Normandt' meditations

[Normandt]

372. In the world and in the Church


We are really in two different worlds. On one hand, there’s the social world by which we share our everyday reality. And on the other side, there’s the world of faith in Jesus Christ. It shakes and adjusts everything we say and do.

We struggle to create a balance between these two worlds. But it’s necessary to adjust to what is natural to the human being and to the reality of eternal life, in the Trinity.

Isaiah sees what God does in us:

“A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace; in peace, for its trust in you.” Isaiah, chapter 26, verse 3

Placing our life in God brings us peace in the social world and trust in God in the hearts of the faithful of the Church.

When we are in the social world and keep our heart united to God, he assures us of his peace. His peace is transmitted in the invisible. If we do not feel this peace, let’s ask ourselves if we bring God to the heart of our human relationships.

This peace will be felt more in the Church, since every person is looking for it. But it’s also possible that in the Church, people are not at peace. Fortunately, they are in the right place to acquire some more.

A person will say, “I do not go to church, because there are people there who, coming out, talk in the backs of others, against others!” Let’s think about it, it’s good that they go to Mass! Imagine if they didn’t go. Or rather, do not imagine, it might seem worse. They know they are not perfect. They can thus walk and progress gradually toward peace, thanks to the teachings they receive in Church.

Then Isaiah concludes by saying:

“Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal Rock.” Isaiah, chapter 26, verse 4

Whether we are in the world or in Church, let’s put our trust in God that he will transform our hearts, then of people.

Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to be in all our relationships, in each of our meetings, and our city will be built on rock. Let’s ask him every day:

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” Matthew, chapter 7, verse 24

Let’s build with Jesus. Let’s ask Jesus, every day, to be active in our heart, then to the hearts of those we meet.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Here, where we are, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

373. The gospel of the Lord


Paul confirms that the gospel and salvation of Jesus Christ is unique:
“The gospel preached by me is not of human origin.” Galatians, chapter 1, verse 11

Nobody thought of such a revelation. No one has been able to imagine or invent all that is proclaimed in the Gospels. Nobody except God.

Nobody can replace Jesus. We are poor of Jesus if we don’t accept him, as he is, in our life. And we become poor in Jesus when we leave what is useless to embark with him on the great adventure of God and man.

That’s why Paul says:
“I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” Galatians, chapter 1, verse 12

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Caring for our poverties, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

374. Reinforced concrete


Everybody’s own is to find God and to hold onto God as the most precious good. But other people escape the real mission to which they should hold on to. They will be very imaginative to get away from the mission by all sorts of means, for fear of being hurt, for fear of the unknown.

To speak negatively against others, to leave good habits, basic habits, to abandon prayer, the commitment in faith to serve others, even in what is simplest and here they are in a turning away from God. There are also those who cannot discern good deeds while asking for evidence from others.

Today, how often do we see truths being completely twisted by negligence or interest? They go so far as to treat truth as criminal. These people prefer to eliminate others from their lives as long as they are right, they get what they want and they do not lose their solid, concrete reputation. They only have barbed concrete left.

They abandon their good behaviour, stick to their wall filled of personal achievements, display their deceptive advertisements, their extinguished fame. Then, they come to believe that others are not on the right track, because they’re different. Their perfection becomes reinforced concrete.

Each person is free to do what they want with its harmful consequences or helpful realizations. Turning to evil leads to evil. And evil leads to death. Let’s lead the way back to Jesus. He’s there waiting. Love leads to Love and Life.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Caring for our poverties, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

375. Let’s find our heart


How difficult it is for us to find time to look at ourselves, to observe what needs to be improved to follow Jesus on the only necessary path, the way of our salvation, the way to eternal life.

Maybe others do not see it, but God sees everything. Even Jesus, people thought he was a liar, because he was following the true path, and they crucified him.

Let’s return to the Rosary with all our heart, return to prayer. Let’s increase our meetings with the Lord, Mass, teachings, to all that is vital and true to guarantee us not to freeze up like ice.

Let’s not look at what others are doing or not, and if we see any flaws let’s give them back to Jesus. Let’s not make the situation worse by reacting or talking about it to others to speak ill and insult. Then let’s continue our journey in faith, with Mary, for a more beautiful, truer, more real, more just and more fraternal world. Jesus is with us.

It’s good to know when to stop and observe what our personal strengths are, to make them useful for the kingdom of God on earth. To take care of ourselves in the faith, to take care of others by the commitment of our faith, is to realize Jesus’s will.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Caring for our poverties, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

376. Let’s catch the just


The unjust ones say:
“Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.” Wisdom, chapter 2, verse 12

There are people who do not see how just some are. They may have difficulty discerning between good and bad and then they will have difficulty discovering the good, the real and what’s true in people.

