Normandt' meditations

[Normandt]

40. Perseverance





Continuous conversion is necessary if we are to remain strong in the midst of a boat being plagued by high waves, preyed upon by all the promises from the outside, all the illusions that sparkle on the water surface, proposed to us outside the Church.



May conversion be real in our heart and in the heart of our life. May we become lovers of God who loves us first. Let’s love God more and more.

Let’s ask Jesus’s perseverance to remain in him. It’s imperative, important today to rest completely, to anchor ourselves firmly in Jesus’s love, in order not to be tossed on the waves of life, from one side to the other. It must become a commitment to progress and stabilize our faith, by following Jesus Christ.



Perseverance in faith keeps us glued to our loving God who seeks our “yes” every day. No need to tense up our faces to move forward and be persistent, but let down our barriers one by one and believe in the ways and means received by the Holy Spirit, because God believes in us.



Let’s be vigilant. Let’s live our faith. This is the first assurance we need to get. Starting the day with the sign of the Cross. Staying in Jesus’s Heart. Jesus is Love. Jesus Loves us.



The new American Bible, 2011-2014

Book: A path to conversion, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

41. Caution





To evolve in faith, it is important to observe from time to time, what is and what is not fine in our faith. Let’s replace ourselves before Christ, to be at our best and to grow in faith.



A continued conversion allows the jewel of faith to be polished by the hand of God. People who are filled with God’s Love become inflamed, they become lights in the world.



Paul invites us to persevere:

Provided that you persevere in the faith, firmly grounded, stable, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, am a minister, Colossians, chapter 1, verse 23



during Mass, among other means. May we remain strong and firm in the faith and strong in the grace of God. And as Paul says:

“To live in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians, chapter 1, verse 10



Let’s be certain that if we keep Jesus with us, in us, we will make progress “in the true knowledge of God”. In Jesus, we will become bearers of God’s Love. We will grow in this love and the people accompanying us during our earthly pilgrimage will benefit from it.



The new American Bible, 2011-2014

Book: A path to conversion, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

42. Fears





Fears, anxieties, phobias, etc., are not from God. The more we get closer to Jesus our Lord, the more our lives will turn around and we will observe decrease of the discomfort.

We can ask ourselves: “Do we let the Holy Spirit work in our lives or do we let fear take over?”



If sadness prevails over joy, if the closure of our heart trumps openness to others, if we become stagnant instead of walking behind Jesus, if fear paralyzes us instead of tasting joy and freedom, the Holy Spirit doesn’t pass. He can’t go where we locked him out. It may be that we spend more time retaining ourselves, locking ourselves up instead of living our faith, free, and in God’s Light.

Let’s enter quickly into God’s delights.



To not choose, to not decide is a devious trap. Elijah speaks these words to the crowd, and they are illuminating for us too:

“How long will you straddle the issue? If the Lord is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him.” 1 Kings, chapter 18, verse 21



Elijah’s invitation does not require an immediate response, but further reflection that will allow an evolution in faith.

Elijah places the people that he guides in front of their choices. There are only two choices. There will always be only two choices for us. God or whatever.



It’s impossible to turn straight ahead. It’s just impossible. We must turn either right or left, or go straight. Either we turn or we go straight. It’s one or the other. God invites us to go straight. But often we “dance” to the left and then to the right, as souls that get out of hand then we may get out of the path that leads to God.



We are constantly faced with choices more or less simple. But what is interesting in what Elijah offers us is that we’re in front of the only decision that really matters. All other decisions we eventually make results from this one. All personal achievements we live will be linked to that decision alone, “Do I choose God or not?” God is God of Love, the Holy Spirit breathes life into us and Jesus came to show us the path to follow to enter Eternal Love. The decision is easy. Or, is it easy?



Nobody can answer that question for us. We have full responsibility. Let’s enter our heart and take the time to verify our choices and then align our life in the direction of our choice.



This sentence is to the point:

“Happy those […] (which) God’s law they study day and night, […] that yields its fruit in season.” Psalm 2, verses 1 to 3



With multiple paths already on the subject, we possibly know the answer. God allows us to become what’s best for us, if we choose and remain focused on him.



