BEADS
OF JOY 05-24-14
“This Is Not Our Home”
©2014 James Dacey, Jr. OFS
“This Is Not Our Home”
©2014 James Dacey, Jr. OFS
Today's
Gospel: John 15:18-21
(The World’s Hatred) “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, `A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me.”
(The World’s Hatred) “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, `A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me.”
My Friends,
Where is your home? I hope and pray that today’s
gospel opens your mind and your thoughts and you truly begin to understand how
we can be in something (like this world), but not part of it. When we read
scripture, we learn that the world can be a very hostile place; most especially
for those who love God in anyway. I am sure many of you are saying to
yourselves, “In today’s world they are
still very hostile towards those who love God -bring up God in a conversation -say
a prayer –or even want to say a prayer; and even simply acknowledging God in
anyway infuriates this world.” And I’d have to agree. I guess not much has
changed in that aspect of it.
With all that said, we who are believers understand
this. With our Lord we can’t love both (God
& The World and all of what it is); it’s either one or the other. And
we also can’t stand on the ground of, “Well,
I know that’s a sin, but….” Sin is exactly what it is: SIN – Let us look at
the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s definition of sin.
Catechism of the Catholic Church (link)
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c1a8.htm
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c1a8.htm
1849 Sin is an
offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine
love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It
wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as
"an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law."
1850 Sin is an
offense against God: "Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done that
which is evil in your sight." Sin sets itself against God's
love for us and turns our hearts away from it. Like the first sin, it is
disobedience, a revolt against God through the will to become "like
gods," knowing and determining good and evil. Sin is thus
"love of oneself even to contempt of God." In this proud
self- exaltation, sin is diametrically opposed to the obedience of Jesus, which
achieves our salvation.
So what do we do? How in the world can you be here (in this world)
but not be here (in this world)? I understand your dilemma, it’s not easy for
the world to truly see how easy this is to do and be and live. So I tell you
this from my heart, from my own experience, from the way I live my life. Place
Jesus in the solid center of your life, make everything you do –everything you
say –everything you decide –even everything you think ALWAYS have something to
do with Him. His presence in your life is a MUST, making your relationship with
Him a top priority.
He MUST come first and He MUST be the guiding rudder that steers
your life. With Him as the solid unmovable
center, you will find that all you think about all the time is Him. His words,
His miracles, His mercy, His love and most especially His Mother. Keeping all
things in perspective I do know we must still work, live, pay bills, go to
scout meetings, pta meetings, shop for food, fix our car, etc… The only difference
between those like me who think like me with my solid center of Jesus is that
ALL those “things” are done with my love for Lord on the side bar of thought at
all times. Does that make sense to you, I really hope it does. This is yet
another way for many to peek into my life and my world and see how it is that I
have overflowing endless constant JOY in my life –no matter what is going on in
it.
Like I have always said for decades:
“YOU CAN HAVE ALL THIS WORLD HAS TO OFFER, ITS WEALTH, ITS LUSTS, ITS THINGS; ALL I WANT AND DESIRE IS JESUS.” ~Jim Dacey Jr OFS
“YOU CAN HAVE ALL THIS WORLD HAS TO OFFER, ITS WEALTH, ITS LUSTS, ITS THINGS; ALL I WANT AND DESIRE IS JESUS.” ~Jim Dacey Jr OFS
LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!
Come PRAY THE ROSARY with us every evening Monday through Friday 9pm EST with our
"Our Lady's Rosary Text Vigil Group"…
Invitations posted daily… and throughout the evening…
https://www.facebook.com/RosaryManJim
Your brother in Christ Jesus
And His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS
And His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS
