Pondering Tidbits of Truth - October 29, 2015

Pondering Tidbits of Truth is my simple and inadequate way of providing nuggets of spiritual wisdom for you to chew on from time to time.

C.S. Lewis

“It is perhaps not so hard to forgive a single great injury. But to forgive the incessant provocations of daily life – to keep on forgiving the bossy mother-in-law, the bullying husband, the nagging wife, the selfish daughter, the deceitful son – how can we do it? Only, I think by remembering where we stand, by meaning our words when we say in our prayers each night ‘Forgive our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us.’ We are offered forgiveness on no other terms, To refuse it is to refuse God’s mercy for ourselves. There is no hint of exceptions and God means what He says.”

                                                        ( From Essay on Forgiveness)



Saint Zelie Martin  - Mother of St. Therese of Lisieux

"Do not hope too much for joy on earth or you will have too many disappointments. As for me, I know from experience how much one may count upon joys in this world,  and did I not hope for those of heaven I should be a very unhappy woman."

(From A letter to her daughter Pauline as quoted  in Magnificat Editorial by Rev. Peter John Cameron, O.P.

 

St. John Paul II

[In the words of Pope John Paul II] Our union with Christ in the Eucharist must be expressed in the truth of our lives today - in our actions, in our behavior, in our life-style, and in our relationships with others. For each one of us the Eucharist is a call to ever greater effort; so that we may live as true followers of Jesus: truthful in our speech, generous in our deeds, concerned, respectful of the dignity and rights of all persons - whatever their rank or income - self-sacrificing; fair and just, kind; compassionate and self-controlled ... The truth of our union with Jesus Christ in the Eucharist is tested by whether or not we really love our fellow men and women; it is tested by how we treat others; especially our families ..., by whether or not we try to be reconciled with our enemies, on whether or not we forgive those who hurt us or offend us.

(From Homily in Phoenix Park, September 29, 1979)