Normandt' meditations

[Normandt]

236. Infinite number of graces

The mission varies depending of the epoch in which we are. “Through witnessing” in the world of what the Spirit realizes in our person, whether we’re old or young, we’re called to offer the way of salvation in God, to give thanks to him in this way, always and in all places. Whatever our poverty, whoever we are, we’re bearing fruit in the world, but we must also let them pick them. We must not keep them for ourselves.

And “service of charity”. Charity doesn’t come from a single ray of the sun, but from all the rays of the sun that are multiple and varied.

It means, in all situations, all possibilities, as soon as we’re in contact with a person, we can live the meeting of the resurrected, whatever the reality, whether we like the reality of this person or not. This requires all possible graces. We must ask everything to the Holy Spirit and use them with caution, but use them with him in abundance. To be fair and just to people is an excellent charity. That is evangelizing.

We received the gift of the Holy Spirit on the day of our baptism. The gift that we still receive today, renewed, in the reality of the Holy Spirit, includes all the holiness that it implies. By holiness, it means the infinite number of graces that come to us with this unique gift:

The Most Holy Trinity gives the baptized sanctifying grace, the grace of justification:

- enabling them to believe in God, to hope in him, and to love him through the theological virtues;

- giving them the power to live and act under the prompting of the Holy Spirit through the gifts of the Holy Spirit;

- allowing them to grow in goodness through the moral virtues.

Thus the whole organism of the Christian’s supernatural life has its roots in Baptism. Catechism of the Catholic Church number 1266 Catechism of the Catholic Church - IntraText


Book: Joy in heaven!

Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

237. Two by two

Jesus wants us to receive the baptism, the life and the light of God. He sends the disciples two by two to evangelize and he tells them:

“As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it.” Matthew, chapter 10, verses 12 to 13a

Is our house welcoming to receive Jesus? Is our heart ready to welcome him? Let’s stay awake to welcome Jesus, so that he may lead us to his home.


Book: Joy in heaven!

Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

238. We are lights

Jesus tells us:

You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. Matthew, chapter 5, verses 14 to 16

Our light shines when we’re good, when we live truly, we recognize what is beautiful, and we observe the reality. The light that shines in us is the Lord. With him, joy is shown.

To be responsible for the faith and the light that dwells in us, giving glory to God, we live the mission that is proposed to us. God does not ask for more than what we can achieve, but he asks us to trust him. By giving glory to God by our agreement to his will, we also glorify him in the world.

During the Pascal meal, the Wedding of the Lamb, the Eucharist, let’s ask Jesus to help us to clear and polish our light, so that it shines for the glory of God and for the salvation of the world.

Let’s continue to nourish ourselves with the Word of God, to come to Mass, to live the sacraments in the Light of the Holy Spirit, to shine like the baptized believing that they are saved, to radiate the light of Jesus and to forgive. Forgiveness is the key to truth and peace in God.

We know God’s will well. He wishes us to share his graces. All good deeds and charisms we freely receive, we’re invited to share them for free. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit in abundance so that he overflows in the meetings, in the visits, on all the people we meet.

As the sun gains strength in the spring, we will see the Holy Spirit shine around us, thanks to our decision to open up.


Book: Joy in heaven!

Normand Thomas

 

[mlepfitjw]

Amen brother thank you for sharing you are a profound writer sir.

238. We are lights

Jesus tells us:

You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. Matthew, chapter 5, verses 14 to 16

Our light shines when we’re good, when we live truly, we recognize what is beautiful, and we observe the reality. The light that shines in us is the Lord. With him, joy is shown.

To be responsible for the faith and the light that dwells in us, giving glory to God, we live the mission that is proposed to us. God does not ask for more than what we can achieve, but he asks us to trust him. By giving glory to God by our agreement to his will, we also glorify him in the world.

During the Pascal meal, the Wedding of the Lamb, the Eucharist, let’s ask Jesus to help us to clear and polish our light, so that it shines for the glory of God and for the salvation of the world.

Let’s continue to nourish ourselves with the Word of God, to come to Mass, to live the sacraments in the Light of the Holy Spirit, to shine like the baptized believing that they are saved, to radiate the light of Jesus and to forgive. Forgiveness is the key to truth and peace in God.