Often they are people who are afraid of being hurt again, or they think everyone resents them. Often they are people who are proud and manage the lives of others. Basically, they don’t know how to find peace in their own hearts. They place their fears on people around them.

We are invited to be charitable and pray for them.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Caring for our poverties, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

377. The Just is repulsed


It’s a shame to be at this point to want to surprise the just, to want to test honest people. It’s known, we have some fears about new people we still don’t know.

The righteous disturb them because they do not follow the easiest way. When they walk on a path, they always invite the Presence of God with them. And when there is the Presence of God, they can feel the resistances, the significant distances of the grace of God from others.

The just will be repulsed, he will be reproached, he will be despised, trapped and accused. This is also what happens with Jesus:
“Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, ‘You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.’” John, chapter 7, verses 28 to 29

And they do not want to get their hands on Jesus, because the world would see them. They know they are wrong with their false thoughts about him.
They prefer to wait until it’s dark to stop him. At night, it’s hard for people to know who they are stopping. But later, it will be easy to accuse him with unfair lies. Everything is randomly engineered to skew about Jesus.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Caring for our poverties, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

378. Denounce evil


It would seem that the Lord is asking to denounce the faults as it is written here:
“Cry out full-throated and unsparingly, lift up your voice like a trumpet blast; Tell my people their wickedness, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah, chapter 58, verse 1

If we start doing this, we risk disappointments. This text is nearly three thousand years old.

In the generation we are in, it would be difficult to begin to shout sins out to everyone. In a group, we can still talk about sin in general, and let people self-observe.

On the other hand, it seems easy for many people to tell their sins in the media. It may be good for these people, but the publicly announced evil can become a trampoline where others will develop bad habits. For, the announcement of sins in the public square gives evil ideas to other ill-intentioned people.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Caring for our poverties, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

379. Why Lord?


Far from publicly denouncing personal mistakes, it would be nice to invite people to let themselves be Loved by God. Real Love is a reality rarely recognized today. The Love of God allows the person himself to discover his faults. The light illuminates the life of the person and reveals the dens of evil.
Then the people of Israel say this:
“Why do we fast, and you do not see it? afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?” Isaiah, chapter 58, verse 3

We could add: When we pray, why don’t you hear it? Because we don’t fast for God or for others, but we fast for ourselves. It’s good to fast, to pray and to do penance for us, but most of all this must lead to thinking about the world in general. If people around the world improve, we are progressing.
God always hears us, but we’re not always watchful to the presence of God with us.

We have thousands of distractions that keep us away from the goal, from our relationship with God. However, everything we do to bring ourselves closer to God transforms us for the better.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Caring for our poverties, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

380. Slaves of the Gospel


Paul is an artist of the good evolution. He gave a new meaning to the word “slave”. Let’s read:
“as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, willingly serving the Lord and not human beings.” Ephesians, chapter 6, verses 6 to 7

Instead of associating the word “slave” with forced submission, Paul introduces it to a higher level of goodness.
Jesus washed the feet of his Apostles like a slave. And Paul understood it in that sense. With all our hearts, let’s freely become servants (slaves) of our neighbour for the glory of God and the salvation of the world.

Let’s work voluntarily for the sole purpose that souls turn from their ways of destruction and take the path of faith following Jesus Christ.
Let’s take the opportunity to be with the weakest of us, in all dimensions of their poverty, to practise our relationship with Jesus. Perhaps we’ll discover that we are the weakest. Let’s restore the dignity that belongs to every person.

Let’s ask God to open our hearts and to lay down his Love. Let’s become slaves of the Love of God, in the good sense of the word. Let’s be constantly generated and generous by Love.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Caring for our poverties, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

381. Jesus opens the book
When Jesus opens the book in the synagogue, he reads the passage that is the reality of God’s Love for all:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Luke, chapter 4, verses 18 to 19

“‘Today,’ says Jesus, ‘it is today that it is fulfilled’”. Luke, chapter 4, verse 21

Love gives freedom when our freedom is connected to God now, every morning, every day, every moment. This Word is the Love of God for all his creatures and for his creation. Let’s meditate on the graces of the Trinity that we received during our life.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Caring for our poverties, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

382. Poverty


The poor have many faces. The rich are poor of something. People who are in the middle class are poor of something. The poor also lack something.

Jesus called Matthew who did not seem poor. He joined him in front of a counter of one of the riches of the country. The fishermen, Peter and Andrew, John and James, were also rich because fishing was a necessary food for families.

