Keep Your Words Short and Sweet
Thursday of the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time
Father Shawn Aaron, LC
Matthew 5:20-26
Jesus said to his disciples: “For I tell you, unless your righteousness
exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of
heaven. You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ´You shall
not murder´; and ´whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.´ But I say to
you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment;
and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and
if you say, ´You fool,´ you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are
offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister
has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first
be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.
Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with
him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the
guard, and you will be thrown into prison.”
Introductory Prayer: Father of love, source of
all blessings, You have led me throughout my life, and You lead me still. Thank
Y|ou for Your paternal care. Jesus, Son of God, You died for me on the cross to
pay for my sins and manifest Your unconditional love for me. Thank You for
showing me the way home to the Father. Holy Spirit, sweet guest of the soul,
You heal me and strengthen me and set me on fire from the most intimate depths
of my soul. Thank You for Your loving presence within me.
Petition: Jesus meek and humble of heart, make my heart more like yours.
1. Anger in Our Hearts: Jesus is speaking here in particular
about anger, that is, a desire for revenge or an attitude that simply refuses
to forgive. Jesus always brings us back to the human heart. Actions flow from
decisions made in the heart, even if not immediately evident. When we cultivate
a sentiment in our heart – be it good or evil - it will eventually find ways of
coming to fruition. “If you are angry do not sin; do not let the sun go down on
your anger or you will give the devil a chance” (Ephesians 4:26). Any
unwillingness to forgive leads to resentment in the heart and ultimately
destroys lives and relationships. “What does it mean to forgive, if not to
appeal to a good that is greater than any evil?” (Pope John Paul II, Memory and
Identity, p. 15).
2. Insults Are Grave Matters: “Sticks and stones may break my
bones…” Each one of us knows firsthand the penetrating power of words. With
them one may edify or destroy, enhance or tarnish, heal or wound. It is rather
striking that Jesus refers to insults towards “a brother or sister:” in other
words, insulting those closest to us, especially those closest to our heart. It
is no revelation that those we love the most are also the ones most capable of
wounding us deeply, and vice versa. What dagger could ever penetrate more than
an unkind word from a loved one? The true revelation is that God takes each
word we speak seriously. In fact, he will hold us accountable for them because
the words are an outward manifestation of what we have in our hearts. The power
of words reveals the weight of words.
3. Hold No Grudges: “If you remember that your brother
or sister has something against you…” This phrase makes us shift a little in
our seats. Jesus gives us a tremendous view into God’s heart. God’s very
essence is a unity of love – three persons, one nature. We are made in God’s
image, and we are made to live forever in union with God. But so too are my
brothers and sisters. If we have done anything to wound the union of love with
those around us, then we must repair the breach. In fact, it is so important to
God (and so important for us) that God will not accept our “offering” if we
have consciously wounded the unity with those around us. Bring those
particularly difficult relationships to prayer, and draw the strength from God
to love as we should. He will not ask for some virtue and then refuse his
grace.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, teach me to love and help me
to be a saint. You have created me and called me to the Catholic faith. Help me
to live that faith generously, living the primacy of love in my daily life.
Mother Most Pure, make my heart only for Jesus.
Resolution: Today I will do three hidden acts of charity.
Excerpts from the DIARY of Saint Faustina Kowalska
216 We have come to Cracow today [April 18, 1933].
What a joy it is to find myself again where I took my first steps in the
spiritual life! Dear Mother Directress [Mary Joseph] is ever the same, cheerful
and full of love of neighbor. I entered the chapel for a moment and joy filled
my soul. In a flash I recalled the whole ocean of graces that had been given me
as a novice here.
241 Love of neighbor. First: Helpfulness towards
the sisters. Second: Do not speak about those who are absent, and defend the
good name of my neighbor. Third: Rejoice in the success of others.
242 +O God, how much I desire to be a small child.[71]
You are my Father, and You know how little and weak I am. So I beg You,
keep me close by Your side all my life and especially at the hour of my death.
Jesus, I know that Your goodness surpasses the goodness of a most tender
mother.