The new American Bible, 2011-2014

Book: A path to conversion, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

43. The Fruits of the Spirit





Let’s observe the fruits of the Holy Spirit in the persons, which will unfold in goodness, truthfulness, in reality. If the person's words bear fruit and they are in the will of God, they’ll lead to peace, joy, life, to all the gifts and charisms of the Holy Spirit, we can then follow what they live internally and be inspired by them.



If not, let’s be careful with all the teachings that are given in the world. No need to deny and banish them, but let’s separate the speeches that lead us to God from the ones that can separate us from him.



And why not internally compare the teachings we hear, not to discredit it at once, but to help us understand and refocus on Jesus. Let’s ask Jesus to enlighten what’s good in what we receive as teachings.



The same is true for gestures. Let’s observe if the gestures of people lead to charity or not. As we listen and observe the others, we can achieve the same study on our ability to want to live and transmit values and if we live it well.



Let’s ask Jesus to help us discern between what is from God and his Holy Spirit of what divides, separates us from him. People we meet may have good intentions, but the path they have chosen may lead away from God, then we are set astray with them. Let’s be aware and careful.



The new American Bible, 2011-2014

Book: A path to conversion, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

44. To seek light





To seek the light of God is a process to do every day of our lives. Let’s rise:

“Rise up in splendour! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you.” Isaiah, chapter 60, verse 1



What is the light that we seek? The Light is already on us. The Light of the Lord, the light of the Trinity is always on us, and it is for us to welcome it, to receive and be enlightened by it.



Jesus’s light is to be demanded on us often, then we allow God to illuminate our lives and help us move forward on a quiet road, a better-defined road since we become better informed. With the light of God, we discern more in the depths of our heart what’s necessarily needed for the road.



A sincere prayer of the heart is the best way to unite with God, to welcome him and be enlightened. It focuses us on God and allows him to do the cleaning of our existence.



A prayer that’s already written, as the prayer of Jesus is, the Our Father, said with the heart, is an act of love. Each time we pray with an already written prayer or from within us, if it’s said with the heart, it’s an “I love you” to God.



We will possibly be distracted during our prayer time. These distractions are an opportunity for us to give them to God. This is part of our internal cleansing. It creates space to better accommodate God’s Presence in us.



The new American Bible, 2011-2014

Book: A path to conversion, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

45. Freedom





Jesus came to show us the face of God. He came to heal us and help us out of slavery and convert, of course, if we want to welcome Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. As it is written:

“Many followed him, and he cured them all.” Matthew, chapter 12, verse 15



Let’s continue to work on our own conversion to Jesus’s Sacred Heart and he will show us he’s our Lord and Saviour. Let’s ask ourselves the question: “Did I become a slave to something or someone?”



Let’s briefly do a parallel with the slavery of sin. As soon as we move away from God, we will reduce ourselves to more faults and sins. The remoteness from God will be caused by slavery, which will sink us into sin. Sin and evil always lead us away from God.



May we dare take the risk of following Jesus like the people of Israel out of Egypt with God’s forceful hand. May we dare leave our bad habits.

Jesus heals us from our remoteness if we wish. The decision is ours, because we are free.



The new American Bible, 2011-2014

Book: A path to conversion, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

46. Continuous conversion and notice





When we are living a basic conversion, there arises a deep desire to boldly explore the source, to know who God is and why his Love pierces our hearts.



Continuous conversion involves discovering and deepening the roots that lead us to know God’s Love. Prospecting in the Bible, to examine the source of faith, is a human and natural process to starting to know who is God.

The teenage years are usually coloured by researching and understanding of family roots.



The teenager becomes aware of the people around him who have been present during his life. Who am I? Why am I? Who are they? Why them?

We will do the same exercise, in order to identify in several Bible texts, of which concerns God. Then we will dig into the very source of God’s reality. Who is God? Why him?



But what are we looking for? As every human being one day finds himself before the question of love, we will search together, in the Bible, what’s revealed about the Love of God. On the other hand, and because of this exercise, it will be necessary to dig out what is also contrary to the Love of God.



We are aware that there is a danger in carrying out such a project. It’s sometimes difficult to understand why, on one hand, God is loving and the benefactor, but on the other hand, he seems to be wishing us harm, for obscure reasons.



It’s false that God would want to hurt us, we know that. More precisely, evil is present in the sacred texts (Bible) because the people become lukewarm and they turn away from God; which undeniably attracts him to sin, to evil.