We know God’s will well. He wishes us to share his graces. All good deeds and charisms we freely receive, we’re invited to share them for free. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit in abundance so that he overflows in the meetings, in the visits, on all the people we meet.

As the sun gains strength in the spring, we will see the Holy Spirit shine around us, thanks to our decision to open up.


Book: Joy in heaven!

Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

Glory be to Jesus.
With God's Mission (Love) in us he Evangelizes humanity, through us, and he shines.

 

[Normandt]

239. The sign of the will

Jesus helps people to stand up. Evil and suffering are the cause of soreness. He challenges the paralyzed and says to him:

“Come up and stand before us.” Luke, chapter 6, verse 8

Getting up is the sign of the will. But let’s not think that a paralytic isn’t a fighter and that he has no will. On the contrary! We can associate it with someone who has cancer and decides to fight to stay alive. Often his decision to stay alive will prolong his life. He becomes a fighting and a living witness for all. The paralyzed has finished struggling as he lets Jesus lift him up.

Whatever the path, and each path is unique, we’re invited to stand in the faith with a good attitude.

“Praise the Lord, my soul; I shall praise the Lord all my life, sing praise to my God while I live.” Psalm 146, verse 2

To give thanks to God, to praise him is to be alive, it’s above all the joy of the Spirit that manifests in us and through us. Paul sees the man standing as the one who fights. He also testifies of his personal struggle:

“I want you to know how great a struggle I am having for you and for those in Laodicea and all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged as they are brought together in love, to have all the richness of fully assured understanding, for the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians, chapter 2, verses 1 to 3

Paul fights what in him doesn’t want to bow to the Love of God. And through his personal struggle, he teaches us that we must become guides of faith in Jesus for our contemporaries. Fighting is above all letting go of everything, but keeping the essential, the necessary and improving in God. To fight means to become ourselves and to recognize that God is present and active.

In the beating of the Heart of God, there is our beating heart, if we want it.


Book: Joy in heaven!

Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

240. The world needs to hear

Let’s ask God, it’s as simple as that:

“O Lord of hosts, restore us; Let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.” Psalm 80, verse 4

The world needs to hear that. Come Jesus, deliver us! Let’s believe that he saves us, that he can save our children and the multitude of people who need to experience eternal salvation.

Let’s continue our journey toward Jesus, even if sometimes we think we’re not progressing and we also think that the world isn’t moving forward. All the reasons are good for putting one foot in front of the other. With confidence in Jesus, let’s continue for the salvation of the world and for the glory of God.


Book: Joy in heaven!

Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

241. Peter loves Jesus

At the beginning of the christian era, just after Jesus’s death, it was very difficult to testify about faith, because it was a novelty for most of the disciples and Apostles.

Jesus verifies Peter’s faith and invites him to continue the mission. Peter had denied him when he was questioned before the crucifixion. Then, during the events surrounding his resurrection, Jesus will help Peter find him in his heart by asking him the same question three times:

“Do you love me?” (See John chapter 21, verses 15 to 17)

And Peter answers him with heart:

“Lord, you, you know everything: you know that I love you.” John, chapter 21, verse 17

Then Jesus said to him:

“Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” John, chapter 21, verse 18

We need to develop acceptance as Peter, to love Jesus. We also need to let ourselves be Loved by Jesus. Then, we need Peter’s determination to carry out the mission. The mission of evangelizing for us will be different from him, but we will need the same determination to lead people to the faith.

To receive the Holy Spirit for our mission will enable us to see God working in the hearts of people and in life situations close to us.


Book: The Shepherd’s Mission

Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

242. Promise to Abraham

God is included in our life. He is present at 100%. We have the grace to receive God, but we aren’t always well disposed. In the Bible, there are many testimonies of people who dare to let God come into contact with them. This is what we discover in Genesis when God enters into a covenant, in a relationship with Abraham.

