Ephesians 4:32

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (Eph 4:32).

(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2013/10/28/francais-parole-de-vie-de-novembre-2013/)

The experience of God's forgiveness is what can change us from the inside, because it makes us experience the generosity of His mercy and an inexhaustible possibility of life . In the first place is not our possible conversion, but the joy of forgiveness, joy above all of God in offering us His forgiveness . Jesus in the reception of sinners gives us a glimpse this joy. The three parables that make up the fifteenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke (15:1-32) clearly convey the good news: God is a good father, his home is a safe space . The focus of the three stories focuses on the joy of God for change.

In the parable of the lost sheep attention is drawn to the activities of the pastor who searches: he leaves, goes behind, until it finds. And precisely to the intensity of the search is connected the joy of finding again. God rejoices in forgiveness. The parable tells us what God feels, not what the sinner must do. The sympathy of God and his love for the sinner precede the conversion. We convert because we are loved . We convert because we are forgiven. The shepherd goes in search of the lost sheep because it continues to be precious in his eyes. How beautiful it is to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation: it makes you experience the joy of God which becomes your strength.

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Un’Esperienza di Vita:

As I walked with my load of "lollipops" I noticed a crowd of people around a boy: he had stolen and sold a pack of cigarettes in order to eat something.

When things like this happen here with us the police are not called, but they beat you badly right on the spot.

How to get off the hook that guy who was not such a villain like they wanted to make it appear? From my proceeds of the day I took the money and I paid for him. And so calm returned and I was able to warn the boy. After a few days I passed by that area again: a person recognized me and stopped me, remembering the episode of the cigarettes; he thanked me for the example I had given.

K.Y. - Camerun

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P.s.

Perhaps you will find interesting these three documents which I published on my blogs:

 

The Masonic Plan For The Destruction Of The Catholic Church

http://spir-food.blogspot.it/2013/11/masonic-plan.html

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The “Prophecy” of Saint Francis (Assisi)

http://spir-food.blogspot.it/2013/11/prophecy-st-francis.html

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Prophecies of Blessed Anne-Catherine Emmerick

http://spir-food.blogspot.it/2013/11/prophecies-emmerick.html

Ramans 13:8

“Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law” (Rom. 13:8).

(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2013/09/28/ottobre-2013/)

WHAT IS TRUE LOVE AND WHAT IS FALSE LOVE?

All the virtues must be governed by the virtue of prudence, otherwise all the other virtues are no longer virtues. St. Thomas Aquinas ranked prudence as the first cardinal virtue, because it is concerned with the intellect. Aristotle defined prudence as "right reason applied to practice." It is the virtue that allows us to judge correctly what is right and what is wrong in any given situation. When we mistake the evil for the good, we are not exercising prudence - in fact, we are showing our lack of it. Because it is so easy to fall into error, prudence requires us to seek the counsel of others, particularly those we know to be sound judges of morality. Disregarding the advice or warnings of others whose judgment does not coincide with ours is a sign of imprudence. Prudence “guides the other virtues by setting rule and measure” (CCC 1806, 1788; see also: Summa Theologica II-II Q47-51).

IF ONE HABITUALLY TALKS ONLY ABOUT GOD IS ALL MERCIFUL but without talking about, in the same talk and in the same context, “go and sin no more”, as Jesus did in the Gospels (Jn 5:14; 8:11), there is a great tendency to take the easy way of not seeking to amend ones life with the help of God. If one only talks about “go and sin no more”, without talking about, in the same talk and in the same context, the infinite mercy of God, one can easily fall into despondency or desperation. Here is where the hidden deception lies which causes great damage, of not presenting the essential elements of God revelation, for a particular situation or topic, together in the same talk and in the same context!

SATAN CONTINUALLY SEEKS TO UPSET THIS BALANCE; if we do not heed the teachings of the Church regarding the maintenance of the proper balance in these important areas, great harm is done to individual souls, communities and to the whole Church, and thus to the whole world.

AGAIN IT IS NECESSARY TO REFER TO THE TEACHINGS OF THE MAGISTERIUM OF THE CHURCH FOR PROPER BALANCE AND INTERPRETATION, otherwise we can so easily go with the group mentality that has slowly neglected this divine guidance, and slid into a type of false ecumenism or a false mercy of misguided compassion, while forgetting that each one of us must also be “wise as serpents” (Mt 10,16), and study the documents of the Church regularly and often. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (published 1992) was a great gift to the faithful of the Church, but very few Catholics have a copy of this precious guide in their own homes. How many pastors neglect to talk about mortal sin and its earthly and eternal consequences, especially about those mortal sins most common today? Is this true love, or is this love only for this very short life while putting aside the criteria of eternal salvation according to divine revelation?