What was their poverty then? At the beginning of their mission with Jesus, they all lacked a real and meaningful experience with him. Now, they live the grace of being on the road and following Jesus. Jesus chose them for the mission.

We are all poor of Jesus. We need to live a personal relationship with him.
Real poverty touches every person in their deepest being. If we don’t have Jesus, we are really poor. If we do not live on God’s Love, we are very poor.
What is true wealth? True wealth isn’t found in what we usually have. What we have isn’t all we have.

True wealth is in the heart of the human being. True wealth is when we are in communion with God and his will, who is in our life. God is in our heart. It’s what’s necessary and we already have it. The Trinity nourishes the soul.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Caring for our poverties, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

383. Who is poor?


Who are the poor in the Church? Whom should we give to? And most importantly, what do we have to offer?

James allows us to think about it. He talks about what he sees in his time:
“You pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, ‘Sit here, please,’ while you say to the poor one, ‘Stand there,’ or ‘Sit at my feet.’” James, chapter 2, verse 3

There should always be a constant concern for the poor and the poverty of these people would be almost non-existent. It takes a little discernment and charity to help them. Helping a poor person takes a little time. Valuing it can lead to being much better in society.

But also, some poorly-minded people are causing further poverty to other poor people. They use what is sent to the poor to provide themselves with wealth. Although rarer, there are some who stockpile money, live in well-off apartments, do not work and benefit from others, who are poorer.

This may seem simple, but in practice it isn’t guaranteed to be continually close to the poorest. Or we do not know how to join them or we have few human resources when we take care of them, one person at a time. The task may seem too broad.

We can take them to centres where people can really take care of them and give them some dignity. These people would do them good. That said, if we don’t feel the ability to help them. We are, nevertheless, called to remain attentive to them.

If not, let’s learn and lead others to Jesus who will develop the charism of charity for these particular people.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Caring for our poverties, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

384. Other forms of poverty


There are many other kinds of poverty in the world, such as the lack of true spirituality, the refusal to let God Love us, the ego, the sadness and many other issues that keep the human being subjected to thousands of closures and traps.

Jesus knows the greatest poverty that human beings can suffer; the refusal of God, to believe that God is lying and go so far as to eliminate the Loving God from their lives. The greatest poverty that exists is to not welcome God into one’s life.

Let’s notice that if all the people in the churches of the whole world lead charitably one person to Jesus, one day everybody would be in the service of the neighbour and that would engage them on the way reserved for them.
Let’s accept to follow Jesus, let him cleanse us and transform us. Let’s find ways to increase our faith and invite people to follow Jesus.

Jesus will do the work in their hearts. It will transform their hearts and these people will be freed from intoxication, from their wounds and their closures. They will be with Love, with Jesus.

To follow Jesus sincerely, allows his Love to develop as a gift in us, to be unpacked around us.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Caring for our poverties, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

385. Sweet and bitter


Why:
“Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery?” Habakkuk, chapter 1, verse 3

This question is on the lips of the majority, if not all humans of all time. Well yes, Lord, why do we see all these injustices, this evil, and the innocent ones dying? Why don’t you do anything?

It’s quite normal to have this question, not to be satisfied with what we see, hear, of distress, fears, anxieties when there should be plenty of opportunities, chances, achievements, but these opportunities are lost and too often annihilated. We are quite normal to question this way: “Why Lord?”
It’s because we become more and more prophets and christians. We become a little more like the Lord when we realize that the reality of our world isn’t as he wishes.

God offers his Love, peace, joy, hope and in return we observe, day after day, what destroys these possibilities. These are all the graces received from God that are not lived because they are not welcomed or transmitted.
We’re on the right path! The more God gives us the sweet honey of his truth, the more in our belly the taste becomes bitter with what is presented to us in the world. There are people who are becoming aware of the difference between the reality of God and what the world is doing.

It’s not necessary to add here negative thoughts to what is wrong in the world. It’s high time to bring to the world the graces we receive from God. We have a message of joy, peace, hope, love, etc., to transmit. When our eyes are opened, it is up to us to be missionaries of God and to evangelize the people with his Love.

God does not cause distress in the world, but God is patient and he hopes that the world will convert. God did not create distress. He is Love and he has created humans capable of living from his Love.

God does not drop misery in the world. It is people not listening to his will that causes this misery. God does not make us suffer. These are inhuman acts, by lack of faith, that causes evil to the people, day after day, after day, after day... God never told us to hate, to kill each other. He doesn’t push us toward evil. He’s not the cause of evil.

It’s understandable that we don’t understand that God is so good when there’s so much evil in the world. It’s because God is really good, but humans cover and refuse the goodness of God by turning toward evil. Moving away from God’s Love automatically brings evil closer.

