Normandt' meditations

[Normandt]

135. These fruits are to share


James tells us:
“Everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of a man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.” James, chapter 1, verses 19 to 20

One of the practices that help us become better, through a life of faith in motion, is to slow down. Slowing down isn’t necessarily laziness. Being slow to talk or get angry, for example, allows us to be more vigilant to the internal movement of our lives. Often, what is done in a hurry doesn’t yield much result except in necessity and urgency.

It’s an invitation to change lanes:
“Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.” James, chapter 1, verse 21

God’s Word saves. Let’s welcome the words of wisdom for the well-being of our body and soul:

The one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed in what he does. James, chapter 1, verse 25

It’s never a waste of time to welcome God and his Word, the Verb, into our lives. Let’s practise everything God teaches us. We will reap the benefits. These fruits are to share.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

136. The movement of his Love


Paul offers us a moving sentence:
“I kneel before the Father.” Ephesians, chapter 3, verse 14

We fall to our knees, we stop in our footsteps with Paul, because the Father’s Love is eternal, infinite, quite simply. We fall to our knees to lower ourselves before the length, width and depth, before the movement of his Love.

We don’t lower ourselves because we are oppressed or submissive by an overwhelming force, we do not lower ourselves because we are crushed by a proud person, by a selfish person.

We lower ourselves, because we recognize that the Father is all that we hope for, everything we dream of. It’s all there is to it. We fall to our knees to offer ourselves to God, since we are nothing without him. We recognize it.

By going inside our heart, we have a multitude of reasons to give thanks to the Father. We are amazed in front of him.

In all humility, we also lower ourselves before Jesus who has lowered himself to come into the world and lead us to eternal life. Jesus also lowered himself to wash the Apostle’s feet. And we let ourselves be Loved by the Spirit with a heart turned toward him, to receive him, to welcome him.

We lower ourselves before the Holy Spirit, we thank him because he is Love who is God and who unites humanity with him.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

137. We develop healthy and holy ways


Paul also invites us to a relationship with God:
“We have not received the spirit of the world [wordly] but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given to us by God.” 1 Corinthians, chapter 2, verse 12

The Spirit we receive is God’s. Paul is convinced and convincing. He’s living so deep the presence of God that he recognizes and receives his action in his life.

To leave to God a place in our life supposes that we have left something out, that we’re achieving some cleaning of the past of certain harmful or even destructive habits. Thus, the future will not clutter our minds.

As soon as we leave the Holy Spirit a unique place in our hearts, our habits are transformed, our attitudes become charitable, we develop healthy and holy ways of thinking, seeing, understanding the reality of the world and the heart of the person.

As soon as we ask the Trinity to help us and to enter our lives, we progress for the better, immediately. We feel a light breeze guiding us to the One God. If we do not feel it, we are not paying enough attention.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

138. Love finds its source in God


This passage is clear:
“The natural person does not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God.” 1 Corinthians, chapter 2, verse 14

The person who only relies on his strengths and abilities is like a discount battery rapidly losing energy. He is not aware of what God is doing.

A person has reserves of love. But if he’s not connected to the Love of God, if he’s not connected to the source, he comes to believe that love comes from him. He may also believe that love comes from his family or from others, without reference to God. He is divided (disconnected) from God.

comes only from others. We place the merit on the person and we do not think to thank the source of Love. We may become proud.

We can say of a person that he is good, but kindness comes from God. We can say that a person is beautiful, but beauty comes from God. We can say that he is strong, but strength he receives from God. Everything that makes life good, beautiful and strong is God’s. Although we try to love as best we can, true Love comes exclusively from God.

It would be very risky to give another meaning to the word “love” and not recognize that true Love is from God. That’s what we do in general. We try to extinguish the meaning of God’s Love, try to distort it. We will not succeed. Love always finds its source in God.