IF PARENTS TELL THEIR CHILDREN ONLY WHAT THE CHILDREN WANT TO HEAR, will the children be ready to confront a very difficult world full of temptations and pitfalls? Such children, with gravely imprudent and negligent parents, are not trained as good soldiers or good athletes to be able to win, to win eternal salvation in the “dour combat” of life (CCC 409). Such parents, and such priests and bishops, have not prepared us for this “dour combat” and thus we were not trained to strengthen our spiritual muscles of defence against the subtle and clever onslaughts of Satan. Our Lady has very often urged the faithful to pray for the priests and bishops.

“Negligent religious leaders are often afraid to speak freely and say what needs to be said – for fear of losing favor with people. As Truth himself says, they are certainly not guarding their flock with the care expected of a shepherd but are acting like hirelings, because hiding behind a wall of silence is like taking flight at the approach of the wolf. These are the people whom the Lord is reproaching through the prophet, when he says: ‘THEY ARE ALL DUMB DOGS, THEY CANNOT BARK’ (Is 56:10) … If a religious leader is afraid to say what is right, what else can his silence mean but that he has taken flight? Whereas, if he stands firm in defense of his flock, he is building up a wall for the house of Israel against its enemies. And so again the sinful people are told: ‘Your prophets have seen false and foolish visions for you; they have not exposed your iniquity in order to provoke you to repentance.’ (Lam 2:14) …” (Pope St. Gregory the Great; Office of Readings; Sunday, Week 27 of OT).

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An Experience of Life:

The other day we had returned home so tired and strained that I almost lost control and we talked in such a strong way that I was even afraid of the reaction of my husband; I really thought that our marriage might have reached an end.

I then tried, as much as I could to “repair” that situation, but he was very angered by my way of doing things which had been stronger than my own words.

The next day I had some errands to do: I would have had to go to help a very poor family. But I immediately thought that it was becoming an escape if I did not go first to ask pardon from the one who felt offended due to my behavior.

I threw out that self-defence which I had at the bottom of my heart, those useless thoughts that were suggesting to me: “Basically he too was wrong; it seemed to me that he was the one to start it all, I was so tired…”.

I knew that precisely that day my husband had a very important meeting and I had a certain fear of his reaction given the fact that the other evening he did not give in… but… I telephoned him and I ask his forgiveness. He forgave me and with that freedom that is given by way of feeling forgiven and loved, to go and try “to do something good” now had sense!

F., Panama

Galatians 5:14

The whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself’ (Gal. 5:14).

(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2013/06/26/amerai-il-prossimo-tuo-come-te-stesso/)

Love according to Jesus and love according to our culture which surrounds us today are totally opposite. If a person does not struggle everyday with much prayer and meditation on the Word seeking to live the Word together with other true Christians, very easily, rather, automatically, one slides into the mentality of this world which takes advantage of others with hidden and disguised egoism.

This altruistic love, instead of (false!) “love” of egoism, is exemplified by the story of the good Samaritan. The path of a new humanity is that which passes by way of the transformation of the heart, from indifference to recognizing the other, to take care of the brother that needs us. Because the God that we love and in which we place all our trust is like this: God is the One Who has compassion for man, He is the One Who in Jesus made Himself neighbor to each of His creatures.

Jesus concludes the story by ordering, “Go and do likewise”. Here Jesus does not reassert a law. It is instead a proclamation of the Gospel: in Him, the Samaritan, God took care of me and loved me; because I too, healed from my illness, might love Him with all my heart and the brothers as myself. If in fact, Jesus is the Word which became close so that one might put the Word into practice, then to be the neighbor is no longer, for anyone, a distant goal, unrealistic or unattainable. If Jesus, the Samaritan, took care of me and loved me, I too can love God and neighbor, I too can show my solidarity with those who are in trouble. And one really loves the neighbor if one looks at him with the eyes of God

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An Experience of Life:

One day the house keys, the salary of the husband and other valuables disappeared. Who was it? The author of the theft must have been someone close to the family ... This caused great suffering for Mirta Zanella (Argentina), so much so that she could not even pray. Then, remembering that Jesus invites us to forgive, she forgave, even the person who robbed her. After a few days it became known that a lady in distress who begged for alms in the area and with whom she had for some time a cordial relationship, stole from a neighbor's house: while she threatened the woman with a gun, her husband carried off the stolen goods. Even Mirta, some time later, received from this woman serious threats and to defend herself called the police. The woman was arrested and convicted for various crimes and sentenced to 17 years in prison.

