evil with good. However, doing good, when we are paid with evil, always brings about criticism and humiliation in a society where profits and compensations are thought of as the norm.

It is good to remember that the only profit or advantage that we should seek is a peaceful heart, a clear conscience, the joy of doing the will of God. With Jesus we learn the way of tolerance and transform the difficulties and aggression of life into opportunities to live, to forgive and to love our fellow man.

Ildefonso Torres

Love

15 Friday Jan 2016

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The Love of Jesus Final
Today’s Reading: 1 John 4:10 Version CEV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A10&version=CEV

Love! Love! A word so small, so simple and yet often misunderstood and sometimes unknown, in relation to its real meaning.

To talk about love is to talk about Jesus Christ, because for Him love is much more than an abstract idea: it’s a lifestyle.

To worship God and to love our neighbor is a way to show love. And love can be demonstrated through forgiveness, understanding, justice, brotherhood and intercession.

Jesus’ teachings were made in the form of phrases, filled of love, whose contents he demonstrated with his actions. Many were touched by the love of Jesus, many! Paralytics, epileptics, blind, possessed, and none stopped from being struck by the love that came from heaven.

There is no emptiness in the human heart that cannot be filled by love. And we, creatures of God have the ability to love because He loved us first and sent his only Son to die for us. Is there a love greater than this? Would you be willing to die for your friends?

Jesus tells us to love those around us and only then we will become his disciples.

Ildefonso Torres

Power And Love

26 Thursday Nov 2015

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Power of Good
Today’s Reading: Mark 7:21-23 Version CEV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+7%3A21-23&version=CEV
In contemplating so much corruption, so much evil, so much selfishness and violence, we think, “All is lost, there is no hope for humanity. It seems that there is no room for kindness, brotherhood, love, understanding between people. The power of evil has spread everywhere, generating hatred, enmity, fights and even death”.

You cannot see death, cannot touch it, but you can feel its effects. Evil comes from the depths, into the heart of people. The Lord says: “Out of your heart come evil thoughts, vulgar deeds, stealing, murder, unfaithfulness in marriage, greed, meanness, deceit, indecency, envy, insults, pride, and foolishness. All of these come from your heart, and they are what make you unfit to worship God.”

However, all is not lost. We think, “Good has been defeated again; but from the ashes he raises to truth and justice. Hatred, violence, lies, envy, crucified Jesus. In the darkness of that day, the forces of evil could have danced and celebrated the victory. But that did not happen. Jesus rose to life, conquering death and sin and all it represented. It was the strength and power of God’s love that triumphed over hatred and evil.

Do good, stay close to Jesus and love your neighbor. This world will not be transformed by hatred and violence, but by the power of justice and the love of God.

Ildefonso Torres

Christian Mind

19 Monday Oct 2015

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Communication or Manipulation
Today’s Reading: Philippians 4:8 Version-ESV
How and where do you spend most of your free time? You’ll be amazed if you sum up the hours spent watching television each week. Now, add to that the time spent on the Internet or reading newspapers. The news media act directly on the development of our personality.

The big problem is that, behind the communication or information, there may be a real manipulation of our feelings, thoughts, behaviors and needs. The media businesses make us buy certain products, we do not always need. Although not as much as before, today the ads of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes are presented and portrait with aura of victory, success, intelligence. Nevertheless cancer and other diseases caused by these products are not given much emphasis, of course!

But it is not only commercials, or a harmless novel, it can be simple news that become popular instruments of direct manipulation, by putting forward the idea or the mastery of certain ideologies.

The Christian’s mind should be occupied with, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise.” Our life cannot be manipulated or dictated by the media, only by the Word of God.

Ildefonso Torres

Salt

15 Thursday Oct 2015

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Salt Needed
Today’s Reading: Matthew 5:13 – ESV
For Jesus, his followers would be the salt of the earth. What is the meaning of those words of Jesus to the practical life of his followers? Consider two aspects of salt. First, the salt has a different flavor and function than the elements on which it operates. Second, salt penetrates the elements on which it is placed.

Just as salt has a different taste and function than the different elements of which it operates, Christians must preserve the values ​​that represent their identity. They should keep their ideals and principles, regardless of pressure or threats. Only then can they make an impact on society. The Christian is the salt of the earth. This means that their influence on society depends on their difference and not their intimacy with the world.

Just as salt preserves your food, the principles of morality and justice of the Christian faith have a force capable of controlling the selfish tendencies of men, preventing society from degenerating and ending in anarchy.

To preserve their identity, their values, ideals and principles, Christian produce radical changes in the society where they live. The disciples of Christ are called to bring the purity of Christ to a world where moral values ​​are low, changing or nonexistent.

Ildefonso Torres

Mustard Seed

14 Wednesday Oct 2015

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God's Kingdom
Today’s Reading: Matthew 13:31-32 ESV
Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed, a small seed that preserves life within. Even being so small, it shelters inside, in embryonic form, the tree and its fruit.

