Normandt' meditations

[Normandt]

294. They just don’t know


Jesus wants to purify us. But he also asks us to enter into a movement of wisdom, words and gestures that will help to insert goodness in hearts. This way, the world will learn to live with the Trinity and move away from evil and sin. Jesus invites us to try to reach people in their hearts in a sober way. Let’s be on the move:
“They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.” Mark, chapter 6, verse 9

He says:
Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them. Mark, chapter 6, verses 10 to 11
If we find hospitality in people’s hearts, let’s get closer to them.

But if we feel that they refuse us, let’s go our way and pray that these people will find Jesus in their hearts. Let’s ask Jesus to touch their hearts with his Love. These people do not refuse us personally. They just don’t know what they’re missing by not daring to let Jesus enter their hearts.

Let’s ask Jesus to touch the hearts of the people we meet. May the Holy Spirit come before us and let the Father’s Heart become their home.

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

 

[Normandt]

295. To love with Jesus


John is so interesting. He tells us:
“Beloved, let us love one another, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.” 1 John, chapter 4, verse 7

To love keeps us on the road with God, since God is Love. Love is from him and never from us. God Loves in us and through us our family and our friends. To discover that it is God who Loves is to recognize what we can transmit to our surroundings.

To love is the treasure, the unheard-of riches of the Heart of God. And this treasure, God offers it all to us. He wishes for us to accept and appreciate his gift (giving).

Nothing is easier for God than touching hearts, but there is nothing more difficult for us because we often block Love. Love is on everyone’s lips, but often abused because many of us do not allow Love to Love. We try to love in God’s place.

The degree of love passed from person to person varies. We observe that there is more or less love flowing between us. Well, it is difficult to measure it.
We need Jesus to love. May Jesus be the Love in our life and Love the world through our words, our actions, but also by our silence and our prayers. His Love is always perfect. All opportunities are good to let God Love us.

Let’s find the means that allow us to let the Love of God flow. Only Jesus can Love without measure in us and overflow toward all people.

We have nothing to lose and everything to gain by welcoming Jesus into our lives. He will transform us with respect, slowly and surely.

 

[Normandt]

296. Our relationship with Christ


Paul tells us:
“Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit for anything as coming from us; rather, our qualification comes from God.” 2 Corinthians, chapter 3, verses 4-5

In short, our trust in God comes from God.

It’s nice to know that everything real and good comes from God. This is the best assurance we have, divine assurance. And it doesn’t cost anything.

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

 

[Normandt]

297. The basis of faith
Ah! Humility:
“My son, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.” Sirach, chapter 3, verse 17
Fulfill all things in humility ... in the humility that God offers us. It is the basis of faith, from its awakening to its fulfillment. To live in humility, we are invited to develop observation.
Being attentive to one’s self enables one to develop listening to the other, to others. To know how to observe Jesus in our heart, to know how to observe Jesus in each person, is to reveal Jesus in their heart.
We decentre on ourselves and turn to our heart, to humbly open it to the one who can heal it, Jesus. To reconnect us to the reality of people is an open path to holiness.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let's be Loved, Normand Thomas

 

[Normandt]

298. Through humility


The healing of the heart is through humility. Humility before others, before ourselves and before our Creator. Ben Sirach continues:
“Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favour with God.” Sirach, chapter 3, verse 18

To humble oneself is not to fall under the others, it’s not to let us fall sharply, it is to recognize that human beings are marvels of God, starting with ourselves. God is the master of these wonders.

When we approach God, we recognize that we are very tiny. Our child’s heart marvels of who we are before the Creator, before the Creation and before the creatures of God. We have the grace to observe God’s beauty in the human being and give the difficulties to Jesus.

All of God is beyond us. To recognize it is to place others where they are in the Heart of God. Let’s become friends of God ourselves. Let’s receive what God gives us.

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

 

[Normandt]

299. Humbled and exalted


Jesus tells us:
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke, chapter 14, verse 11

Whoever raises himself in the will and wisdom of God humbles himself before the splendour of God’s presence in his neighbour. He enters into a relationship with God and he discovers Jesus in the life and heart of others. Jesus raises us in his Light so that we can see clearly in our life and with the wish that his Light will spring up and be lowered onto others.

To rise and to lower oneself, if it’s God’s will, it’s exactly the same reality. To humble oneself before God is to be lifted up in God. To be lifted up in God is to lower oneself before God.
We lower ourselves before God to recognize his Kingship in our life. Jesus is Lord of our existence and we recognize him as such. Our humiliation before Jesus is a testimony of the humility received from God, a testimony of faith received from God for others. We affirm with all our being that there is no one superior to Jesus.

