Normandt' meditations

379. Why Lord?


Far from publicly denouncing personal mistakes, it would be nice to invite people to let themselves be Loved by God. Real Love is a reality rarely recognized today. The Love of God allows the person himself to discover his faults. The light illuminates the life of the person and reveals the dens of evil.
Then the people of Israel say this:
“Why do we fast, and you do not see it? afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?” Isaiah, chapter 58, verse 3

We could add: When we pray, why don’t you hear it? Because we don’t fast for God or for others, but we fast for ourselves. It’s good to fast, to pray and to do penance for us, but most of all this must lead to thinking about the world in general. If people around the world improve, we are progressing.
God always hears us, but we’re not always watchful to the presence of God with us.

We have thousands of distractions that keep us away from the goal, from our relationship with God. However, everything we do to bring ourselves closer to God transforms us for the better.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Caring for our poverties, Normand Thomas

380. Slaves of the Gospel


Paul is an artist of the good evolution. He gave a new meaning to the word “slave”. Let’s read:
“as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, willingly serving the Lord and not human beings.” Ephesians, chapter 6, verses 6 to 7

Instead of associating the word “slave” with forced submission, Paul introduces it to a higher level of goodness.

Jesus washed the feet of his Apostles like a slave. And Paul understood it in that sense. With all our hearts, let’s freely become servants (slaves) of our neighbour for the glory of God and the salvation of the world.

Let’s work voluntarily for the sole purpose that souls turn from their ways of destruction and take the path of faith following Jesus Christ.

Let’s take the opportunity to be with the weakest of us, in all dimensions of their poverty, to practise our relationship with Jesus. Perhaps we’ll discover that we are the weakest. Let’s restore the dignity that belongs to every person.

Let’s ask God to open our hearts and to lay down his Love. Let’s become slaves of the Love of God, in the good sense of the word. Let’s be constantly generated and generous by Love.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Caring for our poverties, Normand Thomas

381. Jesus opens the book


When Jesus opens the book in the synagogue, he reads the passage that is the reality of God’s Love for all:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Luke, chapter 4, verses 18 to 19
“‘Today,’ says Jesus, ‘it is today that it is fulfilled’”. Luke, chapter 4, verse 21

Love gives freedom when our freedom is connected to God now, every morning, every day, every moment. This Word is the Love of God for all his creatures and for his creation. Let’s meditate on the graces of the Trinity that we received during our life.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Caring for our poverties, Normand Thomas

382. Poverty


The poor have many faces. The rich are poor of something. People who are in the middle class are poor of something. The poor also lack something.

Jesus called Matthew who did not seem poor. He joined him in front of a counter of one of the riches of the country. The fishermen, Peter and Andrew, John and James, were also rich because fishing was a necessary food for families.

What was their poverty then? At the beginning of their mission with Jesus, they all lacked a real and meaningful experience with him. Now, they live the grace of being on the road and following Jesus. Jesus chose them for the mission.

We are all poor of Jesus. We need to live a personal relationship with him.
Real poverty touches every person in their deepest being. If we don’t have Jesus, we are really poor. If we do not live on God’s Love, we are very poor.

What is true wealth? True wealth isn’t found in what we usually have. What we have isn’t all we have.

True wealth is in the heart of the human being. True wealth is when we are in communion with God and his will, who is in our life. God is in our heart. It’s what’s necessary and we already have it. The Trinity nourishes the soul.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Caring for our poverties, Normand Thomas

383. Who is poor?


Who are the poor in the Church? Whom should we give to? And most importantly, what do we have to offer?

James allows us to think about it. He talks about what he sees in his time:
“You pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, ‘Sit here, please,’ while you say to the poor one, ‘Stand there,’ or ‘Sit at my feet.’” James, chapter 2, verse 3

There should always be a constant concern for the poor and the poverty of these people would be almost non-existent. It takes a little discernment and charity to help them. Helping a poor person takes a little time. Valuing it can lead to being much better in society.

