Reflections of a beloved son

When we close our hearts, we are not only closing ourselves off from giving love but also closing ourselves off from receiving love. Our society has twisted our perceptions and confused our judgments. What is true and good our minds have now processed and determined as insufficient and boring. Our minds have taken falsehood for truth and our hearts have been set on things that will not last. We have allowed our hearts to close and harden.     Our hearts were made for love – true love, love that last and that endures hardships and suffering, love that is eternal.   Since what we truly desire then is eternal, it can only come from something eternal, and we know that only God is eternal. So, what we really desire only God can give to us. Jesus told His disciples, “ Not as the world gives do I give. ” The love and peace that God gives to us is lasting. The world cannot give this kind of love and peace to us.   The Psalmist asks us today, “ How long will your heart...

"My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me."  In our daily lives, what do we use to determine how we live that day?  What are criteria that dictates how we choose to respond to others and situations?  Do we stand on the shoulders of those gone before us or do we desire to start from scratch and make a name for ourselves?  Do we follow in the footsteps of those who have walked before us or do we lead our own lives according to our subjective truths?  Do we follow or do we walk alone? In the Gospels we often hear the descriptors, "followers," "disciples," "sheep," "flock" and others.  We are told that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who watches over His sheep and lays down His life for them.  It is comforting to hear Jesus say, " No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father's hand" (Jn. 10:28b-29).  If we allow the Lord t...

Come out and show yourselves!   This is what the Lord said to the People through the Prophet Isaiah ( Is. 49:8-15 ) in today's first reading.  Do we hide who we really are because we are ashamed of who we believe that we are?  Do we believe the lies about ourselves that the world drills into our minds?  God says to us: " Come out and show yourselves! " We must not believe in the lies what others and the world say about who we are.  Who we are is not based on any material thing.  We are not what we do.  We are not what we have.  We are not what others say that we are.  The essence of who we are is rooted in the Father.  We are children of God.  We are His beloved ones.  Our true identity lies in something that is eternal , and nothing that is temporal and limited .  If we root our identity in things that are not permanent and transient, we are guaranteed to get hurt and eventually find ourselves confused and sad.  ...