Love One Another - Be Strong

Beads of Joy 03-30-10

Love One Another - Be Strong
©2010 James Dacey, Jr. SFO

Tuesday of Holy Week
Hello Everyone,

It seems like we are on a similar tone like yesterdays blog and scripture. Today we are reading John 13:21-38 (Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial) Jesus teaches us here that He has given us a new commandment, "A new commandment, I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." v.34. Can we obey such a commandment? Can we follow Jesus to the cross by putting everyone else before ourselves? By God's grace we can. The society we live in, is all about self. It's sad, but Jesus' way is opposite the grain of the new world we live in. Yes I purposely said new world. This so called perfect world that some politicians think can be created; is actually a very diabolical way of destroying all that we value amongst the faithful, and given to the ungodly. We as Catholics, must stand strong in our faith. Me speaking personally for myself: I'd gladly die defending what I believe in my faith, I will never deny Jesus. I refuse to go to my grave and have to explain to God that I gave into everything that offends Him. Nothing, I'll say it again, NOTHING in this life should ever derail your love for Jesus, Nothing. Be strong, be bold. This world can not take, destroy or kill anything that is in your heart. No powers or authorities, or legislation can touch it.

This reading also spoke of how Peter was going to deny Jesus three times. Ok there's another example we can also learn from. Peter in all his wisdom and all his love for Jesus; still fell victim to the very weakness of the world around us that I was just talking about. But we know what he did and how he handled it. He got himself right back on track with God asking for forgiveness. Watch the scene in the movie The Passion of the Christ. Peter after denying Jesus three times, fell to his knees before Our Blessed Mother and clearly acknowledged his wrong doing and his unworthiness. I realize that's a movie. But we all know Peter repented. We must do all we can in our weakness, hold strong and not give up. We will fall, no matter who we are or how strong we think we are, remember we all will fall from time to time. No one is so perfect, and if you think you are; then in my opinion your not out in the trenches enough fighting to defend our Lord and sharing His love with others. Just my opinion. But to me, your not a hero in a battle if all you do is watch it on TV.

Look at the Stations of the Cross as a clear example of how Jesus who has the power of God within Himself; fell three separate times as He carried His enormous cross. But also note that after every fall, He got up and continued. He didn't give up or give in and let the violent mean society of people around Him who hated Him do anything to Him, that would take Him away from His will that saved us. Never let this world's distractions make you lose sight of God. And also don't fall victim to believing there is no God. This world is very subtle in its wicked ways. But then satan doesn't only attack us with a sword, sometimes he uses a tasty chocolate cake LOL (opps sorry), or a simple law that "sounds" like it's protecting the innocent, when it actually will increase their deaths by 30%. And good honest God fearing people line themselves up behind the lie and many become mislead. We need to do our own diligence in our lives. Stay true to God, we will all fall short and we will all sin and we will from time to time make some seriously bad choices. But remember we are human, and our strengths are weakened by our original sin. But that must not discourage us.

So after all this has been said, what should we do. I think the two examples here and the wisdom in scripture show us that: We must love others as Jesus has and does love us, and we should never be weakened by our own weaknesses. Sometimes the only way we really learn, is from our own weaknesses, and most of us know what they are. So staying focused in prayer and obedience to His word, and by doing all we can to continually grow spiritually; we will most likely be more ready than if we did nothing. Our radar will always be up watching out for us, and watch what moves opposite the grain of our Lords teachings. I have many friends who are part of the ROTC in Niagara Falls, NY. We lived right behind the Air Force base, and one thing I noticed all the near nine years we lived there was; the planes kept flying every couple hours in a huge round circle around the entire county. Twenty four hours a day. They had a pretty large fleet of planes. So one day it came to mind and I asked, "Why do you guys keep flying, day in and day out? You never go anywhere." She looked at me and said, "We always have to be ready. We never know if we'll be needed and if we get the call and a couple of hundred of us need to get deployed somewhere and it's urgent. We have to be ready, so these planes must be kept, functionably ready at all times, to be ready at the spur of the moment without time to prepare." I though, Oh wow, that response can be used in our lives when it comes to being ready in our lives spiritually. Hope this was helpful.


Your brother in Christ Jesus & His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr SFO