But also, some poorly-minded people are causing further poverty to other poor people. They use what is sent to the poor to provide themselves with wealth. Although rarer, there are some who stockpile money, live in well-off apartments, do not work and benefit from others, who are poorer.

This may seem simple, but in practice it isn’t guaranteed to be continually close to the poorest. Or we do not know how to join them or we have few human resources when we take care of them, one person at a time. The task may seem too broad.

We can take them to centres where people can really take care of them and give them some dignity. These people would do them good. That said, if we don’t feel the ability to help them. We are, nevertheless, called to remain attentive to them.

If not, let’s learn and lead others to Jesus who will develop the charism of charity for these particular people.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Caring for our poverties, Normand Thomas

384. Other forms of poverty


There are many other kinds of poverty in the world, such as the lack of true spirituality, the refusal to let God Love us, the ego, the sadness and many other issues that keep the human being subjected to thousands of closures and traps.

Jesus knows the greatest poverty that human beings can suffer; the refusal of God, to believe that God is lying and go so far as to eliminate the Loving God from their lives. The greatest poverty that exists is to not welcome God into one’s life.

Let’s notice that if all the people in the churches of the whole world lead charitably one person to Jesus, one day everybody would be in the service of the neighbour and that would engage them on the way reserved for them.

Let’s accept to follow Jesus, let him cleanse us and transform us. Let’s find ways to increase our faith and invite people to follow Jesus.

Jesus will do the work in their hearts. It will transform their hearts and these people will be freed from intoxication, from their wounds and their closures. They will be with Love, with Jesus.

To follow Jesus sincerely, allows his Love to develop as a gift in us, to be unpacked around us.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Caring for our poverties, Normand Thomas

385. Sweet and bitter


Why:
“Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery?” Habakkuk, chapter 1, verse 3

This question is on the lips of the majority, if not all humans of all time. Well yes, Lord, why do we see all these injustices, this evil, and the innocent ones dying? Why don’t you do anything?

It’s quite normal to have this question, not to be satisfied with what we see, hear, of distress, fears, anxieties when there should be plenty of opportunities, chances, achievements, but these opportunities are lost and too often annihilated. We are quite normal to question this way: “Why Lord?”
It’s because we become more and more prophets and christians. We become a little more like the Lord when we realize that the reality of our world isn’t as he wishes.

God offers his Love, peace, joy, hope and in return we observe, day after day, what destroys these possibilities. These are all the graces received from God that are not lived because they are not welcomed or transmitted.

We’re on the right path! The more God gives us the sweet honey of his truth, the more in our belly the taste becomes bitter with what is presented to us in the world. There are people who are becoming aware of the difference between the reality of God and what the world is doing.

It’s not necessary to add here negative thoughts to what is wrong in the world. It’s high time to bring to the world the graces we receive from God. We have a message of joy, peace, hope, love, etc., to transmit. When our eyes are opened, it is up to us to be missionaries of God and to evangelize the people with his Love.

God does not cause distress in the world, but God is patient and he hopes that the world will convert. God did not create distress. He is Love and he has created humans capable of living from his Love.

God does not drop misery in the world. It is people not listening to his will that causes this misery. God does not make us suffer. These are inhuman acts, by lack of faith, that causes evil to the people, day after day, after day, after day... God never told us to hate, to kill each other. He doesn’t push us toward evil. He’s not the cause of evil.

It’s understandable that we don’t understand that God is so good when there’s so much evil in the world. It’s because God is really good, but humans cover and refuse the goodness of God by turning toward evil. Moving away from God’s Love automatically brings evil closer.

The people who are moving away from God’s Love and doing evil give us the impression that God wants evil. But in reality and definitely, God is not in the wrong. Evil is incompatible with the reality and the will of God. We still have a lot to ask to the Holy Spirit, so that this world will change its ways and listen to the Trinity.

Fear, anguish does not come from God:
“God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy, chapter 1, verse 7

But, does the world welcome what God gives? Do people only bury somewhere in them the Love received from the Lord?