It should be noted that, as you will become aware in this book, the reality of God will never be eliminated (Love, peace, joy, mercy, etc.). On the other hand, what does not suit him will be underlined. This is the difficult part of the exercise. It requires an openness of mind and heart on the reader’s part. After clearing through the deeper meaning of God in the Bible, Love will become visible.



It will be up to every person who reads this book, to discover that God is Love and that he never causes harm or leads his people or anyone to misfortune. We hope this makes the Bible more interesting and easy to read. We want to bring out the best of the Bible and we wish it ardently, without prejudice to the truth it contains.



Let’s be reassured from the start that all that’s written in the Bible is wanted from God. We repeat: All the texts of the Bible God wants. They teach us about history and human behaviour and God who’s with us in history.



So we want to search together, excavate (dig out) and unpack the reality of God through what is written about him. We dare to release and reveal the Love of God by elevating, as within a hologram projection, some chosen passages from the Bible.



It’s an invitation to conversion and to a sincere journey. We do believe, God is Love and he can only be Love. It’s rather humans who sin, hides and disfigures the face of God.



The new American Bible, 2011-2014

Book: Let’s reveal God, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

47. God coexists with humans





Since the beginning of humanity, mankind has been trying to understand who God is.



Events in the world make us love God. But in a strange way, they can also dissuade us, make us doubt, then move us away from the Love of God.

Writers too, in the Bible, have given intentions to God that does not seem to suit him very well. We’ll try to restore briefly the reality of God, who is Love. We’ll also try to detect the reality of the human being, too often inhuman, because of his faults and his sins, who thinks that God is like him. Or, just like us sometimes, writers imagine God as an avenger, a scary being, who keeps us in fear as well as other unattractive attributes.



There are two basic aspects that influence us in the Bible. First, we discover the Love of God, purer than a perfect diamond with all its facets of mercy, joy, hope, peace, life, etc.



The second point of view that we need to remember is that God is present in the history of humanity. Despite the fact that there are saints in the Bible, very often the story recalls inhuman gestures and words that intermingle with the Love of God, unfortunately.



The image we project on God is often tarnished. We place an opaque veil between us and him. It can become confusing to the point that the “god” we invent seems to betray us, make us suffer and kills us, according to his mood (We place a small “g” to “god” here, because we want to signify, right from the outset, that this “god”, like an idol, is a pure invention of our misunderstanding of the reality of God).



Moreover, we observe that since the beginning of humanity, inhuman sins contradict the Love of God. Violence and evil caused by sin distorts reality. God then becomes, through a false perception, guilty of the evils, the misery and the suffering of humanity. Even today, we blame God for evil and sin.



Now, inhuman acts and words cause harm and its horrors are found in the Bible. Evil becomes an agent of confusion that blurs the reality of God.



The new American Bible, 2011-2014

Book: Let’s reveal God, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

48. Beauty of God in the Bible





But, thanks to God, goodness shines, forevermore, in the Bible. And it’s in this goodness that the transparent Beauty of God is revealed.

The most extraordinary thing about the Bible is that humanity, with its weaknesses and sins, and God with his Love, live side by side.

God inspired writers to write the Bible. We repeat: God inspired writers to write the texts of the Bible.



The Bible could be considered as a one and only parable. What is of God and what is the misunderstanding of the human with respect to God?

It’s up to us to understand the enormous difference, the chasm (gap) that too often exists between us and God. No inhuman gesture, thought or word can be given to God.



The great drama of the Bible is that God wants to convert his people and bring him back to his Love, and his children inhumanly sin and cause harm, then move away from God, pretexting it’s his fault.

We will explore, with this reading guide, some texts of the Bible. We will discover how easy it is to think that God “allows” evil when he’s not responsible for it.



The new American Bible, 2011-2014

Book: Let’s reveal God, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

50. The Covenant


After the flood, God makes a Covenant with Noah and his family. God guarantees that he will always be present:
See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you: all the birds, and the various tames and wild animals that were with you and came out of the ark. Genesis, chapter 9, verses 9 to 10

God’s Covenant is eternal. God never breaks it. We can conclude that his Covenant with humanity was already defined, already established from the creation of the world, even before he formed the universe.
God reassures the people:
“I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” Genesis, chapter 9, verse 13

God’s Covenant is the Love he offers us without limit, all the time and in which he wants to keep us. God reminds Abraham of it:
“I will maintain my covenant with you and your descendants after you throughout the ages as an everlasting pact, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.” Genesis, chapter 17, verse 7

God is always in relation with the people, if the people want him. Him, he will never leave.
Are we, ourselves, in the Covenant of the caring Love of God?

