Normandt' meditations

[Normandt]

135. These fruits are to share


James tells us:
“Everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of a man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.” James, chapter 1, verses 19 to 20

One of the practices that help us become better, through a life of faith in motion, is to slow down. Slowing down isn’t necessarily laziness. Being slow to talk or get angry, for example, allows us to be more vigilant to the internal movement of our lives. Often, what is done in a hurry doesn’t yield much result except in necessity and urgency.

It’s an invitation to change lanes:
“Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.” James, chapter 1, verse 21

God’s Word saves. Let’s welcome the words of wisdom for the well-being of our body and soul:

The one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed in what he does. James, chapter 1, verse 25

It’s never a waste of time to welcome God and his Word, the Verb, into our lives. Let’s practise everything God teaches us. We will reap the benefits. These fruits are to share.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

136. The movement of his Love


Paul offers us a moving sentence:
“I kneel before the Father.” Ephesians, chapter 3, verse 14

We fall to our knees, we stop in our footsteps with Paul, because the Father’s Love is eternal, infinite, quite simply. We fall to our knees to lower ourselves before the length, width and depth, before the movement of his Love.

We don’t lower ourselves because we are oppressed or submissive by an overwhelming force, we do not lower ourselves because we are crushed by a proud person, by a selfish person.

We lower ourselves, because we recognize that the Father is all that we hope for, everything we dream of. It’s all there is to it. We fall to our knees to offer ourselves to God, since we are nothing without him. We recognize it.

By going inside our heart, we have a multitude of reasons to give thanks to the Father. We are amazed in front of him.

In all humility, we also lower ourselves before Jesus who has lowered himself to come into the world and lead us to eternal life. Jesus also lowered himself to wash the Apostle’s feet. And we let ourselves be Loved by the Spirit with a heart turned toward him, to receive him, to welcome him.

We lower ourselves before the Holy Spirit, we thank him because he is Love who is God and who unites humanity with him.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

137. We develop healthy and holy ways


Paul also invites us to a relationship with God:
“We have not received the spirit of the world [wordly] but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given to us by God.” 1 Corinthians, chapter 2, verse 12

The Spirit we receive is God’s. Paul is convinced and convincing. He’s living so deep the presence of God that he recognizes and receives his action in his life.

To leave to God a place in our life supposes that we have left something out, that we’re achieving some cleaning of the past of certain harmful or even destructive habits. Thus, the future will not clutter our minds.

As soon as we leave the Holy Spirit a unique place in our hearts, our habits are transformed, our attitudes become charitable, we develop healthy and holy ways of thinking, seeing, understanding the reality of the world and the heart of the person.

As soon as we ask the Trinity to help us and to enter our lives, we progress for the better, immediately. We feel a light breeze guiding us to the One God. If we do not feel it, we are not paying enough attention.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: … for Love, Normand Thomas