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

386. Reflect the glory


Paul tells us:

“Whenever a person turns to the Lord the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians, chapter 3, verses 16 to 17

We have a veil on that keeps us away from Jesus. Paul adds that when we accept conversion, when the veil falls:

“All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians, chapter 3, verse 18

We reflect “the glory of the Lord” more and more by being with him. To reflect the Light, let’s store it in us. To reflect on the glory of the Lord, we must receive it. When this glory increases, we’re transfigured, as the light covered Jesus during the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor. Carrying this light within us touches the heart of others. We then become full-time prophets.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

387. With or without God


Paul reminds us of a proverb:
“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” 2 Corinthians, chapter 9, verse 6
How do we sow too little or how to sow widely? We see that the harvest is tied to the way we sow.

Sowing a sample means that we don’t let God go through our lives. And by protecting us from the presence of God, we’ll reap little. Our spiritual generosity will increase when we let the grace of God increase in our life.

That said, we could put a lot of effort, make multiple facial expressions to the point of becoming actors, without God or with little relationship with God, and not succeed, eventually.

What to sow? It’s time to give God his place. Let’s watch him work. Let’s work with him to learn from him how to live a blooming life of faith that will yield abundant and quality crops.

If we go there with our own means, we’ll build in a vacuum. God invites us to more than that. He invites us to become more converted to him, to his thought, to his action, to his Word. He will build with us and there will be results.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

388. Let’s be with Jesus


Jesus says:
“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.” John, chapter 15, verse 16

Jesus speaks to the people he has chosen. At the same time, these people, just like his Apostles, must also accept Jesus, receive him, as their Lord.

Jesus gives everything to those who ask the Father in his name. When we’re with Jesus, we’re with the Father. Jesus unites us to his mission and he wants us to be comfortable asking the Father, in the Spirit, everything we need for his mission.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

389. With others


Paul and others are choosing people who can continue the mission of evangelization. Paul met Christ on the road to Damascus and since then he wants the Church to continue what Jesus started in him and in different christian communities. He says:
“We have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts, chapter 15, verse 26

By dedicating their lives to Jesus, they can ask the Father everything they need to continue the mission.

Let’s also ask the Father, through Jesus, to give us the solutions to find other people who have faith and sow together. May faith increase in our parishes and in our hearts.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

390. Healthy fruits


Gamaliel is a man with his mind adjusted to the will of God. It makes one believe that there are good Pharisees, Pharisees who have faith. He’s also a doctor of the law. Gamaliel managed to change the idea of the few who wanted to kill the Apostles. He’s very enlightened and he says to the Temple officials, concerning them:
“‘For if this endeavour or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.’ They were persuaded by him.” Acts, chapter 5, verses 38b to 39

Gamaliel has what it needs to be holy. And they are wise to be convinced.
Let’s not go against God. Let’s observe the fruits of those who announce the dead and risen Christ. Gamaliel has grasped how to discern the presence of the Holy Spirit in these missionaries. Let’s look at the fruits. If the fruits are related to the will of God, they will be beneficial for all and if the fruits are bad, they will destroy themselves. It’s also like this that in the world we can perceive what comes from God from what is not of him. The good is of him, evil isn’t.

As Jesus allowed the Apostles and people to see, God is exuberant when it comes to giving his graces and his gifts. Are we ready to receive them?

May the Eucharist be for us our ultimate receiving of graces, then thanksgiving for all the fruits that it will produce in abundance in our life to nourish the people of God and satisfy the hungry, the thirsty.

May the joy of being united to Jesus fill our lives with blessings. May we share them without measure, as the excesses of God who gives without counting. God exceeds all measures.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

391. God evangelizes


God draws our attention:
“Hear me, O coastlands, listen, O distant peoples.” Isaiah, chapter 49, verse 1

We have moved away or too far away. God invites all peoples to his table, his sharing, his tenderness, his listening.