Jesus’s teaching surpasses us:
“All who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.” Luke, chapter 2, verse 47

Jesus’s authority has no resemblance to the frowning eyebrows and the forefinger pointing to others. The authority of Jesus is discovered by his Love and his desire that we live from it.

By his Word, he leads us to the best, the real, the right, and helps us to become complete in truth. Let’s get closer to him. We will live a real evolution, a normal transformation.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

139. God is here, let’s trust!


Sometimes, to come back to God, we think we have to cry out, because suffering holds us and doesn’t let us go. But we don’t have to scream.

Shouting is a sign that we have gone too far. We have moved away from God. God is here, let’s trust! God chases us with his Love! And his arrows are joy, peace, hope, mercy, life, love, etc.

We cry because we don’t want to live in the negation that keeps us away from God. We shout because we forgot that God is always with us. Within the walls we have created for ourselves, we believe that God is no longer there.

We locked ourselves in and closed the windows. After our cry, the storm will calm down, the dust will fall and we will have no reason to cry if we turn our heart to God.

It’s a good reflex to turn to him. Shouting is not a fault, but it’s not the end result.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

140. Peace promised by Jesus


This sentence reminds us that God is here:
“He will be gracious to you when you cry out, as soon as he hears he will answer you.” Isaiah, chapter 30, verse 19b

God answers us as soon as we cry. This is the sign that he is close. When we have enough, when we stop wanting to do everything alone, when pride accepts the transition to simplicity, peace and joy, when we are saturated with being exploited with injustices, it’s no longer necessary to cry out to the Lord.

We then cry for joy since we have turned away from our closures or the injustices we suffered. We turn to God. We shout for joy, because we understand the difference between the harm others are doing to us (or ourselves) and the pure, just, true, and righteous Love of God. We open ourselves again to grace, to the Love of God. Our heart becomes interested to being in his presence.

We read in the Gospel:
“Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness.” Matthew, chapter 9, verse 35

May we trust, Jesus has not ceased to travel endlessly to our heart. May we trust, open our hearts to salvation, to peace promised by Jesus. Jesus, I trust in you!

Jesus is already there, simply, without noise. We can talk to him before we scream. He invites us again to open our hearts wide, for God to live in it and to work with us.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

141. Our thanksgiving to Jesus


The light illuminates our way when we are driving. It would be very risky to venture on a road at night without headlights on. We may not get very far. And the danger of damage and injury is great.

This is what happens in our lives when we do not give God the leisure to enlighten it. We are at great risk. Instead of opening ourselves to life, we may close our hearts. Then fear becomes imminent.

When our road is lit, it becomes more visible. The only temporary errors that remain are the fact of moving away from the light again or not being cautious enough.

Let’s enter happily into the light that God gives us. Let’s get back to it quickly. Let’s thank God for his light, enter into communion with him and our hearts will open ever more. We are also invited to go deeper into our hearts, to thank Jesus for the treasures we find there.

Let’s take some time to discover these treasures and offer our thanksgiving to Jesus. The treasure that has greater value is our heart, since Jesus lives in it.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

142. The dawn of the new day


The fire of earth [Jesus in our heart] shines in heaven. It enlightens all those who take refuge in God, welcome him and accept to live with his light. To the young people gathered in Rome in 2000, Pope John Paul II said of Jesus:
“He is the beauty to which you are so attracted; it is he who provokes you with that thirst for fullness that will not let you settle for compromise; it is he who urges you to shed the masks of a false life; it is he who reads in your hearts your most genuine choices, the choices that others try to stifle. It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives.”
World Youth Day, Prayer Vigil at Tor Vergata, August 19, 2000, number 5. Vatican Site:
World Youth Day: vigil (Tor Vergata, August 19, 2000) | John Paul II

Let’s put on the garment of light that leads us to the dawn of the new day. Let’s have the courage, the will, the desire to transform the world through Love, with God.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

143. The Lord is with us


Jesus Loves us, he doesn’t force anyone and he sets us free. Jesus accepts what we want and he will not give more than we ask. Freely, if our request is not precise, we risk finding ourselves with very little.

