FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
As we continue striving to find new ways to live our faith during these trying conditions, Following are various points of view to help us keep this in perspective, until we can return to a more normal sense of being. Let us pray that the time will be short. God bless.
MOTHER THERESA ON GOD’S THIRST FOR YOU:
Mother Teresa wrote a letter to her “spiritual family” dated March 25, 1993, asking the question, “Why does Jesus say ‘I Thirst’? What does it mean? Something so hard to explain in words.” Mother Teresa went on to write, “He thirsts for you. He loves you always, even when you don’t feel worthy. When not accepted by others, even by yourself sometimes--He is the one who always accepts you.”
Mother Teresa continues, “The devil may try to use the hurts of life, and sometimes our own mistakes--to make you feel it is impossible that Jesus really loves you, is really cleaving to you. This is a danger for all of us. And so sad, because it is completely opposite of what Jesus is really wanting, waiting to tell you. Not only that He loves you, but even more—He longs for you. He misses you when you don’t come close.”
ANGER
At this time in our world, anger is an emotion that has been coming to the forefront more and more often. What are we to do with his emotion? How do we respond? First, we need to remember the emotion itself is not a bad thing. Thomas Aquinas himself went so far as to say that not responding to something with anger can be a vice because sometimes reason demands anger at injustice and sin. Keeping this in mind, he also gives a warning:anger can become a mortal sin if “through the fierceness” of the anger a person “falls away from the love of God and his neighbor.”
Our culture today makes it so easy to go off on social media, it is necessary to take great care to discern what we allow into our eyes, minds, and hearts. Here are some ways you can leave unhealthy anger behind:
Don’t bathe in other people’s rage. Someone recently said in passing, “Life is too short to bathe in other people’s rage.” In today’s world, we might have to ‘unfriend’ certain people, even those we might admire and agree with if how they express themselves causes anger in my heart. Constant attacks against others do not lead one to sanctity.
Allow your anger to bring conversion: Let your anger at the events in the world be a motivation for you to control what you can control with God’s grace, your own behavior. Find the people in your life and online who have the humility to say, “Mea culpa” instead of pointing fingers.
Does social media cause anger within me? Social media and online activity in general can be a good thing, and help keep us in contact in today’s world. However, we need to be careful, as it can stir us up as well, with little to hold us accountable. At times it might be best to simply unplug.
Do not respond right away. According to the Book of Proverbs, “Fools immediately show their anger” (12:16). If you come across something you believe needs to be addressed, hit the pause button. According to Ephrem the Syrian, “Virtues are formed by prayer” and “prayer suppresses anger.” In other words, prayer helps us become more patient and work through our anger before it becomes sinful. Allow prayer help you understand why this or that made you angry. When we lose our peace over an issue, asking Jesus to enter into this void can help us understand our wounds and allow His wounds to heal our hearts.
God bless
Fr Jim
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