Our existence is called to flourish under the grace of the Holy Spirit. To open ourselves to God is to let ourselves be Loved and let God inhabit our existence. The more space we give to the Trinity in the world, the more we’ll see God’s actions in our lives, and we’ll be delighted to see him act in others.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

392. God’s Presence


We wish this, as Paul asks:
“We do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” Colossians, chapter 1, verse 9b

We want the world to be filled with the holy presence of God. So, continues Paul:
“Live in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians, chapter 1, verse 10

That’s how we become true christians. Always receive from God, to share with the people around us, helps us to become saints.

When we’re alone and we don’t ask for God’s help, we’re fishing in the void. This is what happens when the Apostles don’t invite God in their boat.
Jesus says to Peter and to us too:
“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Luke, chapter 5, verse 4

They understand the difference between being alone with lost efforts and being with Jesus, he who multiplies the efforts and whose work becomes as efficient as to tear the nets with so much fish. They will need the help of other fishermen to pick up the fish. We need the faith of others to move forward together and achieve good fishing. It’s also important to stop looking at the nets, to only gather around the nets, and just throw them out.

To throw out is to go forward with the Trinity, trusting Jesus. Then we’ll have as a result:
“When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing.” Luke, chapter 5, verse 4

Jesus shows them that with his grace, the quantity of fish is multiplied. Let’s trust in Jesus, when he’s in our life, for the evangelization of our environment, where our two feet are.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

393. We announce him!


The mission of evangelization is the summit of what a person can bring to the world. Evangelization is taking the beauty of the Word of God, of his Eucharist and transmitting holiness to each person. John shares his testimony:
“What we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us.” 1 John, chapter 1, verse 3a

John is precise: “We proclaim now to you.” To announce Jesus, to announce the message that he offers us, to announce his presence in the Word and the Eucharist, saves us. The world needs to hear it. This is the ultimate need of the world.

We’re privileged people to go to Mass, to receive the word of God and the Eucharist, the Body of Christ. We cannot imagine how much we receive graces on graces in abundance. God fills us up.

We’re called as John to announce the Love of God for every person, without exception. John knows what he’s talking about:
“It is this disciple (John) who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.” John, chapter 21, verse 24

John had a special relationship with Jesus and he invites us to live the same relationship with the Lord. The way to remain united to Jesus is that we make him known.

The more people around the world believe, the more we’ll be able to support each other in faith and stay in Jesus. It’s vital for us to announce Jesus to the world. This is the true testimony: for Jesus to be known.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

394. The foundation is Christ


As soon as we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, that we are baptized, and decide to follow Jesus and allow others to discover the gospel, we progress in faith. We progress in the faith as we live a personal and progressive involvement with Jesus, for the world. Paul supports this idea:
“With Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.” Ephesians, chapter 2, verse 20

Everything is built from and on the foundation of Christ:
“Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord” Ephesians, chapter 2, verse 21

More clearly, it is Christ who is the real builder of his Church. But what is exceptional is that he needs us all, without exception. He needed Antony of Padua, the present Pope, Catherine of Siena, Bernard of Clairvaux, and many holy persons whom we may know. Paul confirms it to us:
“In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians, chapter 2, verse 22

Let’s be assured that Jesus has come for us all, and that we all receive equally. The Trinity gives so much Love to every person who receives it. Let’s give thanks to God, who keeps us in his Merciful Love.

We don’t know how to ask Jesus to be with us and help us? Let’s ask him in our heart and let’s be sure he’s heard us. Let’s prepare to receive him well and let him transform us from the inside. Let’s allow some time, before seeing the new shoots. Let’s be patient, we will rejoice.

It’s 100% sure, as soon as we ask Jesus to help us, to be with us, he’s there, since he wasn’t elsewhere. Let’s welcome Jesus! He is here with us.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

395. With Jesus


In what Jesus shares with us now, there’s a clear contrast between the smallness of the mustard seed and its growth:
“It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants.” Matthew, chapter 13, verse 32

To welcome Jesus in our life seems to be nothing at first. Sometimes it can take time, years to develop like mustard seed. While the Lord is preparing our heart, he invites us to patience before discovering the result. It’s official that the Lord works in our life. Let’s allow time and improve with good values, waiting for the results.