Sometimes we ask, but we don’t believe in it. Sometimes we want to follow Christ, but there are too many things or people who hold us back, or we aren’t vigilant enough.

Sometimes the Lord will take his time, because we are not in a hurry to change lanes. Sometimes asking something from the Lord will lead us where we would not want to go. It helps us to grow in faith because we have to learn to adjust to God as true disciples. Let’s check carefully whether our requests really lead us to the house of the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit.

God can do anything and everything is offered to us. But it is still necessary that we accept what comes from him. When the priest says, at the beginning of Mass: “The Lord be with you,” the Lord is already with us, but he always leaves us free to answer, to want God present with us.

This does not mean: “The Lord may be with us.” We know that the Lord is always with us, but do we still want him with us, again and now? That’s the question. At each mass, we are free to answer.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

144. Path to holiness


This sentence can make us think of all those who dare to recognize that God is their only possible path to holiness:
“‘Come! let us go to implore the favour of the Lord’; and, ‘I too will go to seek the Lord.’” Zechariah, chapter 8, verse 21

Me, whatever the case, I will seek the face of the Lord, I will look for it and I will find him. I have decided that my will, I will place it in a safe place, in God’s Heart. Let’s find him, together!

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

145. Jesus leads us to salvation


We go and come from different places, but:
“Jesus is resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem.” Luke, chapter 9, verse 51

Jesus could have simply followed the road to Jerusalem like many people every day. However, he embarked on the road with a mission, the only mission he had in Heart and in his Head, which is leading us to salvation, in truth.

This is what the saints like Therese of Lisieux, Francis of Assisi, Padre Pio and people we know have done. As quickly as possible they reached the highway to holiness.

What is the mission that leads us today to holiness, Love in God? The first mission is to make sure we are on the straight path to the Heart of God. If not, where are we heading, to which unknown place? Where are we heading to?

Wherever we are going to, let’s go in faith and with the conviction that Jesus is with us. Jesus is with us.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

146. Delight the hearts of the people


To begin a mission for us and for humanity, we start with Jesus. He is the cause, the reason and the purpose for the Mission.

To accomplish it, there is only one solution, that Jesus be our Lord and Saviour, our Master. If we want to help the world to improve, to find values, to become holy, Jesus will transform us, at our request and according to the trust we will entrust in him.

Mary is the perfect example of an intimate and renewed relationship of Jesus in her. Mary still evangelizes us today through the mission she accepts from God.

Holiness in the world begins with holiness within us. Without our will to live an improvement of life and faith, we reject Jesus’s blessing. Then, Jesus cannot help us evolve.

Holiness solely depends on our relationship with Jesus. The improvement of our existence depends on our intention to receive everything from the Lord and to let ourselves be Loved by him.

The mission received from God is to familiarize ourselves with Jesus, to receive his teaching, to follow him. Let’s become committed persons to increase our faith in his presence.

In this way and becoming more and more filled with God (our mission), his Light, his Love, and the other manifestations of his Love, at the good moment, will unfold, join and delight the hearts of the people (evangelization). These people will also be encouraged to follow the Way, the Truth and the Life, to follow Jesus.

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

 

[Normandt]

147. His plan of Love


“Hear me, O coastlands, listen, O distant peoples. The Lord called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.” Isaiah, chapter 49, verse 1

At the beginning of our existence, when we are in the womb, and even before we find ourselves there, the Lord calls us to him and to his mission. It’s extraordinary that the Lord already has a plan for our life, whether we are a little foetus or even when we were only a small cell.

God creates us and he is with us from the first moment of our formation until we return to him. His plan of Love, he offers it to us. He knows us perfectly, since he is the Life that gives us life.