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s reveal God, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

51. The Heart of the ship





Theologians have seen in Noah’s ark the salvation offered to us, the salvation that raises us above sin and death. God has consideration and he proposes a boat for his people, so that he may be saved from death.



The boat that is the Church is founded by Jesus on the Apostles. She teaches us his will. She administers his Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and the Word of Life for our salvation and fraternity among humans. The Church of Jesus offers us the means to move away from temptations and from evil.

God also entrusts Mary, Mother of Jesus, for to contemplate and to follow as an example of faith.



Christ is the Heart and he drives the ship, the ark. Jesus is the undeniable proof that God loves us forever. Peter understands it:

“For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit.” 1 Peter, chapter 3, verse 18



Jesus offers himself to save us. He did not condemn us to death. God does not condemn. He takes our flesh that is dying, to arise it in eternal life. He wants us alive in his Covenant. Jesus came into our history, to bring us back to the dignity of being, to the dignity of being human.



The new American Bible, 2011-2014

Book: Let’s reveal God, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

52. Jesus fights temptations





Jesus, when tempted in the desert, teaches us how to fight evil.

Evil takes us away from the Eucharist and the Word of God. Evil brings us down to become lost kings and queens, far from the world and from our Church. We risk thinking that we are the only ones who can handle everything. Evil degrades us to the point of thinking that we own the goods and the people. Evil diminishes us, it pulls us away from others and from God.



In the midst of temptations:

“The Spirit drives Jesus out into the desert.” Mark, chapter 1, verse 12



The Spirit drives Jesus to the desert. Jesus goes freely because he is eager to fulfill his mission and to lead us on the road of life to Life everlasting. He shows us how to fight temptations:

“He remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.” Mark, chapter 1, verse 13



Jesus is tempted by evil, but not like us. He fights temptations for us; the temptation to move away from the Life and Love of God; the temptation of evil against God; the temptation of what distracts us from God and the temptation to possess what exists by repelling God.



The worst and most subtle temptation is to think that God is not Love.

Jesus doesn’t need to fight temptations for himself. Jesus is already victorious. He fights temptations for us and to show us how to be free. Every time we are tempted, Jesus fights with us, if we allow him to intervene in our life.



There are not many fruits growing in the desert, there is not much water. The desert certainly means death for a person. Let’s perceive that the desert contrasts with paradise, which was promised to us before the fall, before the original sin, the sin that only Baptism can wash out.



Jesus overcame the desert of temptations that leads to death and he turns it into a fertile land. Jesus comes to tell us not to fear because he has conquered death by leading us into his life. He invites us to walk behind him, to walk on the path of real life. It’s now the time of the great cleansing of our person, to empty it of all that is useless and to let it fill up with the Love of God.



May all the shady areas of our existence be purified in the Love of God. Let’s enjoy it! We will then avoid running into evil.



The new American Bible, 2011-2014

Book: Let’s reveal God, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

53. God cannot curse





Abraham has the impression that God says:

“I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.” Genesis chapter 12, verse 3



If one person despises another, will he be happy? Is it possible to be happy when he hurts a person? Let’s read it again: “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.” We know that God cannot reprove, condemn, curse: this is absolutely not in his nature. Yet it is written, some will say.



Would it be better said that the person who despises the other could go so far as to curse himself? It’s possible. So, if someone curses someone, he commits to cursing himself.



Because the evil that he ventures on the other is the evil with which he’s contaminated. God doesn’t curse. He doesn’t need God to condemn and condemn himself. He curses and then he curses himself. He’s able to condemn himself alone.



This text is, therefore, in itself an affirmation that can put God at wrongdoing. The “I will curse” placed in the mouth of God is very possibly the understanding of the writer, in his living time, about God. To reprove, to exclude a person from his face for eternity is absolutely not in the way of God’s action, it isn’t in God’s plan.



For the author of Genesis, by this biblical passage, God seems to be responsible for both good and evil in the world. The author had not yet learned to distinguish between evil that doesn’t concern God and good that represents God.