Let’s learn to feel the presence of Jesus in us. Let’s get small by inner observation. May Jesus grow in us. Then let him touch people’s hearts.
We don’t think we have a lot of resources in view of the scale of evangelization. Let’s take one step at a time. Let’s be silent in ourselves for months and years. Let’s listen to Jesus. Then we’ll be able to better observe and to evangelize the world. We’ll only have to discover and understand the issues in the world now. We’ll be gradually aware of all the challenges that it entails.

But we cannot do anything alone. On the one hand, we need the community of the Church, to learn the means to evangelize. Then, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will develop various dimensions and goals of evangelization. Even more, for all these stages, we need the Trinity.

The Father creates the seed, the Holy Spirit sprinkles it and gives it nutrients and Jesus carries it to hearts that are hungry and thirsty for Love and all its manifestations; joy, peace, mercy, hope, etc. The seed in us, with the wisdom of God, will give fruit in its time.

We may not see the results, but God sees everything and he knows when we’re walking with him for the salvation of people. With Jesus, we’ll get there.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

396. Evangelize with Jesus


Jesus calls for humility
“What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?” Matthew, chapter 16, verse 26

This message is very important if we want to work (evangelize) with Jesus. During his visit, he showed us how difficult it is to move into a world where many people stay away from God. It’s in this world that we’re sent, because God Loves people, always.

Jesus would like to gather all the sheep:
“How many times I yearned to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you were unwilling!” Matthew, chapter 23, verse 37

That’s what Jesus wants us to understand. It is he who saves, it is he who converts. Jesus wants us in his mission, but he doesn’t want us to be living the mission alone. He’s the one who guides and leads his people, his family, to eternal life.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

397. Succession


Sometimes, when we have worked on a mission and we don’t see a succession on the horizon, we wonder who will continue the work. Jesus has always worked, he has always found witnesses of faith. He will continue to find some. Let’s never think that it is our mission, but Jesus who sends us in a mission to evangelize.

A little push toward Jesus and it doesn’t take more so that each person feels Loved and becomes transformed, respecting their own pace. Only Jesus can win the world, to the extent that people in the world turn to him:

“I myself will look after and tend my sheep.” Ezekiel, chapter 34, verse 11

How difficult it is to leave him his sheep. To take charge of Jesus’s sheep is to stand before him, when it’s better to let him reach hearts.

Are we disappointed of people who don’t seem to be converting to God? The question would be: Do we try and do too much? Do we take Jesus’s place? Do we leave him his people? We then become bridges between the world and Jesus as soon as we understand that he’s the Evangelizer, he’ll convert.

God himself says that it is he who brings back the sheep. Let’s be happy to serve as his research instruments. And let the Holy Spirit touch their hearts:
“The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal.” Ezekiel, chapter 34, verse 16

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

398. Listen


“Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper.” Jeremiah, chapter 7, verse 23

We wish to be happy. We ardently want to be of the family of God. It’s good to be told, “Listen to my voice; then, I will be your God and you shall be my people,” my family. We’re happy.

God invites us to follow the prescribed path. What is the prescribed path? Eliminate what makes us stumble, get away from what leads to evil, keep away from taking something for granted, stop wanting to control, let go of all that is useless, etc., trust, and live in peace and joy.

The resolve to focus on Christ is the only prescribed path. If we embark resolutely on following Jesus, we will want to convert more to him. Do we want to have Jesus as our Lord and Saviour and trust in him completely?
To trust in Jesus is essential. That too is our mission. Let’s take the path he prescribes. Jesus tells us:
“I am the way, the truth and the life.” John, chapter 14, verse 6

He did not say he’s the obstacle, the lie and the death. Jesus said he is “the way, the truth and the life”.

To get away from the way, the truth and the life in God is to harm us, then to harm others. It’s important to ask God for the grace to remain in his joy. Let’s ask for the grace to stay with Jesus.
We are created for Jesus, we’re created for Love.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Joy in heaven!, Normand Thomas