We become aware that we exist. Then we discover that all that we are comes from the Heart of God, our Creator. God is Creator and present for all, without exception.

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

 

[Normandt]

148. Connected to the source


God has a mission for us:
Now the Lord speaks, he who has fashioned me from the bosom of my mother to be his servant, that I bring Jacob back to him, that I will gather him Israel.
“I am made glorious in the sight of the Lord, and my God is now my strength!” Isaiah, chapter 49, verse 5

The service in which God inscribes us, what he wants, is that we become servants of Love. It is already inscribed in our being. He created us Love and he is waiting, all the same, for a precise answer from us. That’s the responsibility we have. It is the decision of our whole life: to be servants or not of Love.

He invites us to live with his Love, to be connected to the source and he also wants us to be love for one another. Let’s think of this, there’s no better and beautiful life than having as foundation the infinite Love of God to live and to share. Eternity becomes familiar with this mission:
“I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Jeremiah, chapter 31, verse 33

God confirms it to us. His law of Love is inscribed in our heart. This law is to be received. Do we want it? But beware, in accepting the law of God’s Love, we must also accept to live our life fully with him, to want to taste the joy and peace continually, to receive all that is the manifestation of his Love and to know we are Loved!

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

 

[Normandt]

149. The call we receive


Sometimes we have ups and downs. Our life is not always in a straight line. There are sometimes curved lines. And we know that we can wander far before a return to the natural base of life offered by God. In society as in the Church, it is similar, their members live ups and downs.

King Josiah has had a long journey. He repented. He moved back into his life and he adjusted. He makes a commitment and concludes that it’s good to put his life in God’s hands:
“Standing by the column, the king made a covenant before the Lord that they would follow him and observe his ordinances, statutes and decrees with their whole hearts and souls, thus reviving the terms of the covenant which were written in this book. And all the people stood as participants in the covenant.” 2 Kings, chapter 23, verse 3

What a person can manifest by his faith and freely uniting himself to God in his covenant, when he testifies to it, enables others to dare to be in a natural union with him. As a result: “All the people stood as participants in the covenant.” His testimony of faith attracts people in the same direction.

Whether we are aware of it or not, the Covenant with God is the sole searching of every person, without exception. Even if we go away with our bundle, God calls us from the depths of our being. The call follows us everywhere.

To enter into the path that leads us to the Heart of God is the definitive call we receive. But even if we are marked with Love, it implies a decision on our part, as for King Josiah.

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

 

[Normandt]

150. Foundation of faith


Sometimes we think that we have to do many things and find solutions to be accepted by God. But it’s much simpler. Let’s just ask him to help us find him. Let’s just accept him in our lives by saying, “Yes, Lord, I want it, be my Lord, my guide and my master. I want to follow you. Teach me how to stay on the road with you. Thank you Lord.”

There, it’s done. Then, we can remember that we told him “yes” to his will on us. Every moment, we want to let him join us. Let’s pray, then watch our life improve and that of others too.

Let’s not worry about what does not seem to work at the beginning of a conversion. To get out of a traffic jam, we wait for the stopped cars to advance again, then we move slowly and stay behind the others, until we can drive more freely, but always with caution.

Vigilance teaches us to return to the foundation of faith in Jesus, especially during a trial. We continue to be careful not to stray from the Lord, even after passing the test.

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

 

[Normandt]

151. United to him forever


We can say to God:
“Lead me in the path of your commands, for that is my delight. Direct my heart toward your decrees and away from unjust gain.” Psalm 119, verses 35 to 36

May our heart look toward the Heart of God and not on the side of lusts, illusions, the “mundane” of this passing world. May we not wait to gain to become happy. We want to remain in his Love. With God, we will have all that’s necessary for our survival. We are happy now, with whom we are, in him.

Jesus wants to teach us. This is the foundation of the mission. Jesus wants to detach us from human and material goods. But, that doesn’t mean to become insensitive, to shut ourselves up. Not at all.

