BEADS OF JOY 06-19-18
“Pray For Those…”
©2018 James Dacey, Jr. OFS
My Friends,
Today’s Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48 (Love of Enemies)
“You have heard that it was said,
`You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your
enemies and pray for those who
persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he
makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and
on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not
even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only your brethren, what
more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You,
therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Reflection:
This topic and focus is difficult for me. I don’t really have enemies. When I say “don’t really” I am referring to the general enemies; people who want to harm my family, people who wish to take away my freedoms and those threatening me because of my faith. All those enemies are not on a one-on-one personal level with me in my face. An overall general thought of love and forgiveness towards them showers my heart with love when I think of them. I know I am not living in a bubble, if I am then it’s leaking water; because my world is not always full of sunshine and roses.
The real enemy I feel the most against these past few years is the cancer Chrissy died from, and the suffering she endured throughout those six years. They are the enemies. So, to be completely honest, when I look at them and remember what cancer and suffering did to my beautiful wife and our family, I hate them. I must embrace both of them. I have no trouble embracing my own suffering and even my own death; I can deal with that, and embrace it, but watching those I love, suffer, is extremely difficult. But having said all that and here I am hine sight nineteen months later, I will embrace the horror of cancer and suffering.
I must admit, this is very difficult. But, as the Lord tells us, let us pray for this enemy. This enemy has brought many tears to me and my family, we don’t fully understand all these things. On a positive note, it has brought us closer to one another and to our faith, and we are healing. So maybe, just maybe there is a glimmer of light here.
Reflection:
This topic and focus is difficult for me. I don’t really have enemies. When I say “don’t really” I am referring to the general enemies; people who want to harm my family, people who wish to take away my freedoms and those threatening me because of my faith. All those enemies are not on a one-on-one personal level with me in my face. An overall general thought of love and forgiveness towards them showers my heart with love when I think of them. I know I am not living in a bubble, if I am then it’s leaking water; because my world is not always full of sunshine and roses.
The real enemy I feel the most against these past few years is the cancer Chrissy died from, and the suffering she endured throughout those six years. They are the enemies. So, to be completely honest, when I look at them and remember what cancer and suffering did to my beautiful wife and our family, I hate them. I must embrace both of them. I have no trouble embracing my own suffering and even my own death; I can deal with that, and embrace it, but watching those I love, suffer, is extremely difficult. But having said all that and here I am hine sight nineteen months later, I will embrace the horror of cancer and suffering.
I must admit, this is very difficult. But, as the Lord tells us, let us pray for this enemy. This enemy has brought many tears to me and my family, we don’t fully understand all these things. On a positive note, it has brought us closer to one another and to our faith, and we are healing. So maybe, just maybe there is a glimmer of light here.
Jesus Christ - Love your
enemies
(from the movie: The Passion of Christ)
(from the movie: The Passion of Christ)
Pondering these thoughts today: Sometimes our enemies aren’t always people, but illnesses that put us to the test of our faith. That is exactly sometimes what an enemy would do, test the purity of your faith and love and cut you to the core. I embrace this disease and all that comes with it, with a willing heart to find a way to see the positive in it. God knows my heart and He knows what this has already done to my Chrissy and our family. I will forge forward with all my stroke side-effects and use that suffering; to help me grow spiritually and closer to my Lord’s suffering.
LOVE YOU GUYS !!!!
Your brother in Christ Jesus
And His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS
Today is Tuesday: We pray the Sorrowful Mysteries:
The Sorrowful Mysteries
1. Agony on the Garden (Sorrow for sin) –Matt 26:36-46
2. Scourging at the Pillar (Purity) –Mark 15:1-16
3. Crowning with Thorns (Moral Courage) –Matt 27:27-31
4. Carrying of the Cross (Patience) –Mark 15:20-22
5. The Crucifixion (Perseverance) –Luke 23:33-46
Thank you Lord for loving us so much…
Rosary Man Jim’s Sorrowful Reflection: http://beads-of-joy-blog.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-sorrowful-mysteries_11.html
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