Normandt' Catholic Meditations

[Normandt]

332. Our personal mission


Paul invites us to deepen our faith, it's our personal mission:
"I remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand. Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain." 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, verses 1 to 2

Let's receive the Gospel, meditate on it, share it. Many of us share on the Word and faith in small groups. Whenever we pray alone or in groups, the Word enters our life and sows new small shoots of faith and hope. To remain attached to the Word and the Eucharist saves us. To move away from it, takes us away from God.

Jesus teaches his Word:
"While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret." Luke, chapter 5, verse 1
The crowd stands near Jesus to hear his teaching. When we come together to share the Word, Jesus teaches the group in particular and he also teaches us personally.

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

[Normandt]

333. In deep water

Jesus says to Simon (Peter):
"Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Luke, chapter 5, verse 4
After teaching, he sends the Apostles fishing.

After we have received the teaching of Jesus, we will also be invited to become teachers (fishermen). We become evangelizers of the Good News that is Jesus. We spread his message.

The mission is to find a way to equip people who can evangelize. Let's just accept the basics of faith, to offer them. We don't have to worry, the Holy Spirit will inspire us to say what is needed to the people around us. But let's remain united to the Church's teaching.

Respect for the person, his situation, a number of factors must be taken into consideration. It's important to teach through charity and above all to be observant of people's needs.

If we set out, if we expose the sails, we will discover all that the Lord has sown in us for a joyful evangelization in and for the world. We receive more in ourselves than we can imagine. We become bearers of the presence of Christ with enhanced flavour, just as salt enhances the taste of food.

Let's learn to keep one foot in the sheepfold and the other in the world, to go to the sheep that are also waiting for the Good News of salvation. Our family and the human family are also the people who are called to holiness, to live through Jesus's presence.

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

[Normandt]

334. Learn from the Spirit

Let's be constantly on a mission to learn from the Holy Spirit, from Jesus and his Church, and the Father, and gradually become the evangelizers of the Love of God. All people are waiting on Jesus's teaching, without exception, whether they are aware of it or not.
It is written:
"They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers." Acts, chapter 2, verse 42

Together, in fraternal communion "to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers". In the early days when we were aware that Mass was important, that the teachings of the Church were necessary for our faith and that participating in prayers helped us understand salvation and then live to move toward salvation, we felt the presence of God in us, just like the first christians following the Apostles, have their hearts turned toward Jesus.

Let's ask Jesus to bring us back to the grounding of our first conversion, our first loving experience with God, the spiritual honeymoon we were naturally immersed in. If we have not experienced this first conversion of the heart, let's ask Jesus to take our life in hand and show us how to follow him. Let's be aware of his movements inside us.

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

[Normandt]

335. Our concern is to teach


Paul recommends dedication to his beloved son, Titus:
"You must say what is consistent with sound doctrine, namely." Titus, chapter 2, verse 1

Titus also receives some guidance for the homily. Paul says to him:
"Showing yourself as a model of good deeds in every respect, with integrity in your teaching, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be criticized." Titus, chapter 2, verses 7 to 8

Paul teaches (evangelizes) his best in the days that is his. What he proposes are good recommendations for everyone:
"Our saviour Jesus Christ, gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good." Titus, chapter 2, verses 13 to 14

Jesus seeks in each person the one who will transmit his message to the world.

The Church has always had the concern to teach in the midst of customs, cultures, people of her time. Let's adjust to the people of our time. We are with them, now.

With what was raised earlier in the text, we see that there are many beautiful attitudes that we can already include in our lives with healthy, caring gestures and words.

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

[Normandt]

336. Teaching is necessary


Jesus is with the Apostles and he wants to find a better place to speak to the crowd gathered around him to listen to his Word. He gets into Simon Peter's boat and asks him to paddle from the shore so that his voice is better heard:
"Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat." Luke, chapter 5, verse 3

Simon's boat represents the craft of the Church. And Jesus wants to teach Simon Peter that teaching is a necessity to make known the will of God. The Church, in foundation, in becoming, will be invested to teach (to evangelize) the Gospel to numerous crowds.

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

[Normandt]

337. Faith unites


The fear of a responsible person is that the disciples begin to scatter when he's no longer around. We say, "When the cat leaves, the mice dance!" However, the principle that keeps a group together is not only the leader.

