Today I feel very2 blessed, despite the fact that I had to take a half-day sick leave. (I wasn't feeling well in the morning. Nevertheless I continued to do my work in the office. Afternoon, I went to the clinic. Resting at home n feeling better after a little prayer, I finally find the opportunity to continue reading my book 'A Retreat With Therese of Lisieux'. No wonder it was soooo hard to finish this book. It 'speaks' directly to me.
Among others the book goes:
*Why were saints saints?
Because they were cheerful when it was difficult to be patient,
and because they pushed on when they wanted to stand still,
and kept silent when they wanted to talk,
and were agreeable when they wanted to be disagreeable.
*"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you"
(John 15:12).
Meditating on these words of Jesus, I (Therese) began to see how imperfect my own love was; it was so obvious that I didn't love my sisters (in the Carmel) as God loves them. I realize now that perfect love means putting up with other people's shortcomings, feeling no surprise at their weaknesses, finding encouragement at even the slightes evidence of good qualities in them... Always, when I act as charity bids, I have this feeling that it is Jesus acting in me. The closer my union with Him, the greater my love...
As I've said, it's not a question of always succeeding in loving others and reaching out to them. What matters is continually trying and trusting in God's grace to help us get up when we fall.
*It's strange to think that since I was fifteen I've lived in this small patch of land. No more running in the meadows for me, no more picking wildflowers and seeing vistas reaching into the distance; no variety of towns and shops, no travel to foreign countries.
I can't go places, but I do have a heart that can love and allow itself to be given for others. I'm here in Carmel, so I have to rely on other people in many ways when it comes to doing good in the wider world.
I hear much suffering and need, but I can't always respond with my personal presence. Neither can you, when you hear of distant wars and natural disasters. But ultimately it doesn't matter (where you are), for each one of us has a specific task to carry out. Practically speaking, we can only cultivate the small area of responsibility that falls to our care here and now. If what we do is not done out of love, no matter how GRAND our actions, they are useless.
* A holy person is one whose love is enfleshed in a thousand acts of neighbourly kindness.
*St. Therese wrote: "Search eagerly for the perfect gifts, but I will show you a more excellent way! "says Paul & he explains how all the more perfect gifts are nothing without love. LOVE is the EXCELLENT WAY that leads to God.
I understand that the Church had a heart and that that heart was on fire with love. I understood that only love could make the Church's members act. If love were to grow cold, the apostles would no longer proclaim the Gospel, the martyrs would refuse to shed their blood. I understood that all vocations are contained in love_that love is everything-that it embraces all time and all space. In a word, love is eternal.
Then in an excess of delirious joy I cried out: "O Jesus, my Love, I have at last found my vocation. My vocation is love".
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Yes...I feel blessed today because God answers many of my questions.
Something also happened, which at first seemed like a great disappointment and let-down for me 2 years ago, but turned out to be a blessing in disguise TODAY. It shows God's perfect & loving intervention in my life. I am thankful to Him, because He protects me & persistently brings me back to His path & waiting patiently with love no matter how many times I fall.
I also hear again from an old friend whom I lost contact with for 18 years!
Thank you Lord for Your endless grace & mercy.
~Ruth
