Tag Archives: love of God

Rest

06 Tuesday Oct 2015

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Rest -2
Today’s Reading:Matthew 11:28
For many people, to rest and enjoy life is almost a sin. “Work dignifies man,” they say. Because of that they work, work, work. We live in a generation of people who worship work and work late hours that should be devoted to rest.

One day, a small girl interrupted her father with these words: “Dad, I want to tell you something, but I’m going to say it quickly.” Sensing the frustration of the child, the father replied: “You can talk, dear, and you don’t need to talk fast, speak slowly.” The response of the small girl then, was immediate: “Slowly, dad! Are you sure?”

One of the reasons for us to rest is this: rest offers us the opportunity to reflect on the goodness and love of God. A friend, amid many commitments he considered urgent, had the beginning of heart stroke. Although he was helped, he had to remain at rest for two weeks. In that period, he asserted: “I had time to think about life and about God.”

Do not wait until an illness sends you to a hospital bed to think about life, death and God. Live your life with ease and make time to rest. And during the rest time, remember the love and goodness of God in your life.

Ildefonso Torres

You All Need Love

23 Wednesday Sep 2015

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Spirit of Love

Today’s Reading: 1 John 4:19-21
“You all need love,” said an old song, performed by a group whose members separated because of hatred.

Love and hate cannot coexist. Because ” But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.,” it is what the Bible says.

The fruit of love is forgiveness and hatred is the result of the dispute. We are always in the middle of this battle. At every step, we have to choose between love and hate, between forgiveness and strife.

That fight is tough, so we must remember: nobody faced such hatred as Jesus, and no one has responded to the hatred with love.

The love of Jesus, which brings forgiveness and life, enables us to love one another, sweeping our hearts hatred and strife.

“We love because he first loved us,” says the Bible. And he says: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

Ildefonso Torres

How Do We Bear This Suffering?

18 Friday Sep 2015

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Suffering
Today’s Reading: Luke 22:42
How should we face suffering? Many complain, others are poorly prepared, and still others gnash their teeth.

It is always best to be prepared for the difficult hours of life. For example, when someone leaves the safety and comfort of his home to venture into a storm, he or she must wear appropriate clothing to better resist the ravages of wind and rain.

We must also be prepared to face the suffering. The first temptation we have, in the hour of suffering, is having doubts about the wisdom, power and love of God. The love of God enfolds us in the most difficult hours and fills us with strength, courage and understanding. His love makes us steadfast and invincible.

Christ is an example for us. He faced suffering with humility and determination. He said, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

By following the example of Jesus, we will not flee from suffering, but we will face it with faith, serenity and perseverance.

In the hour of suffering we must say: “Lord, in this hour of suffering, give us courage and faith, serenity and confidence, to comfort those who suffer around us; certainty and understanding, to see in suffering an opportunity to grow and fellowship with you, in Jesus name. Amen.”

Ildefonso Torres

Violence

07 Friday Aug 2015

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Violence

Today’s Reading: Genesis 6:11-13; Titus 1:7-8
Violence is already part of our daily lives. The fear of suffering, the challenge that it provokes, drives us to take certain precautions and work with some habits that give us more security and at the same time take away the pleasure of a free and untroubled life. The harm caused by violence is not only the threat it represents. We discover that violence is within us, dominate our reactions and our reflexes. It invades homes and disrupts family relationships; inhibits the expressions of love and understanding among men and encourages intolerance and hatred.

As Christians we must understand that violence is the product of a consciousness dominated by indifference to the needs of others, sadness and especially the lack of a sense able to control the destructive force of evil that nests within us. With Christ we learn that the love of God, that is within us, is the only force able to encourage us to adopt loving and human attitudes; to motivate us to be tolerant and sympathetic to the weaknesses of others.

Ildefonso Torres