The seed is a symbol of hope. It is small and doesn’t seem to be very important but, when planted, it develops and produces fruit. This is the ideal in the heart of people: It is hope that turns into acts of love and goodwill.

The disciples of Jesus time, like ours, are ordinary people who work, shop, suffer, but have something very special in their hearts.

To follow Christ is to be carried away by love, justice, joy and many other aspects that show the presence of the Kingdom of God in our lives. However, we cannot keep to ourselves these qualities of our new life. If they exist in us, we must share them.

We can ask ourselves: Do I live the joy of knowing God? Do I show the peace and love of God, in a crazy and lost world like ours? It will only be a drop of goodness in an ocean of evil and corruption. No, it’s not a drop of water in an ocean, it’s a tiny seed. It always germinates, grows and fructifies. This is the miracle of the Kingdom of God in the world!

Ildefonso Torres

Discouraged

04 Sunday Oct 2015

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Discouraged
Today’s Reading: Philippians 4:13 ESV
An old story is being told about the devil’s decision to sell all of his tools. Among them were: hatred, malice, and many other instruments used to separate people from God. In a corner there was a section with a seemingly harmless instrument called “Discouragement”.

They asked the devil: Why is this instrument so expensive? And the devil said: “well, because this is the easiest instrument to use, as nobody imagines it’s mine” With this instrument, I can easily break the door of the heart. Discouragement leads people to quit and stop using love, justice, peace and all the detestable things of the Kingdom of God.”

That story illustrates a little-known truth: no battle is won with discouragement. Discouragement is synonymous with failure. Discouragement destroys our day, our will, and kills our hope and vitality.

The good news, however, is this: we were empowered to overcome discouragement. The Bible teaches us that we can face all situations with the power that Christ gives us.

Do not let discouragement control your life. On the contrary, have faith and feed your enthusiasm with the power of Christ. Prepare to fight, now!

Ildefonso Torres

Justice Is Better Than The Ritual

27 Sunday Sep 2015

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Justice or Ritual
Today’s Reading: Mathew 5:6
Justice is more pleasing to God than a religious ritual, because justice is one aspect of the character of God. So when injustice prevails, God’s name is desecrated.

Who is the son of God; he is the son of justice. And if the “sons of justice” didn’t take care of the compliance of justice where they live and act, justice will increase its scope of action. Our lives should be guided by normal and known integrity and a sense of justice; and more than that, a burning desire of justice. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Hunger and thirst for justice is not being “righteous” but to live every day under God’s principles and contribute to live under those principles that are around us. The child of God does not take justice into his own hands, but trusts in God and wait for His decision.

To trust God, who judges wisely, is not staying with arms crossed. We live according to the will of God and reject oppression, torture, violence, outrage, inequality, prejudice and other forms of injustice.

If in fact God’s justice reaches us through Christ, we will reflect in a natural way, by our conduct, the righteousness that God requires of man.

Ildefonso Torres

Friendship: Comfort And Comparison

02 Wednesday Sep 2015

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friendship-2
Today’s Reading: Proverbs 18:24; 17:17
What is, truly, a friend? A friend is an instrument of comfort. It is the person to whom we entrust our secrets and fears and from whom we receive comfort. Before a friend we have the audacity to show the innermost aspects of our lives.

We do not expect from him careless irony or destructive criticism. The hand of a friend is a help and relief hand. A friend is also an instrument of comparison. He makes us love justice and avoid evil. A friend is used by God as a mirror in which we see the reflection of the wickedness and the hardness of our hearts.

A true friend not only speaks words we like; what we want to hear. A true friend is not flattering. He participates in our joy, but disagrees with our mistakes. The hand of a friend guides us and disciplines us.

Being a friend means to have love and be faithful. It’s not possible to be faithful without love. Love comforts, fidelity compares. Jesus wants to be your friend!

Ildefonso Torres

Patriotism

04 Tuesday Aug 2015

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Patriotism
Today’s Reading: Hebrews 11:13-16

Christianity is like a refugee. He lives in the world as a pilgrim. His life is based on faith, because he walks in one direction to a final destination towards a safe home, a superior homeland. In this he believes. It is not a mirage in the midst of difficulties, sufferings and anxieties of life, but a certainty. The certainty that God prepared a city. Naturally, a country with no borders or distinctions of language, race, color or nationality. Christ is the only Lord, without any human government.

Heavenly Homeland is not a fantasy of the Christian, nor prevents him to participate actively and constructively in the care of an earthly homeland. On the contrary, the principles of the New Nation are already reflected in their behavior and character. Christ is already his Lord and Christ principles are his law. So, Christian, following the principles of the Gospel, will be distinguished by their moral attitude, honest demeanor, fulfillment of duties, loyalty to others, their defense of law and justice and this is just patriotism.

May our lives be constructive and beneficial, and with God’s help we can convey to others the hope of a heavenly homeland.

Ildefonso Torres