The faith of all members weighs in the balance against the temptation to lead away from the Lord. Each member is responsible for staying in the boat.

Moreover, the Church is well organized so that no one is left alone. Jesus wanted Apostles gathered with him to participate in the foundation of the Church and to watch over its functioning, as well as its necessary laws, supporting freedom.

The Apostles also blessed other vocations, in the name of Jesus, who participate and continue the mission. And so on, until now. We need the support of each other's faith, as in a relay race that leads humanity to the Heart of God.

Paul gives his last recommendations to the Church of Ephesus and at the same time, it's as if he puts his confidence in their hands. The Church of Ephesus must now find the strength to organize themselves:
I ask you not to lose heart over my afflictions for you; this is your glory. For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians, chapter 3, verses 13 to 21

Paul knows he will not always be with the parishioners of Ephesus. He relies on their faith and union to follow Christ with the Spirit, in the Church, supported by the Father's will.

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

[Normandt]

338. Help people


Let's focus on this passage:
"Refuse no one the good on which he has a claim when it is in your power to do it for him." Proverbs, chapter 3, verse 27

This sentence is surprising. Often, we think that we should never refuse our help. It's full of common sense. But there are two nuances here.
The first nuance is that we should not refuse our help to someone, "which he has a claim". Who deserves our help? Let's say that each person deserves our help and deserves to find the Lord.

It might be easier to understand it as follows: "Where it is possible for us to help a person and we're able to do so, let's help them, whether they deserve it or not."

The second nuance is wise: "when it is in your power to do it". We're not told to become needy to help or offer what is not ours, such as material, but to know how to recognize our personal resources and help as best we can, at the best of who we are. With discernment, we will know the percentage of what we can offer, if not everything. It is, however, enjoyable to share the graces that God gives us. They are always available, totally.

When we develop the service resources we have in us, we become more willing and effective in our interventions. Acknowledging our strengths and weaknesses is also a blessing within ourselves. Just thinking about it, we start helping ourselves.

We have only few resources. But together, when we form a helping group, we develop the resources and skills to better help others.

In the end, we must help our neighbour. But we must also know our strengths and limitations. Otherwise, we may be hurting more than we're helping. But this should not stop us from trying to help others in the best way we can.
May we accept to learn at our own pace and be more precise of what we can offer. We do not all have the same resources, but our resources are used when they are well used and shared.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The Fruit that lasts, Normand Thomas

[Normandt]

339. God's light shines


Jesus illuminates our lantern:
"No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light." Luke, chapter 8, verse 16

When we pray and deepen our faith through readings and teachings, the Light of Christ will go through our life to enlighten us.
The following may seem surprising:
"To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away." Luke, chapter 8, verse 18

Let's put this sentence before the light of God. He who receives Light through his relationship with God will enlighten more, since God will come through him for the good of his people. It becomes like the stained-glass windows of a church, illuminated by the sun. He allows the Light of the Trinity to pass through him.

But the person who's not walking or even slowing down and moving away from the Light of God, he even loses the glimmer of what he thinks to hold back for himself.

Let's let God's Light shine in us so that receiving the best from him becomes light for our contemporaries. Let's find ways to keep up with Jesus. It will be a wise step into the Light, as the rays of the sun pass through the clouds.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The Fruit that lasts, Normand Thomas

[Normandt]

340. Humility


Paul tells us:
"Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know, or with a pretext for greed - God is witness - nor did we seek praise from human beings, either from you or from others." 1 Thessalonians, chapter 2, verses 5 to 6

We are christians, we never need to look for honours. This is interesting to find out if we are walking in the Lord's will. These are christian values to place in our suitcase, for the road.

It's too easy to take ourselves for someone else and not be ourselves. It's easy to get into characters that are successful, that we see on TV or that we hear singing, and stop being ourselves. But the way of another person will never be our own personal way. We will never walk in his shoes.

We must not seek to build our personal kingdom, it would be wrong. We already have everything in the Kingdom of God:
"Happy those (...) who enjoys the law of the Lord, it is their joy; God's law they study day and night. They are like a tree planted near streams of water, that yields its fruit in season." Psalm 1, verses 1 to 3

To reach wisdom that comes from God, may we let God be God in our life. Better still, may we don't rely on our own strength and let the wisdom of God pass through.

For that, let's become very good friends of God. May we recognize the difference between our thinking and that of Jesus. Let's become more and more filled with his presence. May we know when it is us or Jesus speaking through us.