588 On one occasion, I heard these words within
me: Every movement of your heart is known to me. Know, My daughter, that one
glance of yours directed at someone else would wound Me more than many sins
committed by another person.
590 When I receive Holy Communion, I entreat and
beg the Savior to heal my tongue, that I may never fail in love of neighbor.
704 I spend every free moment at the feet of the
hidden God. He is my Master; I ask Him about everything; I speak to Him about
everything. Here I obtain strength and light; here I learn everything; here I
am given light on how to act toward my neighbor. From the time I left the
novitiate, I have enclosed myself in the tabernacle together with Jesus, my
Master. He himself drew me into the fire of living love on which everything
converges.
742 My daughter, if I demand through you that
people revere My mercy, you should be the first to distinguish yourself by this
confidence in My mercy. I demand from you deeds of mercy, which are to arise
out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and
everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse or absolve yourself
from it.
I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor: the first-by deed, the second-by word, the third-by prayer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me. By this means a soul glorifies and pays reverence to My mercy. Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy, but there must also be acts of mercy, and I demand the worship of My mercy through the solemn celebration of the Feast and through the veneration of the image which is painted. By means of this image I shall grant many graces to souls. It is to be a reminder of the demands of My mercy, because even the strongest faith is of no avail without works. O my Jesus, You yourself must help me in everything, because You see how very little I am, and so I depend solely on Your goodness, O God.
I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor: the first-by deed, the second-by word, the third-by prayer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me. By this means a soul glorifies and pays reverence to My mercy. Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy, but there must also be acts of mercy, and I demand the worship of My mercy through the solemn celebration of the Feast and through the veneration of the image which is painted. By means of this image I shall grant many graces to souls. It is to be a reminder of the demands of My mercy, because even the strongest faith is of no avail without works. O my Jesus, You yourself must help me in everything, because You see how very little I am, and so I depend solely on Your goodness, O God.
861
Particular examen: remains the same; namely, to unite myself with the
Merciful Christ (that is; what would Christ do in such and such a case?) and,
in spirit, to embrace the whole world, especially Russia and Spain.
General resolutions.
General resolutions.
I. Strict observance of silence - interior silence.
II. To see the image of God in every sister; all love of neighbor must flow from this motive.
III. To do the will of God faithfully at every moment of my life and to live by this.
IV. To give a faithful account of everything to the spiritual director and not to undertake anything of importance without a clear understanding with him. I shall try to clearly lay bare to him the most secret depths of my soul, bearing in mind that I am dealing with God himself, and that His representative is just a human being, and so I must pray daily that he be given light.
V. During the evening examination of conscience, I am to ask myself the question: What if He were to call me today?
VI. Not to look for God far away, but within my own being to abide with Him alone.
VII. In sufferings and torments, to take refuge in the tabernacle and to be silent.
VIII. To join all sufferings, prayers, works and mortifications to the merits of Jesus in order to obtain mercy for the world.
IX. To use free moments, however short, for prayers for the dying.
X. There must not be a day in my life when I do not recommend to the Lord the works of our Congregation. Never have regard for what others think of you [for human respect].
XI. Have no familiar relationships with anyone. Gentle firmness toward the girls, boundless patience; punish them severely but with such punishments as these: prayer and self-sacrifice. The strength that is in the emptying of myself for their sake is for them a [source of] constant remorse and the softening of their obdurate hearts.
XII. The presence of God is the basis of all my thoughts, words and deeds.
XIII. To take advantage of all spiritual help. To always put self-love in its proper place; namely, the last. To perform my spiritual exercises as though I were doing them for the last time in my life, and in like manner to carry out all my duties.
II. To see the image of God in every sister; all love of neighbor must flow from this motive.
III. To do the will of God faithfully at every moment of my life and to live by this.
IV. To give a faithful account of everything to the spiritual director and not to undertake anything of importance without a clear understanding with him. I shall try to clearly lay bare to him the most secret depths of my soul, bearing in mind that I am dealing with God himself, and that His representative is just a human being, and so I must pray daily that he be given light.