Then, we are raised in Jesus since his Love lifts us up and leads us into reality and truth.

To humble oneself before Jesus and to be raised in Jesus allows humility to become our sister.

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

 

[Normandt]

300. Childlike


There are elements of life that become grand. Life itself is a grace of which it is necessary to be aware and thankful of. We do not see life, it is discreet, but life is much more important, much more to appreciate than it seems to be.

Joy is a reality that we do not see, except when it is manifested through the emotions of a person. Joy is grace and it leaves us much more than just being there.

Peace is a favoured grace, because it leaves us with a sense of heavenly comfort.

Love is the proper of all these graces and it belongs to God. God invites us to live with his Love, to share his graces between us. We discover that there are small gestures and simple words that provoke a lot of good:
“Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Matthew, chapter 11, verse 25

Where the Body and Blood of Jesus is present in small elements of everyday life, we receive infinitely more than we can hope for. We receive everything from the Trinity. Let’s receive the Eucharist and let’s marvel from within.

May Mary and Joseph, who knew how to give little Jesus to the world, teach us to look at the little and humble, in order to discover God in his infinite Love.

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

 

[Normandt]

301. God’s help


Elijah is a man of faith. He listens to God and prophesies in his name. After announcing a drought to the people of Gallad, Elijah hears out the Lord:
“So he left and did as the Lord had commanded. He went and remained by the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan.” 1 Kings, chapter 17, verse 5

Despite the drought, Elijah does not lack food or water as it is written:
“Ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the stream.” 1 Kings, chapter 17, verse 6

If Elijah knew the next passage, he would surely have recited it, since he has so much faith in God:
“I raise my eyes toward the mountains. From where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. God will not allow your foot to slip; your guardian does not sleep. Truly, the guardian of Israel never slumbers nor sleeps. The Lord is your guardian; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. By day the sun cannot harm you, nor the moon by night.” Psalm 121, verses 1 to 6

The only way to be so deeply rooted in God, as Elijah is living it now, is to adjust our life to his freely given Love. Elijah listened to God.

Jesus gives us other ways, with the Beatitudes, to abide in His Love:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,” “the meek,” “they who mourn,” “they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,” “the merciful,” “the clean of heart,” “the peacemakers,” “the persecuted for righteousness” (See Matthew, chapter 5, verses 1-12).

Jesus adds to our good will:
“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” Matthew, chapter 5, verse 12

Let’s enter the promised Bliss of God’s Love and let ourselves be guided to his Heart. Our “reward is great” right now, with Jesus.

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

 

[Normandt]

302. We did some wrong


Let’s return briefly to what distances us from God and from ourselves.
Who among us could say that they do not have these defects, before God? We have a good reflection here:
“We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws.” Daniel, chapter 9, verse 5
Sometimes we miss the opportunity to truly be children of God.

Confession of Daniel’s journey:
“Ah! Lord, great and awesome God, you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and observe your commandments.” Daniel, chapter 9, verse 4

God Loves us even when we are at fault. He waits for our return every time with open arms. He Loves us beyond everything. It is our faults that keep us away from him. We simply stay away.

It’s up to us to check if we love each other and if we want to walk forward in God’s Love. Many people do not like this reality that God Loves every person, whatever sin they did. Why? Because God cannot be any other than Love!

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

 

[Normandt]

303. Damned? No… Loved!


We all know this popular phrase: “Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.” There are moments in life when we feel that everything we try to achieve seems to be compromised without really knowing why. This is a good sign, the right time to return to our inner self and allow more precious time with God.

But this English expression is transformed with God: “We are Loved by God if we do it, Loved if we do it not.” We are Loved even with our failings, mishaps, bad luck, mistakes, because God is Love.

Does this mean that God encourages the harm we do? That we can do anything wrong? Never. Does that mean to do nothing more? Not at all. And this is not the question.

God Loves us and he wants his Love to take us back to the path of life and truth. It is we who cause evil and succumb to sin. We freeze away from God. But still, God Loves us, forever! When we shy away from him, we block his Love.

Jesus tells us, as to the crowd:
“Be merciful, just as (also) your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.” Luke, chapter 6, verses 36 to 37

Whether we love God or not, he continues to Love us. Our decision to be with God or against God leads us either in Love or away from Love. We are the only ones responsible for our decision. And this is a decision we must make as soon as possible.