God promises to Abraham (Abram) many descendants:

The word of the Lord came to him: ‘No, that one shall not be your heir; your own issue shall be your heir.’ He took him outside and said: ‘Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so,’ he added, ‘shall your descendants be’. Abram put his faith in the Lord, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness. Genesis, chapter 15, verses 4 to 6

God does everything perfectly. He promises many descendants to Abraham and he will do so. This offspring, at first sight, seems to be of human nature, but God sees well beyond that, since the descendants of Abraham are ultimately “the offspring” of faith in God.

God, through Abraham, gives himself an offspring that will please his heart. It is God who accomplishes the descendants of faith in the hearts of practising believers. These believers celebrate with their God. They thank him for his presence among them. This is the very meaning of the Eucharist, a thank you, a Thanksgiving.

This descent is the people who accept God in their lives, who live by faith, who thanks God and who transmit the received graces to their neighbour.


Book: The Shepherd’s Mission

Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

243. The faith

This promise of the Lord is also for us. We are the people who will see many descendants. In the Catechism, we read:

“The people descended from Abraham would be the trustee of the promise made to the patriarchs, the chosen people, called to prepare for that day when God would gather all his children into the unity of the Church. (cf Rom 11:28; ⇒ Jn 11:52; ⇒ 10:16.) They would be the root on to which the Gentiles would be grafted, once they came to believe.” (cf Rom 11, 17-18, 24). Catechism of the Catholic Church, number 60, website:

Catechism of the Catholic Church - IntraText

This gathering is also ours. And the people who will see even more converted people to the Lord are us and our descendants. Then God will continue his work of salvation from generation to generation.

We are in the mission with Jesus, he who continues to join the world, all without exclusion. And it takes only a tiny spark to light the fire of the Holy Spirit, the fire of God’s Love in the hearts. In faith, with God, we are on a mission.

We proclaim:

“Happy those who do not follow the counsel of the wicked, nor go the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers. Rather, the law of the Lord is their joy; God’s law they study day and night.” Psalm 1, verses 1 to 2

Happy those who “God’s law they study day and night!” Let’s continue to please ourselves in Jesus and even without our knowledge, we will touch people by his presence in us. Living in Jesus’s Light is contagious when we are in the world:

“By their fruits you will know them.” Matthew, chapter 7, verse 16

We bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit and bring them to the world. Sometimes we may not seem too happy about certain situations, but in our heart we can always carry a ball of Love received by God’s grace. This ball of Love is received at each Eucharist and at each reading of the Lord’s Word. Prayer is also an indispensable tool for uniting with the Trinity and the world at the same time.


Book: The Shepherd’s Mission

Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

244. Fishers of men

With the audacity and effort of a continuous conversion, every moment, Jesus will tell us:

“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew, chapter 4, verse 19

Let’s walk with Jesus, follow him … on his way. Let’s continue walking behind Jesus and just because we dare to, others will want to follow him. The important thing is that we are developing a way of walking with Jesus.

United around Jesus, united in the Spirit, let’s say with faith this beautiful prayer to the Father:

Our father who is in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our bread today.

Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from Evil. Amen.

Let’s slip under his grace, come under his roof and give thanks to Jesus for sending us on the roads in search of exhausted sheep that fight alone.


Book: The Shepherd’s Mission

Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

245. Thanks to God


This is not written in all books:

“There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.” John, chapter 21, verse 25

We don’t see everything we do from day to day. We don’t see everything that others do with their daily mission. But as the field is full of oats, together, we are, by the presence of God, a presence of Love in and for the world.

Any story of faith is a sacred story with God and could be added to the Bible. That would not change the nature of God and it would be to give him glory.

The field lives its transformations. What is produced there is usually of quality. It’s a moment for us to give thanks to God for all that we receive.

It’s also time to appreciate each other’s work, especially the decision to walk with Jesus and to offer others what we receive from him.

Let’s give thanks to God for the trust he gives us and all that he offers us to share with others. Let’s thank God for allowing us to participate and then produce, with his grace, grain and fruit a hundredfold. Let’s continue with Jesus. We are following in his mission.