V. During the evening examination of conscience, I am to ask myself the question: What if He were to call me today?
VI. Not to look for God far away, but within my own being to abide with Him alone.
VII. In sufferings and torments, to take refuge in the tabernacle and to be silent.
VIII. To join all sufferings, prayers, works and mortifications to the merits of Jesus in order to obtain mercy for the world.
IX. To use free moments, however short, for prayers for the dying.
X. There must not be a day in my life when I do not recommend to the Lord the works of our Congregation. Never have regard for what others think of you [for human respect].
XI. Have no familiar relationships with anyone. Gentle firmness toward the girls, boundless patience; punish them severely but with such punishments as these: prayer and self-sacrifice. The strength that is in the emptying of myself for their sake is for them a [source of] constant remorse and the softening of their obdurate hearts.
XII. The presence of God is the basis of all my thoughts, words and deeds.
XIII. To take advantage of all spiritual help. To always put self-love in its proper place; namely, the last. To perform my spiritual exercises as though I were doing them for the last time in my life, and in like manner to carry out all my duties.
871 + My Master, cause my heart never to expect
help from anyone, but I will always strive to bring assistance, consolation and
all manner of relief to others. My heart is always open to the sufferings of
others; and I will not close my heart to the sufferings of others, even though
because of this I have been scornfully nicknamed "dump"; that is,
[because] everyone dumps his pain into my heart. [To this] I answered that
everyone has a place in my heart and I, in return, have a place in the Heart of
Jesus. Taunts regarding the law of love will not narrow my heart. My soul is
always sensitive on this point, and Jesus alone is the motive for my love of
neighbor.
1029 The doctor did not allow me to go to the
chapel to attend the Passion Service, although I had a great desire for it;
however, I prayed in my own room. Suddenly I heard the bell in the next room,
and I went in and rendered a service to a seriously sick person. When I
returned to my room, I suddenly saw the Lord Jesus, who said, My daughter,
you gave Me greater pleasure by rendering Me that service than if you had
prayed for a long time. I answered, "But it was not to You, Jesus, but
to that patient that I rendered this service." And the Lord answered me,
Yes, My daughter, but whatever you do for your neighbor, you do for Me.
1039 + I suffer great pain at the sight of the
sufferings of others. All these sufferings are reflected in my heart. I carry
their torments in my heart so that it even wears me out physically. I would
like all pains to fall upon me so as to bring relief to my neighbor.
1148 June 20, [1937]. We resemble God most when we
forgive our neighbors. God is Love, Goodness, and Mercy...
Every soul, and especially
the soul of every religious, should reflect My mercy. My Heart overflows with
compassion and mercy for all. The heart of My beloved must resemble Mine; from
her heart must spring the fountain of My mercy for souls; otherwise I will not
acknowledge her as Mine.
1244 August 15, 1937. During meditation, God's presence pervaded me
keenly, and I was aware of the Virgin Mary's joy at the moment of Her
Assumption. Towards the end of the ceremony carried out in honor of the Mother
of God, I saw the Virgin Mary, and She said to me, Oh, how very pleased I am
with the homage of your love! And at that moment She covered all the sisters of
our Congregation with Her mantle. With Her right hand, She clasped Mother
General Michael to herself, and with Her left hand She did so to me, while all
the sisters were at Her feet, covered with Her mantle. Then the Mother of God
said, Everyone who perseveres zealously till death in My Congregation will
be spared the fire of purgatory, and I desire that each one distinguish herself
by the following virtues: humility and meekness; chastity and love of God and
neighbor; compassion and mercy. After these words, the whole Congregation
disappeared from my sight, and I remained alone with the Most Holy Mother who
instructed me about the will of God and how to apply it to my life, submitting
completely to His most holy decrees. It is impossible for one to please God
without obeying His holy will. My daughter, I strongly recommend that you
faithfully fulfill all God's wishes, for that is most pleasing in His holy
eyes. I very much desire that you distinguish yourself in this faithfulness in
accomplishing God's will. Put the will of God before all sacrifices and
holocausts. While the heavenly Mother was talking to me, a deep
understanding of this will of God was entering my soul.