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

 

[Normandt]

304. Let’s dive in


It’s quite difficult to believe that one person would not want God’s Love. Let’s dive into his Love now:
Let’s read:
“Remember your compassion and love, O Lord; for they are ages old.” Psalm 25, verse 6

Why should we say, “Remember your compassion and love, O Lord; for they are ages old?”
Wouldn’t it be better to say: “Lord, your compassion, your Love is always with me!”

But what is written in the Psalm is, “Remember, Lord.” Does the Lord need to remember about his Love? No need for him to remind himself of it. He is Love.

It’s certain that when we are suffering, it is possible to think that God has let us down. We would like him to remember, we plead him to not let us down. But it isn’t so.

Even in suffering, the Lord is always with us, with the same infinite Love, with the same tenderness and compassion, the same mercy at every moment, totally and continually. We think that God will remember, but it is we who must remember that God is here, now, with us.
Shouldn’t we be remembering his Love?

God’s Love is priceless. God is not a mystery. Nor is he a mystery to himself. The greatest mystery is that we don’t really understand God. We’re still not totally convinced that he is Love. The mystery is on us. It is we who don’t understand how deeply God Loves us. This is a mystery! Jesus wants us to do exactly as he does, to Love.

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

 

[Normandt]

305. We are forgiven


Peter doesn’t seem to be aware that Jesus will answer that his Love is infinite. The answer that Jesus will give to his question on forgiveness shouldn’t surprise anyone. Peter approaches Jesus and asks him:
“Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Matthew, chapter 18, verse 21

We might have submitted our proposition: “Once?” To forgive once is enough! Forgiving sincerely is effective. But when mistakes are repeated, we can go up to seven times, too, like Peter.

Thanks to Peter, we get an answer. Peter offers him his idea, which is already a good idea: “Up to seven times?” Jesus answers him:
“I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” Matthew, chapter 18, verse 22

It’s not easy to forgive, it takes practice. The less we practise forgiving, the more difficult it will be to forgive. All our life, we need to forgive, we need to be forgiven, we need to forgive ourselves. We need God’s forgiveness to stay sane, in holiness.

Honestly, we wouldn’t have known that Jesus’s response would be as demanding as his Love is Mercy. Yet we cannot expect less from Jesus than the answer he gives us. He is God!

So, Jesus delivers the challenge on a silver platter and offers it to us. Forgive God 100% because God has never hurt anyone. Forgiving others to help us and also help them to improve, to become the image of God. We personally forgive ourselves to touch the Love of God in us and to become a complete child.

God doesn’t have to remember his Love for us, since he is eternally Loving. There is no failure in his Love. May we discover it. We only need to believe, remember and embrace it.

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

 

[Normandt]

306. God seduces


Jerusalem continues to be unfaithful. The people are unfaithful to God. The inhabitants take unspecified paths, which keep them away from an authentic relationship with God.

God wants to conquer us as he does with his people, because he knows that we are beings of love, since we are beings created by Love:
“[My unfaithful wife], I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart.” Hosea, chapter 2, verse 16

God wants to seduce, not to force. He wants to seduce his unfaithful wife. We recognize ourselves in this unfaithful wife towards Love, when we move away from him by ways contrary to his will. God goes beyond our unfaithfulness.

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

 

[Normandt]

307. To listen


God knows that the strength of his Love can do anything. God wants to drag us to the desert, in the silence of our heart:
“So I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart.” Hosea, chapter 2, verse 13

We just need to listen. We often think that living a personal desert is painful and that there seems to be a growing void. We feel so alone.

The desert is rather the ideal place where we can enter into a relationship with God. A heart to Heart relationship is never a refusal for him. God wants to be in touch with us all.

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

 

[Normandt]

308. More faith


God keeps on giving:
“I will give her the vineyards she had, and the valley of Achor as a door of hope.” Hosea, chapter 2, verse 14

Only God can give us hope. Today we see churches half-filled. And we see sufferings in the world. It’s not necessary to describe them. We observe them, we know them, their misfortunes.

But God tells us to open the door to hope. He wants to unite us with him. God adds:
“I will allure her [unfaithful]; I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart.” Hosea, chapter 2, verse 13

God will make of what we think to be a misfortune in a “valley of Achor [tears] (v. 13)”, an air of youth, faith and freedom. Whatever our age, human youth comes from inflamed faith for God and in God.

Let’s ask for more faith in God so that our life reaches its inner youth, so that people around us reach it too and that our Church enters a turning point of constant faith, hope and charity, rejuvenated in the Heart of the Trinity. May everyone benefit because we are created for God and live it forever.

