Bread of Life

• The Catechism
• Patron Saints
• Papal History
• Stations of the Cross
• Catholic Prayers
• Wkly Word Archives
• Return to St. Joe's

He Gave His Only Son

"Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."

John 21:29

• There should be less talk. A preaching point is not a meeting point.


• The dying, the cripple, the mental, the unwanted, the unloved-- they are Jesus in disguise.


• In the West there is loneliness, which I call the leprosy of the West. In many ways it is worse than our poor in Calcutta. (Commonweal, Dec 19, 1997)


• It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving.


• The poor give us much more than we give them. They're such strong people, living day to day with no food. and they never curse, never complain. We don't have to give them pity or sympathy. We have so much to learn from them.


• I see God in every human being. When I wash the leper's wounds, I feel I am nursing the Lord himself. Is it not a beautiful experience?


• I do not pray for success. I ask for faithfulness.


• Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go.


• If you judge people, you have no time to love them.

~Mother Teresa~

I have a group of friends online and we keep in touch regularly. Recently, a series of sorrowful passing of loved ones touched our group: one lost a beloved mother, even before she could see her dream being fulfilled. Another three lost three very good friends. One lost a brother. Another lost a goddaughter suddenly due to illness. And two weeks ago, one of us lost her two grown children tragically in an accident. In the midst of our broken hearts we cling on to the truth that Jesus Christ our Lord suffered first and suffered most, and that by His death and resurrection, we have the absolute hope that those who believe in Him will have eternal life. It is difficult, and we know that for those who have experienced the loss, the pain will not really go away. But somehow, it is a grieving that is anchored firmly on Jesus and in the loving hands of our Father, it is a grieving that will eventually turn into firm hope and anticipation.

Because of our human nature, we become subject to pain and sadness as we experience situations beyond our comprehension that most times we are tempted to ask, "why me, God?" But although misfortune and pain befall believers and non-believers alike, the difference between the two is the firm conviction that Jesus Christ died and rose for us, giving us eternal life. When we lift our eyes and cling to that truth, we begin to see that the pain we suffer here on earth, in fact our very physical existence here on this earth, is but a blink of an eye in the time frame of eternity. Through thousands of years, those who believe in the risen Lord faithfully manifest the eventual triumph of hope and love over despair, the turning of the bitter into sweetness. St. Paul testifies: "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." ( 2 Corinthians 4:17)

When we look back at history, we behold always the two faces of human choice and will. Framed by the horrors of the Auschwitz Camp during World War II, we see Maximillian Kolbe, A Franciscan friar, who offered his life so that a stranger might be spared, yet we also see how another used money and deceit to escape execution. Maximillian Kolbe died but the other is now a billionaire, still living, who has declared that he does not believe in God. On separate interviews two famous men, who have every imaginable material comforts brought about by their wealth, confessed why they needed to be surrounded by people especially at night: although they could buy almost anything, they could not buy the serenity of a good night's sleep, because they are afraid of being alone. These two also have chosen to deny God in their lives. And yet there are many others who have chosen to use all that they have, all their talents to spread the good news about Jesus and be witnesses to how Jesus has changed their lives in spite of seemingly insurmountable pain. Back in our ordinary, struggle-filled lives, we oftentimes are overwhelmed physically, emotionally, to the point that all we could say is, "mercy, Lord, mercy," but at the same time, we are blessed with the unshakeable reality that we can find peace in solitude, joy in the midst of our sorrow, and with a vibrant heart filled with a hope that cannot be entirely killed. Of course we falter, and of course we get angry. But as always, because of our choice to be on the side of Jesus, our hardship will become our eventual glory.

One newspaper columnist once said that Christianity is the religion of poor, ignorant people and that smart, educated people should know better than believe in this "garbage." But come to think of it, what do these non-believers have to show for proof that Jesus Christ does not exist, that we do not have the glorious promise that one day He will come again to take us to His Father's mansion in heaven? Although this columnist wrote beautifully, my eyes turn back to the very first martyrs for Jesus, His apostles who walked and lived with Him, saw Him and touched Him, saw His miracles and His transfiguration, His suffering, His death and His resurrection all witnesses to His presence here on this very earth! These apostles not only wrote what Jesus said and did, but also died for what they saw, so that we may believe. We are far removed from that time when these apostles beheld the resurrection and ascension of Jesus; but through their witness and power of their conviction to the point of death, it would be a huge mistake not to believe. Through thousands of years Christians have borne much pain for something that, although it is not often visible, is undeniably true. As we endure our own special crosses, we share in this communion and faith, and we find comfort in the knowledge that we are members of that one great flock, and that Jesus is our Shepherd. Someday soon He will come again and wipe away our tears, and then there will be sadness no more.

While my friends and I struggled to console the grieving mother who lost her two children, she herself helped us graciously by lifting her heart to the Lord, and praising Him for His glory. In her grief, we saw the undeniable conviction of faith, a loving and living witness to the truth that although we cannot really understand God's ways, we know that God Himself suffered the very sorrow that we bear because He gave up His only Son so that we may be reunited with Him in heaven. Believers and non-believers both die, but for those who believe in Jesus Christ, this life on earth is but a pilgrimage on our way to our real home in heaven: "But I would not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, that you should not sorrow, like others who have no hope." (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

Today we celebrate the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. May we submit our hearts to Him and renew the hope within us for He has said, "I am with you always, even until the end of the world." (Matthew 28:20).

URLVD

If you would like to comment on any article written or would like to contact one of our writers, please feel free to do so my filling out the simple form below. If you would also like to submit some sort of spiritual writing of your own, please feel free to let us know, we'd love to place your writing right here along with our regular writers. Thank you!