The people who are moving away from God’s Love and doing evil give us the impression that God wants evil. But in reality and definitely, God is not in the wrong. Evil is incompatible with the reality and the will of God. We still have a lot to ask to the Holy Spirit, so that this world will change its ways and listen to the Trinity.

Fear, anguish does not come from God:
“God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy, chapter 1, verse 7

But, does the world welcome what God gives? Do people only bury somewhere in them the Love received from the Lord?

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

386. Reflect the glory


Paul tells us:
“Whenever a person turns to the Lord the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians, chapter 3, verses 16 to 17

We have a veil on that keeps us away from Jesus. Paul adds that when we accept conversion, when the veil falls:
“All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians, chapter 3, verse 18

We reflect “the glory of the Lord” more and more by being with him. To reflect the Light, let’s store it in us. To reflect on the glory of the Lord, we must receive it. When this glory increases, we’re transfigured, as the light covered Jesus during the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor. Carrying this light within us touches the heart of others. We then become full-time prophets.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

387. With or without God


Paul reminds us of a proverb:
“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” 2 Corinthians, chapter 9, verse 6
How do we sow too little or how to sow widely? We see that the harvest is tied to the way we sow.

Sowing a sample means that we don’t let God go through our lives. And by protecting us from the presence of God, we’ll reap little. Our spiritual generosity will increase when we let the grace of God increase in our life.

That said, we could put a lot of effort, make multiple facial expressions to the point of becoming actors, without God or with little relationship with God, and not succeed, eventually.

What to sow? It’s time to give God his place. Let’s watch him work. Let’s work with him to learn from him how to live a blooming life of faith that will yield abundant and quality crops.

If we go there with our own means, we’ll build in a vacuum. God invites us to more than that. He invites us to become more converted to him, to his thought, to his action, to his Word. He will build with us and there will be results.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

388. Let’s be with Jesus


Jesus says:
“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.” John, chapter 15, verse 16

Jesus speaks to the people he has chosen. At the same time, these people, just like his Apostles, must also accept Jesus, receive him, as their Lord.

Jesus gives everything to those who ask the Father in his name. When we’re with Jesus, we’re with the Father. Jesus unites us to his mission and he wants us to be comfortable asking the Father, in the Spirit, everything we need for his mission.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

389. With others


Paul and others are choosing people who can continue the mission of evangelization. Paul met Christ on the road to Damascus and since then he wants the Church to continue what Jesus started in him and in different christian communities. He says:
“We have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts, chapter 15, verse 26

By dedicating their lives to Jesus, they can ask the Father everything they need to continue the mission.

Let’s also ask the Father, through Jesus, to give us the solutions to find other people who have faith and sow together. May faith increase in our parishes and in our hearts.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

390. Healthy fruits


Gamaliel is a man with his mind adjusted to the will of God. It makes one believe that there are good Pharisees, Pharisees who have faith. He’s also a doctor of the law. Gamaliel managed to change the idea of the few who wanted to kill the Apostles. He’s very enlightened and he says to the Temple officials, concerning them:
“‘For if this endeavour or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.’ They were persuaded by him.” Acts, chapter 5, verses 38b to 39

Gamaliel has what it needs to be holy. And they are wise to be convinced.
Let’s not go against God. Let’s observe the fruits of those who announce the dead and risen Christ. Gamaliel has grasped how to discern the presence of the Holy Spirit in these missionaries. Let’s look at the fruits. If the fruits are related to the will of God, they will be beneficial for all and if the fruits are bad, they will destroy themselves. It’s also like this that in the world we can perceive what comes from God from what is not of him. The good is of him, evil isn’t.

As Jesus allowed the Apostles and people to see, God is exuberant when it comes to giving his graces and his gifts. Are we ready to receive them?

May the Eucharist be for us our ultimate receiving of graces, then thanksgiving for all the fruits that it will produce in abundance in our life to nourish the people of God and satisfy the hungry, the thirsty.

May the joy of being united to Jesus fill our lives with blessings. May we share them without measure, as the excesses of God who gives without counting. God exceeds all measures.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

391. God evangelizes


God draws our attention:
“Hear me, O coastlands, listen, O distant peoples.” Isaiah, chapter 49, verse 1
We have moved away or too far away. God invites all peoples to his table, his sharing, his tenderness, his listening.

Our existence is called to flourish under the grace of the Holy Spirit. To open ourselves to God is to let ourselves be Loved and let God inhabit our existence. The more space we give to the Trinity in the world, the more we’ll see God’s actions in our lives, and we’ll be delighted to see him act in others.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's evangelize, Normand Thomas