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

 

[Normandt]

309. Peace


Paul’s salutation:
“To all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans, chapter 1, verse 7

It is realistic to say that holiness leads to grace and peace from God. Let’s continue to place our trust in Jesus and walk with him on the road to holiness. Jesus doesn’t lead us anywhere else. He is merciful and even though we are at fault, he wants us to stay with him, to improve ourselves and that he leads us to holiness.

If we see people in churches who are not perfect, let’s say they’re in the right place. It’s in the Church that we find ways to improve ourselves with Jesus and with others. We are in the Church for this reason, because we know that we are sinners and we want to improve on a path of faith and hope. People are usually in Church for that reason.

In the beginning, when we start going to church, it’s more our mistakes that make us not want to go back. We think we’re not worth it. On the contrary, we are worth the joy! Let’s give our sins to Jesus and walk in the Church. May we convert day after day. This is the pathway to enter eternal life.

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

 

[Normandt]

310. Abide in Jesus


Jesus is Love. We have no reason to pull away from him. He is our joy. Let’s take the example of food. As soon as we eat better, we feel better and with more vitality. Jesus leads us to spiritual vitality.

The desert is filled with Jesus’s presence. It is there that he touches our hearts with his tenderness, compassion and mercy. Coming to Jesus leads to holiness. By a sustained journey toward him, we feel the benefits and much more vigour, intensity, endurance. Even if we seem to be used to this well-being with Jesus, let’s continue.

According to Paul:
“God is righteous and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans, chapter 3, verse 26

We have the best example in Jesus to receive what is right for us. That’s what Paul recommends. May we abide in Jesus to receive what we need most, to continue on the road.

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

 

[Normandt]

311. We receive everything


We need the Love of God, patience, peace, strength to go through hardships. We receive all this and more in Jesus, in the Church. It is the hope that fills the hearts of children.

All holiness and perfection of soul lies in our love for Jesus Christ our God, who is our Redeemer and our supreme good. It is part of the love of God to acquire and to nurture all the virtues which make a man perfect.

Has not God in fact won for himself a claim on all our love? From all eternity he has loved us. And it is in this vein that he speaks to us: “O man, consider carefully that I first loved you. You had not yet appeared in the light of day, nor did the world yet exist, but already I loved you. From all eternity I have loved you.”

From a sermon Alphonse-Marie de Liguori on the Love of Christ, Office of readings, August 1, Tract. de praxi amandi Iesum Christum edit. latina. Romae, 1909, pp. 9-14

Sometimes we feel superb when we serve God and live in his Presence. May we never think we have succeeded though. This is a trap. We risk becoming lukewarm and let go of what we have lived for. The best way to make sure we move forward is to always deepen our faith through reading, teaching, Mass, to keep having questions and to search continually even if we think we have reached the goal.

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

 

[Normandt]

312. Whom you will serve


Joshua questions the people of Israel of what should be a priority, for us as well, to bring us back to basics:
“Decide today whom you will serve.” Joshua, chapter 24, verse 15a

Let’s choose who we want to serve. What is the god (other gods) to whom we give our life, our time, our habits, our desires? Is it to God? Where are our priorities? Is God first in our life? Joshua finishes and confirms:
“We also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.” Joshua, chapter 24, verse 18b

We want to serve the Trinity. We want to follow Jesus, let ourselves be transformed by the Holy Spirit and be children (sons) of the same Father.

Are we really united to the Trinity wholeheartedly, with all our soul, with all our being? It’s quite possible that we aren’t. We are making efforts, but we know that we aren’t succeeding alone in being captivated by the Trinity.

Let’s ask God to come and surprise us with his presence and teach us how to love him, be Loved by him.

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

 

[Normandt]

313. Our relationship with Jesus


Jesus sent the Spirit to his Church to continue on his behalf to guide his family. The catechism is the fruit of the Holy Spirit transmitted to the authority of the Catholic Church. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (version 1999) is the christian reflection on what Jesus taught us, a Bible study, and all that the Church believes and teaches about the Testaments that complement each other, and that God has given as our heritage.

Let’s ask Jesus to help us deepen our faith and our relationship to him by being firmly anchored in the Catholic Church. The Church conveys all the care we need by receiving it from God.

Jesus confers the authority of his Church to the Apostles and sends the Holy Spirit to nourish her in her roots. Let’s subscribe, adhere to the Church of the Lord which continues to watch over the Body and Blood of Christ.

May Mary, our Mother of all, with Joseph, the Apostles and saints, teach us to take care of Jesus who is in our heart and to accept the teaching of the Church he has founded.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart’s mission, Normand Thomas