In the months following Mirta’s husband suggested to her to visit this woman in prison. "In no way!", she responded also because she was afraid ... Shortly after a new request: this time it was a priest of the parish, who proposed to go with a group of other ladies to the women's prison, where, among others, was imprisoned the woman who robbed her. A little confused, Mirta accepted, remembering the words of the Gospel: "Go therefore and learn what this means: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice." She went with the group, to the prison and at the conclusion of the Mass she saw the woman. It was a moment: she decided to greet her with a hug. Mirta recounted: "She began crying and asked forgiveness. I told her that the Lord had already forgiven her and I too had forgiven her. She asked me to pray for her children and I promised her I would."

John 8:7

“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (Jn 8:7)

(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2013/03/01/marzo-2013/)

In a climate of confusion, uncertainty, distrust, there are many erroneous explanations and answers, but a lived faith gives us confidence: Some people do not lose sight of us.

Jesus opens a new path: salvation! Paul, in his letter to the Philippians (3:8-14), speaks of his own "newness" after his encounter with Jesus Christ. His is a true "miracle of Easter": it draws him out of himself, from his pride, he acquires new eyes and a new heart, he meets the Risen One and - consequently - lives a new life.

The newness is also present in the Gospel. The adulterous woman, in the encounter with Jesus: "Woman - he says - where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?".

"No one, sir," replies the woman. "Neither do I condemn you."

Amazed at so much love, she feels loved and forgiven: she is now a new creature, able on her part to love and forgive.

But this gift of forgiveness is received if one lives also the words that Jesus said to the adulterous woman at the end: “Go, and do not sin again”, as we say in the Act of Contrition: “I firmly resolve with the help of thy grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin”! Thus for the very numerous people WHO HAVE LET THEMSELVES slid into relativism, “the most profound difficulty of our time" (Pope Benedict XVI), the sins remain not forgiven!

In his homily at the Mass preceding the conclave that quickly elected him Pope Benedict XVI, then Cardinal Ratzinger said: “How many winds of doctrine have we known in recent decades, how many ideological currents, how many ways of thinking. The small boat of the thought of many Christians has often been tossed about by these waves - flung from one extreme to another: from Marxism to liberalism, even to libertinism; from collectivism to radical individualism; from atheism to a vague religious mysticism; from agnosticism to syncretism and so forth. Every day new sects spring up, and what St Paul says about human deception and the trickery that strives to entice people into error (cf. Eph 4: 14) comes true. Today, having a clear faith based on the Creed of the Church is often labeled as fundamentalism. Whereas relativism, that is, letting oneself be "tossed here and there, carried about by every wind of doctrine", seems the only attitude that can cope with modern times. WE ARE BUILDING A DICTATORSHIP OF RELATIVISM that does not recognize anything as definitive and whose ultimate goal consists solely of one's own ego and desires.” (http://www.vatican.va/gpII/documents/homily-pro-eligendo-pontifice_20050418_en.html; http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/features2005/colson_relativism_may05.asp).

On the other side of the coin are those who are quick to judge while being blind to their own sinfulness and hypocrisy. Objectively we must judge right from wrong according to the actions of others so as not to do the same as well as praying and offering our sacrifices for them and then perhaps offering a word of advice at the right moment with love and humility. But subjectively, that which is going on inside the head of the one who is objectively doing wrong, his motives, the graces receive from God, his personal life history, etc., only God knows this, and thus only God can judge this person’s culpability.

On the left side are those who presume that all is ok according to their relativistic mentality. “Today, I was led by an Angel to the chasms of hell… But I noticed one thing: that MOST OF THE SOULS THERE ARE THOSE WHO DISBELIEVED THAT THERE IS A HELL.” (Diary, 741).

On the right side are those who are fond of doing as the Scribes and Pharisees who brought in a woman who had been caught committing adultery. THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES WERE BLIND TO THEIR HYPOCRISY even to the point that Jesus said: “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:20). “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Mt 7:3; Lk 6:41).

Both sides of the spectrum lack humility and trust in God and thus are not trying to see things from the point of view of God but from their own point of view as if they decide what is right and wrong as the serpent tempted Adam and Eve (Gen 3:4-5).

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An Experience of Life:

I was 17 years old when, expecting a baby, I got married: after ten weary years I got divorced. Then I met Mark, my current partner. To this failure was added the awareness that a clear relationship with the Church and perhaps with God was ending: as a divorced person I would not have been well received in the Church anymore.

What would I have been if a priest had not told me, "God loves you immensely, even as you are?". If he had not kept me in the Church despite my condition? I felt that in the parish there was a place even for me. And from this point my journey of faith was resumed. The first fruit was the desire in me for the need of prayer, the Mass and even the Rosary. My life has changed and along with mine also that of Mark and of my son Lorenzo.

I discovered that all the past pain had a meaning, it was linked to the cry of Jesus on the cross: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" To that cry I tied the pain of not being able to receive the Eucharist, I tied the review of my previous marriage with the ecclesiastical tribunal. The lived experiences of others in the Group of the Gospel that I frequented are precious to me where there are many who are living now what I went through before.