1358 Where there is genuine virtue, there must be
sacrifice as well; one's whole life must be a sacrifice. It is only by means of
sacrifice that souls can become useful. It is my self-sacrifice which, in my
relationship with my neighbor, can give glory to God, but God's love must flow
through this sacrifice, because everything is concentrated in this love and
takes its value from it.
1382 + When Sister Dominic [219] died
at about one o'clock in the night, she came to me and gave me to know that she
was dead. I prayed fervently for her. In the morning, the sisters told me that
she was no longer alive, and I replied that I knew, because she had visited me.
The sister infirmarian [Sister Chrysostom] asked me to help dress her. And then
when I was alone with her, the Lord gave me to know that she was still
suffering in purgatory. I redoubled my prayers for her. However, despite the
zeal with which I always pray for our deceased sisters, I got mixed up as
regards the days, and instead of offering three days of prayer, as the rule
directs us to do, by mistake I offered only two days. On the fourth day, she
gave me to know that I still owed her prayers, and that she was in need of
them. I immediately formed the intention of offering the whole day for her, and
not just that day but much more, as love of neighbor dictated to me.
1633 March 10, [1938]. Continuous physical
suffering. I am on the cross with Jesus. On one occasion, M. Superior [Irene]
said to me, "It is a lack of love of neighbor on your part, Sister, that
you eat something and then you suffer and disturb the others during their
night's rest." Yet I know for sure that these pains which occur in my
intestines are not at all caused by food. The doctor [probably Dr. Silberg] has
said the same thing. These sufferings come from the body itself, or rather are
a visitation of the Lord. Nevertheless, after that remark I resolved to suffer
in secret and not to ask for help, because it is of no avail anyway, since I
throw up the medicines that are given to me.
Many a time, I have managed to suffer through attacks that were known only to Jesus. The pains are so violent and severe that they cause me to lose consciousness. When they cause me to faint, and I am drenched in cold sweat, then they gradually begin to go away. Sometimes they last three hours or more. O my Jesus, may Your holy will be done; I accept everything from Your hand. If I accept the delights and raptures of love to the point of becoming oblivious to what is going on around me, it is only right that I should accept with love these sufferings which cause me to faint.
Many a time, I have managed to suffer through attacks that were known only to Jesus. The pains are so violent and severe that they cause me to lose consciousness. When they cause me to faint, and I am drenched in cold sweat, then they gradually begin to go away. Sometimes they last three hours or more. O my Jesus, may Your holy will be done; I accept everything from Your hand. If I accept the delights and raptures of love to the point of becoming oblivious to what is going on around me, it is only right that I should accept with love these sufferings which cause me to faint.
Third Day.
1768 My daughter, in this meditation, consider
the love of neighbor. Is your love for your neighbor guided by My love? Do you
pray for your enemies? Do you wish well to those who have, in one way or
another, caused you sorrow or offended you?
Know that whatever good you do to any soul, I accept it as if you had done it to Me.
1769 Application: O Jesus, my Love, You know that it has only been for a short while that I have acted toward my neighbor guided solely by Your love. You alone know of my efforts to do this. It comes to me more easily now, but if You Yourself did not kindle that love in my soul, I would not be able to persevere in this. This is due to Your Eucharistic love which daily sets me afire.
Know that whatever good you do to any soul, I accept it as if you had done it to Me.
1769 Application: O Jesus, my Love, You know that it has only been for a short while that I have acted toward my neighbor guided solely by Your love. You alone know of my efforts to do this. It comes to me more easily now, but if You Yourself did not kindle that love in my soul, I would not be able to persevere in this. This is due to Your Eucharistic love which daily sets me afire.
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-I-216, 241-242)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-II-588, 590, 704, 742, 861, 871)
(Diary of
Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-III-1029, 1039, 1148)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-IV-1244)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-V-1358, 1382)
(Diary
of Sister Faustina Kowalska Notebook-VI-1633, 1768-1769)
http://www.saint-faustina.com/Diary/DMIMS10.shtml
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