By the way, we know when we're talking or the person next door is talking. It should be the same for Jesus who goes through our words. We know when our thoughts come from Jesus or from us. There's a difference.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The Fruit that lasts, Normand Thomas

[Normandt]

341. Peter's humility


Our first Pope is full of humility:
"When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, paid him homage. Peter, however, raised him up, saying, 'Get up. I myself am also a human being.'" Acts, chapter 10, verses 25 to 26

Even if Peter is the Pope whom Jesus has chosen, he knows his rightful place. Already in the Church that is beginning to form, Peter is aware that Jesus continues to be Lord and God. It's amazing!

Peter knew Jesus and lived with him. He was appointed by him the head of the Church. He's also responsible for the Apostles. He would have all the reasons to "brag about", to become proud and to become someone else.

For every missionary, Peter has just realized an important teaching with a testimony worthy of a Pope. He sees Cornelius coming and throwing himself at his feet. He could say, "You're a good disciple," or "get up now and let's have a drink".

But by his words, Peter presents himself in a different way. He said to Cornelius, "Get up. I myself am also a human being."

What a beautiful grace of humility! May we ask this grace to Jesus. By his gesture and words, he helps Cornelius to understand that Jesus is Lord. Peter recognizes himself as a simple man and therefore gives full opening to Jesus. He evangelizes.

Peter cannot do anything by himself and he knows it. He's on a mission, but not for himself. He's a missionary for Jesus, for the announcement of the Good News.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The Fruit that lasts, Normand Thomas

[Normandt]

342. We're improving


The couple's challenge is that each person has his own rhythm and definition of love. The ideal is that each person of the couple improves in the faith. Jesus will ignite Love as it should be. It takes time for someone to realize it, but the experience will be beneficial.

Moreover, every teaching of faith is for each person in the couple, for each spouse. Marriage will be joyful and holy to the extent that each person advances in faith and improves by contact with Jesus.

Each person is responsible for improving his relationship with God, who will, in turn, give graces, a hundredfold, to the spouses. The opening of each one in the couple allows the grace of God to pass into them. This is the only way of a true journey between spouses.

If each person tries to love the other, it's lost. But if each person connects to God and asks Jesus to go through his heart to love, then there's joy that progresses every day, even without their knowledge. Each person in the relationship will have a good reason to give more to each other. Jesus transforms the relationship between them.

It's the same basis for every personal relationship to Jesus:
"As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love." John, chapter 15, verse 9

God Loves us. Let's stay in his Love. God Loves us first, we only need to welcome and accept his Love. It sounds demanding, maybe. But there's nothing simpler to achieve than to remain in God's Love. Let's love. It is demanding to stay away.

Abiding in the Love of God allows us to discover and gradually recognize the reason we live, the reason we are created. Sticking to God's Love makes us more and more like him.

We have not acquired anything by ourselves. We're not perfect, but we gradually become "love" thanks to God's "Love". When we accept to approach Jesus, we accept to let ourselves be more Loved by him. It takes us away from evil, fear, anxiety and purifies us, meeting after meeting, with him.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The Fruit that lasts, Normand Thomas

[Normandt]

343. Only men


To know ourselves to be Loved by God and to let him Love others through us is a miracle in itself. We allow Love to touch people. We understand more and more the will of the Trinity.

A man listens to Paul's words:
"He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him, saw that he had the faith to be healed, and called out in a loud voice, 'Stand up straight on your feet.' He jumped up and began to walk about." Acts, chapter 14, verses 9 to 10

In a leap, the man walks! What faith does Paul demonstrate in his Lord and how much he listens to the man's faith that he's brought back on his feet! What seems extinguished in this man was waiting only for a thoughtful look from the Apostle, in the name of Jesus, to set his faith on fire and "give him back his legs" to walk.

Paul discovers gifts he didn't know, perhaps. Paul gives what he receives, the gift of healing, but even more, he receives the gift of perceiving faith in people. Paul saw that this man had faith in the words he said, received from Jesus.

The crowd is amazed by what Paul realizes before their eyes:
"When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they cried out in Lycaonian, 'The gods have come down to us in human form.'" Acts, chapter 14, verse 11

We can imagine that Paul didn't expect what has just been proclaimed. The danger against faith is to believe that there are gods, idols, even humans who think they take the place of God or give to humans God's place.

