Normandt' meditations

[Normandt]

155. God is present


Here’s a testimony of people who have allowed the Lord to establish himself in their lives. People flourish, they enter a new life, in the eternal promise. Even the unfortunate will live in joy:
“The deaf shall hear the words of the book; And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see. The lowly will ever find joy in the Lord, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah, chapter 29, verses 18 to 19

But what are we watching today? Faced with so much misery in the world, did the world understand Isaiah’s prophecy? We could conclude that God is not as present as we would like.

But it’s the people who are turning their backs for many reasons. In reality, God is more than present, but there are people in the world who don’t let him open their hearts. They block the passage between them and God. Then, they try to block the passage of those who believe. They think and try to manage the world at their convenience.

There are some who are nevertheless interested. The deaf hear the Word. The blind see God, they receive the Eucharist too. The humble ones recognize themselves in God, they rejoice. The unhappy exult immediately while they meet him and listen to his Word.

May hearts open up to the presence of the Lord and we will witness more and more small and less small miracles. There are so many people who need to hear that God is with us and that he offers us his Love, that he Loves us.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart's mission, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

156. Faith in Jesus


Have we discovered God’s Love in our hearts? Isn’t it the best way to help our neighbour to let God simply pass through our heart, to ignite it? Jesus will guide us and show us what we are called to become:
“Here comes with power the Lord God, who rules by his strong arm; here is his reward with him, his recompense before him. Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.” Isaiah, chapter 40, verses 10 to 11

How comforting! The Lord illuminates his servants. The people who enter the service of the Lord are the people who have accepted him in their hearts and in their lives.

With two blind men, Jesus makes them discover that faith in him is the solution to their discomfort:
“‘Let it be done for you according to your faith.’ And their eyes were opened.” Matthew, chapter 9, verses 29 to 30

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart's mission, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

157. Behold Mary


Mary and all the saints help us to stay on the road of faith through their experience. Jesus offers us to behold Mary as our Mother. Let’s recognize her as Mother of God:
“Standing by the cross of Jesus was his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” John, chapter 19, verses 25 to 27

Jesus’s message is also for us, “Woman, behold, your son”. As Jesus introduces Mary to John, we are also Mary’s children. John wasn’t forced by Jesus to welcome Mary home.

Let’s read the Catechism of the Catholic Church which is a simple and practical prayer. Let’s just read the important points about Mary, what the Church believes and teaches about the Mother of Jesus in numbers 963 to 975. Let’s meditate especially number 971, why we pray with Mary, why she helps us in the mission:
“‘All generations will call me blessed’(Lk 1:48): ‘The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.’ (MC 56). The Church rightly honours” the Blessed Virgin with special devotion.

From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honoured with the title of ‘Mother of God,’ to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs... (...).

This very special devotion ... differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration. LG 66); The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God (see SC 103) and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an ‘epitome of the whole Gospel’, express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.” (cf MC 42.) Catechism of the Catholic Church - IntraText

The worship given to Mary is different from that reserved to the Trinity. But it’s essential. We worship the Trinity, but we pray with Mary. Mary adores and prays the Trinity with us. She is for us an example of faith and life with Jesus.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart's mission, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

158. Mary pray with us


Marian worship is at the service of the Trinity and for the people. The recognition of Mary’s grace in our world and especially her relationship to Jesus should lead us to cry out with joy, to accept God as she did and then to do the will of the Trinity.

Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with you (Message of the Angel Gabriel),
blessed are you among women
and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus. (Her cousin Elizabeth)
Holy Mary, mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death (It is our request to Mary that she helps us and pray to Jesus with us, so that we persevere in faith following her Son and that we may enter the promised eternal life, in the Heart of God).
Amen. We worship Jesus in Mary’s belly.

Let’s notice that all christians are asked by someone to pray for them. It’s mutual help and it’s a service of charity to pray for all. That’s what we’re asking of Mary too. Mary, pray with us. Mary prays for us. She prays that we turn to Jesus.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart's mission, Normand Thomas