The final answer would be more likely: “The person who will curse, he will condemn himself. He risks being excluded from eternity if he curses others; even worse, if he curses God.” The boomerang effect.



The new American Bible, 2011-2014

Book: Let’s reveal God, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

55. Rebuke against God





The people of Israel still rebuke against Moses:

“Why did you ever make us leave Egypt? Was it just to have us die here of thirst with our children and our livestock?” Exodus, chapter 17, verse 3



It’s classic. When we do not have what we want, we often accuse others, the government, and then recriminate directly or indirectly against God. Why does God seem to cover us with misfortune?



As for families in Israel, we are used to living in an environment that can lead us to maximum security, to habits that are no longer to be dismantled. And we go around in circles, instead of bouncing our way back to God.



The new American Bible, 2011-2014

Book: Let’s reveal God, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

56.Too heavy





After an interesting internal journey, surprisingly, Moses becomes free and lucid enough to ask God for help:

Was it I who conceived all this people? Or was it I who gave them birth, that you tell me to carry them at my bosom, like a foster father carrying an infant, to the land you have promised under oath to their fathers?



Where can I get meat to give to all this people? For they are crying to me, ‘Give us meat for our food.’

I cannot carry all this people by myself, for they are too heavy for me. Numbers, chapter 11, verses 12 to 14



What Moses understands is invaluable: “Was it I who conceived all this people?” He understands that the people of Israel are the people of God: “I cannot carry all this people by myself, for they are too heavy for me.”

Yes, Moses is a wanted guide of God for his people … and his mission is to lead him to God. Moses recognizes God as the one who leads his people. He hands the people over to God, since he is responsible for this people.



We cannot do anything without God. Let’s give him back all people and all groups.

Despite the weight of the moment, Moses clings to his relationship with God. He has always worked with God. But there are people who are never happy, never satisfied. They will demonstrate to Moses that they do not want freedom. Nevertheless, Moses wishes to take them out of their bad experience lived in Egypt and bring them back to freedom, in God.



Moses is in a listening attitude with God:

To the people, however, you shall say: Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, when you shall have meat to eat. For in the hearing of the Lord you have cried, “Would that we had meat for food! Oh, how well off we were in Egypt!” Therefore the Lord will give you meat for food, and you will eat it. Numbers, chapter 11, verses 18 to 19



God is always listening. As soon as Moses is released from the complaint of the people, he gets his answer.

May the leaders of a people, a nation, a country, a church remain in God, like Moses. May they continue, in spite of everything and even in what seems impossible to comprehend, to return to God.



Moses relies on God. Let’s trust Jesus. Let’s receive what we need and the needs for others. It’s never necessary to complain, since God is there and he hears us very well. Although, to complain is often the reaction which precedes a serious reflection.



The new American Bible, 2011-2014

Book: Let’s reveal God, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

57. No consequences for sin?





Are there no consequences for sin? Absolutely not. Because sin is lacking, separating from the Love of God. Sin is an action and evil is its consequence.

Through sin, the person hurts himself and can destroy himself. The only decision of the person to turn to sin causes him evil.



This is being unfaithful to the Love of God. Leaving God, which will cause us evil, leads to suffering. Without the love of God, we sink into the mud of evil.

Let’s continue with the next passage of the Exodus, which is not easy to understand, since it seems to contradict the message of Jesus:

“Love your enemies.” Matthew, chapter 5, verse 44



Let’s continue immediately with what is written in the Book of Exodus:

“I will be an enemy to your enemies.” Exodus, chapter 23, verse 22



For a people who are often at war, we can assume that he did not understand the message that God is transmitting to him. How can God be an “enemy” since he is Love?

It’s easy to conclude that God would hurt someone. But Jesus sets the clock back on time. He confirms that God loves even enemies.



The new American Bible, 2011-2014

Book: Let’s reveal God, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

58. God doesn’t fight anyone





God is present from generation to generation. He is now with Joshua. Joshua thinks God is fighting the people of the Amorites:

“They fought against you, but I delivered them into your power. You took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you.” Joshua, chapter 24, verse 8



Joshua assumes that God is fighting in war with them. But he does not fight Joshua’s war enemies.



God has never been in their wars. God has never destroyed anyone. He has no weapons. It was the people of that time who believed that God was in their battles and gave to them victories against humans.



The new American Bible, 2011-2014

Book: Let’s reveal God, Normand Thomas