What Jesus asks of us is to welcome him into our vineyard and our field, to invite him with us wherever we go. May we let him convert us and convert the hearts of people. Instead of asking Jesus to help us, since he already does it without even asking, let’s help Jesus in his mission:

“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” Matthew, chapter 20, verse 28

Note that in this last passage, Jesus doesn’t ask us to serve him. He came to serve people. He invites us to serve others. Let’s receive what is necessary from God and serve others as Jesus wants, as he serves.

With Therese of Lisieux, we ask:

“Oh divine Blood of Jesus, water our mission; make it bring forth chosen souls!”

- Saint Therese of the Child Jesus. Website: The Story of a Family: The Home of St. Therese of Lisieux, Rev. Fr. Stephane-Joseph Piat, O.F.M.


Book: The Shepherd’s Mission

Normand thomas

 

[Normandt]

246. Near Jesus

Paul is rejoicing in Thanksgiving. He’s cheerful and overwhelmed by the Presence of Jesus made visible in the people who are with him. He received this news from a good companion, Epaphras. He says:

“Epaphras our beloved fellow slave, who is a trustworthy minister of Christ on your behalf and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.” Colossians, chapter 1, verses 7 to 8

We see this Love of the Holy Spirit in every person who devotes himself to the salvation of his neighbour. The Pope, cardinals, priests, spouses, children, religious, sisters, brothers, deacons, pastoral workers, committed laity, people who have at heart the believers of a community, the leaders of faith groups, mature faith in hearts of children in Jesus Christ, the children who live it fully, people awakening God in hearts, let’s name them all, as soon as we carry Christ internally, we become faithful to the mission of Jesus for our contemporaries. Let’s receive the anointing of graces that feeds our spiritual life.


Book: The Shepherd’s Mission

Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

247. No reason to wait

Every day, there’s no reason to wait, let’s go and find Jesus. This is what is lived here. Jesus is so well known that he has trouble keeping up the pace:

“At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, ‘To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.’” Luke, chapter 4, verses 42 to 43

There are some who have evangelized, in addition to Jesus, that’s why there are so many people around him. His fame spreads.

May we seek to prevent Jesus from leaving us, may we retain his presence in us, so that the world may observe and believe that Jesus is Lord of our lives. In reality, we do not need to hold him back, but to welcome him into us, since he is already here.

Book: The Shepherd’s Mission
Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

248. Keep Jesus

Paul considers himself the last, since he’s aware of his smallness before the greatness of Christ, of the Spirit and of the Father. He says:
“To me, the very least of all the holy ones.” Ephesians, chapter 3, verse 8

Then he confirms that he receives everything from Christ as we must also expect everything from him:
“To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ.” Ephesians, chapter 3, verse 8

By the light that he receives from Christ, he can say:
“What is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things.” Ephesians, chapter 3, verse 9

It’s impressive, striking, how God gives Paul his knowledge for the people. Paul is touched by the grace of God. It is the Lord’s wish for all. If he transmits the content of the mystery of God, it is because there is no more mystery. It’s unveiled!

Like Paul, we are never too small. We accept to be small though, since God is so infinite in every respect. Nothing outclasses him.

Book: The Shepherd’s Mission
Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

248. Keep Jesus

Paul considers himself the last, since he’s aware of his smallness before the greatness of Christ, of the Spirit and of the Father. He says:
“To me, the very least of all the holy ones.” Ephesians, chapter 3, verse 8

Then he confirms that he receives everything from Christ as we must also expect everything from him:
“To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ.” Ephesians, chapter 3, verse 8

By the light that he receives from Christ, he can say:
“What is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things.” Ephesians, chapter 3, verse 9

It’s impressive, striking, how God gives Paul his knowledge for the people. Paul is touched by the grace of God. It is the Lord’s wish for all. If he transmits the content of the mystery of God, it is because there is no more mystery. It’s unveiled!

Like Paul, we are never too small. We accept to be small though, since God is so infinite in every respect. Nothing outclasses him.

Book: The Shepherd’s Mission
Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

249. How precious
Let’s continue to let ourselves be invaded by God, so that we become christians for others. May active holiness be:
“So that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church.” Ephesians, chapter 3, verse 10

How confusing this passage of Paul. It is “through the Church”, founded by Jesus Christ, that visible and invisible forces, “that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known”.