Detachment is to be free from useless ties. It helps us to know each other and to know people better. It also helps us to use material stuff for the sole purpose of bringing us closer to Love, by sharing, for example.

Jesus surrounded himself with Apostles because it is important to be united to others. Jesus didn’t want to be alone. He knows it’s important to surround himself with people. And he doesn’t mention to deny our family.

He proposes to live as a christian, like him, to become who we are to evangelize and to create important and significant relations with all, through his presence. He is the centre. He wants to teach us the foundations of faith. Let’s allow ourselves more time to know Jesus. To trust in Jesus is part of the desire to be united to him forever.

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

 

[Normandt]

152. Faith in Jesus


John the Baptist is so right in saying these words:
“He must increase; I must decrease.” John, chapter 3, verse 30

Following Jesus is not diminishing. But we understand what John teaches us. To follow Jesus is to become humble before whom he is and to appreciate the gift of his person freely given to us. Even though he is God, Jesus thinks of us, wants to live with us, wants to dwell in us and pass through us to touch the hearts of people.

Even if we aren’t perfect, let’s remember that it isn’t us that people must follow, but Jesus. May the people not follow our personal difficulties, because we are struggling to become saints, but that they absolutely follow the Honest, the Pure, the True, the Perfect, Jesus.

When we understand that Jesus is the only one we need to follow and receive his teachings, we discover even more that we aren’t perfect. This is the beginning of healing, of openness to reality that leads to the path of holiness. We will develop the desire to give him more space in our lives and we will accept to make him present for our contemporaries.

Jesus must find more space in hearts. Otherwise, the evil in the world will increase. It’s one or the other, the Love of God who raises us or moving back from his Love, the slip to the evil and the pain of the loss. Let’s be sure to let faith in Jesus grow in us. Let’s not think we have succeeded.

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

 

[Normandt]

153. A journey to eternal life


John the Baptist declares the reality of who Jesus is. He is inspired:
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” John, chapter 1, verse 29

If there’s anything the world should remember about Jesus, it’s that he cleanses us from sin. Especially the sin of wanting to take his place. To understand Jesus “the Lamb of God” let’s develop a sincere relationship with him, observe him and listen to him. We will be stunned by him. May we take the place that is ours. It’s a privilege!

We know how hard it is to keep a promise. It’s better not to make a promise, because it’s quite possible that we cannot hold it. But Jesus fulfills what he promises:
“This is the promise that he made us: eternal life.” 1 John, chapter 2, verse 25

Is there a better friend than being with Jesus? To remain with Jesus and to follow him is to guarantee ourselves freedom, to offer ourselves a better life, a more confident and well-adjusted life. For if we have Jesus as a friend, we will be better equipped to face the difficulties and the more difficult moments. With him, we are already in a journey to eternal life.

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

 

[Normandt]

154. Jesus is here


After choosing Jesus as a friend, we have the opportunity to welcome him as a teacher. It’s difficult to trust God with everything we hear, what they suggest in the world, but it’s up to us to create a relationship with him. Let’s verify by ourselves and with competent people, verify who God really is. Let’s not rely on half-measures, half-words, half-explanations. We want to know the true Jesus. He’s always present and waiting for us to place our trust in him.

God is Love and a Master who is Love is the best Master who exists.
A prophecy:
“‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said”. John, chapter 1, verse 23

Let’s find all the means to create a bridge between us and Jesus. Let’s enter our heart and constantly search for our master. He always lets himself be found, and especially in the good, the right, the beautiful, the true and the real, that we live and observe in people.

Let’s find some time to find Jesus. Let’s learn to be patient with ourselves, because we often block the way. Let’s learn to free the surface of the bridge, to better see on the other side. Let’s free the course so that we can quickly reach the shore where Jesus is standing. The sooner we find him, the more we will improve the quality of our lives. Jesus is already here. Let’s find him, he’s easily found.

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