(Cecilia, Modena)

1 John 3:14

We know that we have passed out of death unto life, because we love the brethren (1 Jn. 3:14).

(http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2013/02/01/febbraio-2013/)

In order to pass from death to life, it is fundamental to forgive. It is very difficult to forgive, in fact, to be able to forgive a great offence is impossible without asking the help of God.

King David was a good man. Before Saul, his enemy, he saw beyond the law and did not avenge himself.

He deeply lived the "golden rule" of the ethic of all religions inspired by God, “Do onto others as you would have them do onto you”.

Many of us are good, aware of the fragility of human nature: it comes natural to be merciful, compassionate, forgiving in certain circumstances of life.

But Jesus wants our goodness to be the same as that of God; He asks us the maximum, the impossible for our fragile human condition: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you ..." .

The truth is in the absurdity of Calvary when, at the height of the greatest injustice, resounds a dying voice: "Forgive them, for they know not what they do."

The wars of all kinds, the walls, the divisions, the courts, the order of the laws are institutions of a world that is believed true and correct, and instead is a collection of absurdities.

Give me Lord the warm tears of forgiveness, peace and mercy, the richness of giving, the measure of God in every action and so I will live Your very Own Life.

The world continues to dream, while You will tell us "blessed" freeing us from "Woe to you".

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An Experience of Life:

For a seemingly trivial reason there was born a huge misunderstanding with Ahmed, an Egyptian friend who suffered a delicate operation and who I love as a brother.

I was unusually very angry.

Since I had to leave for a meeting, we met to make peace and everything seemed resolved.

Having returned after about a week, for some reason I could not get in touch with him. Finally one night I went to his house (it was the third time) and I ran across him on a nearby street.

"I can not forgive you – he immediately said to me - I can do this with my enemies, because I am not really interested in them, but I am not able to forgive the ones closest to me.

I told him: "I ask you again for your pardon and forgiveness. It is true, there was a misunderstanding between us. I am not surprised that you can not forgive me. It is normal, no man can do this. Only God, Allah, can help us. It is His gift that He gives us if we ask Him. If you agree, let us do it together, praying in silence."

The road was lit and quite popular because of its proximity to the station. Silently we focused our concentration for a good amount of time and we prayed to God the Father (which Ahmed calls Allah).

When we finished he looked at me and said: "I have forgiven you; it is the first time that I did this immediately".

"Of course - I replied - this time it was possible because we asked God and He gives this to His children."

While walking together, I also said: "Do you see, we all need to be forgiven. In the Gospel it is written how to do it: If you forgive little you are forgiven little, if you forgive much you are forgiven much, if you forgive all you are forgiven all. This is written in the Gospel and applies to all men. Surely there are things just as beautiful in the Koran: If you can, look for them and show them to me".

We were full of joy.

"Listen Ahmed - I asked - what do you think if we thank Allah."

We again stopped and quietly, intently, we thanked Him.

Francis C., from "The New City"

Matthew 18:22

“I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven” (Mt 18:22).
(http://www.domusviridis.org.uk/wol/1999/wol9909.htm)

It is not easy to live this word of Jesus. In fact, in many cases, it would be impossible without the help of God (Mt 19:26)! But what happens when this word is not lived? This is what we see before our eyes everyday. There are nations in the state of latent conflict, as in the Middle East, where terrorism is the reply to a situation seen as offensive and oppression, and reprisal is the reply to terrorism. There is still applied to the letter “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”. This is the political wisdom of men. They do not realize that this way of doing things, as St. Paul tells us, is folly (1Cor 3:19). It does not resolve anything, it does not break the chain of evil, but perpetuates it and aggravates it. Revenge produces revenge, and so it will be, unfortunately, until the end of the world. This is the reality, but we have understood that this is not the Gospel with its invitation to forgiveness for those who have gone wrong, but it is “the reality”. But let us not let ourselves be upset by the disparity between the ideal and the reality, but let us continue to commit ourselves to striving to bring forth the Gospel, beginning with ourselves. Who, when finding himself in his living place, does not have at once a few pardons in suspense to courageously offer?

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An Experience of Life:

Young Jerry, a small black boy from Washington, had already learned to live these words of Jesus. He was put in a special class at school because of his high I.Q. All the other children were white. But his intelligence was not enough to make his classmates understand that he was their equal. They didn't like him because he was black, and when Christmas came and they all exchanged presents, they left him out. He was upset, as you can imagine. But when he got home he thought about Jesus: “Forgive… Love your enemies”, and with his mother's permission he went out and bought gifts which he gave with love to all his “white brothers and sisters”.