The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, May 13, 2004
Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Our Lady of Fatima

Scripture from Thursday’s Liturgy of the Word:
Acts 15:7-21
Psalm 96:1-3,10
John 15:9-11

A reflection on today’s Sacred Scripture:

“Remain in my love. . .”

This, in four words, is the goal of Christian life. To remain always, at every moment and in every way in the love of Jesus Christ. We go through all sorts of difficulties and maneuvers to figure out precisely how to do this, but He tells us.

If you love me, you will keep my commands. Very simple, very direct, but oh so hard to actually do. The human spirit is wayward. Too often, what I want to do is not what Christ would have me do. I fail through my own fault and weakness.

But here’s a secret--as I strive to remain in Him, He strengthens me to do so. The longer I will to remain, the more His grace strengthens me. There will be trials, temptations, and tests. But if my heart is firmly centered in Him and I want Him above all other things, He will see to it that I have everything necessary. In other words, staying in Him inclines my soul and my will to remaining in Him. The more I practice it, the more it becomes the fundamental principle of my life.

If I love Him, He surely will not abandon me. So if I heed His commands, He will draw me to Him and we will talk as friends. As I talk to Him, I will learn how to remain in Him.

Talk to Him. Tell Him you want to do as He asks. Open your heart to the possibility, and He will make it reality.

- JuandelaCruz
(sriddle415 at yahoo dot com)

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posted by joachim at 6:19 AM