It is to “fall off our horse” or “fall off our chair” for the more discreet. The Church is the unity between the world and the Kingdom of God, because the Word and the Eucharist lead us into the Kingdom. In reality, it is Christ, who is the Eucharist and the Word, who unites the living of the Kingdom of God and the living of the universe (the earth included), in his Church.

We receive faith from the Trinity. So:
“Our faith in Christ, in whom we have boldness of speech and confidence of access through faith,” Ephesians, chapter 3, verse 12

through Jesus, celebrating Mass. How precious it is to graft ourselves on Jesus. We become little by little like Jesus, by our confidence and our acceptance to let him transform us.

Jesus invites us to watch, to watch constantly, to the light of his grace, which is transmitted to us in the Church, so that we may become vibrant and visible witnesses of his wisdom.

May Jesus come and set us on fire with his Spirit so that we may become true followers of his Love.

Book: The Shepherd’s Mission
Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

250. Possess what we hope for
Faith in Jesus Christ is necessary for every person to believe, to become free and to be saved. To fill the churches is salutary. The more people have faith, baptized, therefore priests, prophets and kings, in Jesus Christ, the better the mission will glide with well-oiled ball bearings.

Our Father, “your will be done”. We are not alone in living the faith, it is lived worldwide. It is the faith of all the Baptized who help this world to live in a blessing of peace and hope.

Take away faith in Jesus Christ and the world is faced with massive humanitarian, scientific, social, planetary and universal crises. Because God is the only one who will always lead us to common sense, to truth.

All that is good and true in the highest understanding of these terms is from God:
“Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews, Chapter 11, verse 1

Let’s possess what one hopes for, the Love of God. To believe is to receive forgiveness and the joy of God. And the manifestation of joy is to announce that Jesus is alive, that our life has meaning and that the world is invited to enter the eternal dance. An “‘evidence’ of things not seen” is still knowing them!

Faith develops when we are at Jesus’s school and we enter into the joy of following Him. To believe is to offer our services to Jesus so that we can combine and bear fruit in abundance. To believe is to trust and be faithful to the one who guarantees life.

Let’s ask Jesus to tell us what he wants us to do in faith and we will be ready to receive his Holy Spirit. This will lead us ever closer to the Heart of Jesus.

Book: The Shepherd’s Mission
Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

251. Driving to the Kingdom
God’s purpose is to take us all back to his Kingdom, to his resting place. But there are still people who do not realize that they are straying from this rest by all kinds of remoteness from the Presence of God.

Paul then sends us on a mission. He brings us closer to the Lord:
“Let us strive to enter into that rest, so that no one may fall after the same example of disobedience.” Hebrews, Chapter 4, verse 11

We want to heal of our lack of impetus. We want our heart to regain its boundless spirit on the way to God, here and now. We want sin to be eliminated from our lives, that ball and chain that we drag day after day. And we hope that our heart will resume its enthusiasm of youth, free and fulfilled in the joy and peace of God. Jesus says:
“‘So that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth’ - he said to the paralytic, ‘I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.’” Mark, chapter 2, verses 10 to 11

May Jesus be the Light of our life. Christ frees the one who places his trust in him.

May we become free by a life fulfilled in God and responsible with the neighbour. Let’s also teach others to become responsible for their faith. As the paralyzed man is newly freed from his stretcher, we are released from evil, and then we sail toward salvation. Let’s go back to our house, to our heart and to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, of I Am.

Book: The Shepherd’s Mission
Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

252. We believe

Jesus leads us to the Father. Paul tells us:
“Jesus is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them.” Hebrews, Chapter 7, verse 25

The key to christian hope is there. Jesus is still alive and he intercedes for us.

We know that as we approach Jesus, he will lead us to the Father. This is why we are continually at Mass, which is why we pray regularly and demand him to be forgiven, in order to become free in him.

What we want for us, we also wish for the world. Prayer and forgiveness also opens a way for God’s grace to those who need it most.

We believe that Jesus is our Saviour and that he is the one who will keep us in the Love of God until the day we see him face to face.

Book: The Shepherd’s Mission
Normand Thomas