This is perhaps the most corrosive tendency that exists against faith, that is, placing our faith in anyone or anything but Jesus. And even worse, thinking about taking ourselves or giving them God's place.

Paul declares his faith by his enlightened reason of the divine Light. He defends himself vividly, immediately, to be a "god" at the whim, to the fantasy of humans. He seems aghast, demolished and he tells them:
"Men, why are you doing this? We are of the same nature as you, human beings." Acts, chapter 14, verse 15

Paul is a man like all men. No better, no worse. He did not heal anyone. The good news that Paul conveys is that the human is transformed by faith in Jesus Christ. It's Christ who heals this man. Jesus heals. Paul believes it for saying these words.

Let's look deeper into our hearts and we will understand that only Jesus is God. This is not a healing operated by Paul:
"We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God, 'who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.'" Acts, chapter 14, verse 15
With these words, many converted.

As for Paul, Jesus sends us the Holy Spirit so that we can live with contagious faith. Jesus sends us help, support:
"The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name - he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you." John, chapter 14, verse 26

Jesus announces that there will be people like Paul to intercede with others:
"Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him." John, chapter 14, verse 23

Jesus dwells in Paul to proclaim the truth and the Word with tenacious faith, but with human words. Paul conveys the truth and the Word of Jesus and it is Jesus who heals.

Of all that Jesus teaches it invites us to welcome him, then to understand and live it. Paul understood it very well. We also know holy people now who work accordingly to the will of God.

Let's ask Jesus to adjust our faith to our reason and our reason to our faith, so that we may be more and more in the image of our Saviour and Lord, in the midst of the world into which he sends us.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The Fruit that lasts, Normand Thomas

[Normandt]

344. Peace to the people


Jesus says to the Apostles:
"Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it." Luke, chapter 10, verses 23 to 24

We're sent to our contemporaries, not to say the same words as them just to make them comfortable, but by speaking a different language. If it's possible for us to get used to their language, it's also possible for them to get used to the language of faith and reason.

We can see Jesus in our hearts and receive our mission from him. Let's ask him to help us prepare ourselves and to illuminate the mission, so that we may walk and evangelize with his words.

Let's pray that our moods and attitudes become holier, so that we may remain peaceful people for ourselves and for those we meet.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The Fruit that lasts, Normand Thomas

[Normandt]

345. Boldness


Paul says to the Corinthians:
"What anyone dares to boast of I also dare (I am speaking in foolishness)." 2 Corinthians, chapter 11, verse 21

Audacity, we have it all. Many situations in life require a certain amount of audacity. Starting to walk, to talk, to be a teenager, to become an adult, to work, to begin a family, each stage of life requires audacity.

We often see that the audacity of a person can become recklessness or unconsciousness when misused.

On the other hand, audacity allows us to go beyond a usual situation, in order to realize a project that's beyond us. The project of evangelization requires daring.

The audacity of the word is particularly important because it leads to sharing faith when it's credible and attentive to the need of the person. It takes daring to talk to someone:
"If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also." James, chapter 3, verse 2

James also allows us to understand that our words can carry seed of sins. These words would hurt all the best evangelistic initiatives. But the good word edifies people and reveals our good intentions.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The Fruit that lasts, Normand Thomas

[Normandt]

346. Evangelization doesn't tire


Isaiah thought to himself:
"I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength." Isaiah, chapter 49, verse 4a

It would not be surprising that many faith people have this thought someday during their life: "I uselessly spent my strength."

Of course, sometimes we're exhausted, sometimes we feel like going in circles. And even sometimes we run everywhere, in all directions, and we lose time. These are opportunities to learn how to properly manage our efforts and the time we're allowed.

It's important to ask whether Jesus was evangelizing with us, or whether we were all alone. Were we thinking of getting everyone to convert to Jesus, for example, but trying too hard to convert and not enough to unite ourselves to Christ who is the only one who can convert people? Have we placed our trust in Jesus or tried to do his work?

God thinks differently. Isaiah reflects on what God says to him:
"You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory." Isaiah, chapter 49, verse 3

It's very sweet to the ears: "through whom I show my glory". God passes in us.
It would be important to give ourselves time to meditate and return to the importance of Jesus in our lives, so that Jesus has plenty of room to touch the hearts of those around us. Only Jesus converts.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The Fruit that lasts, Normand Thomas