Journey Archives - Page 83 of 122

Did you ever think YOU could do something about the world we live in? If you have, like me, you were probably immediately discouraged by the realization that you are just one person in this huge world. The truth is we have a place in this world for a reason. We owe it to our world to take small steps toward healing it. So today, I’m sharing the words of Pope Benedict XVI and hope you are encouraged and inspired.

It’s true we may not live to see the difference we’ve made. However, we must remember that every little bit counts. Every little bit we do can help change the world’s trajectory. The world seems to be on a downward spiral and we’re traveling there fast. I wonder if it’s because we’re taking a passive role in society. I wonder if it’s because most of us believe there’s nothing we can do. Pope Benedict’s words remind us of something quite simple we can do. It may even be something we do already.

So let’s make a CONSCIOUS effort to do our part! God bless you!

“Our first duty, therefore, precisely in order to heal this world, is to be holy, configured to God; in this way we emanate a healing and transforming power that also acts on others, on history. . . In this regard, it us useful to reflect that the Twelve Apostles were not perfect men, chosen for their moral and religious irreproachability. They were indeed believers, full of enthusiasm and zeal but at the same time marked by their human limitations, which were sometimes even serious. Therefore Jesus did not call them because they were already holy, complete, perfect, but so that they might become so, so that they might thereby also transform history, as it is for us, as it is for all Christians.”
— Pope Benedict XVI, p. 45, an excerpt from Take Five

“There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’

Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours. He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them lest they too come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'” Luke 16:19-31 New American Bible translation

As I was preparing for mass today, I logged onto Bishop Barron’s website Word on Fire. It’s a website I’ve recommended in the past (for Advent and Lenten reflections). I can’t remember if I’ve ever recommended his weekly homilies (I probably have). He gives such great homilies and challenges us to think beyond the usual. Listen here to his thoughts on the Gospel I’ve shared above. A few things he said gave me pause. The first was the fact that when we are separated from others we are separated from God and vice versa. The second is that God is the creator of all things and so He is owner of all things and the last was we too, like the rich man, have Moses and the prophets.