I Take off the MASK!

It is because of the LORD’s loving kindnesses
that we are not consumed,
because his compassion doesn’t fail.
They are new every morning.
Great is your faithfulness.
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul.
“Therefore I will hope in him.”
-Lamentations 3:22-24, WEB-BE

Life is important. We are gifted with hope up to our very last breath. Every morning is a new promise of life, of trying again, of being able to make things right.

We can make things right again. We can apologize for our faults. We can make up for the hurts we caused.

In the same way, it is not impossible to see other people change for the better. It is not impossible that someone who has long been given up to darkness would turn his life around and walk towards the light.

The people who hurt us can realize what they have done and ask for our forgiveness. The people who have wasted their lives for so long can wake up from their slumber and amend their lives.

Don’t give up on people, even on those who have long given up on themselves. God upholds us and showers us with His mercies, with our every breath. God never gives up on us. He still makes His miracles, you know. Never give up on you. Never give up on me.

Never cease loving a person, and never give up hope for him, for even the prodigal son who had fallen most low, could still be saved; the bitterest enemy and also he who was your friend could again be your friend; love that has grown cold can kindle. – Søren Kierkegaard

He who prays most receives most. -St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

We pray not only that God may hear us but that we may hear His voice. We pray not that we may change God’s mind, but that He may change ours.

Quite so often, we pray only when we ask God our many questions. But when do we ever pray so we could hear God’s answers?

In the silence of our prayer, let there be a space for listening, for it is in listening that we receive.

Be still. Await God’s voice. Await His very presence. It is in His presence where you will find what you are looking for.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me. – Revelations 3:20, WEB-BE

So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger… – James 1:19, WEB

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who is wise listens to counsel. – Proverbs 12:15, WEB

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. – John 10:27-28, WEB-BE

He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him. – Proverbs 18:13, WEB

Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory. – Proverbs 11:14, WEB

So as to turn your ear to wisdom,
and apply your heart to understanding;
Yes, if you call out for discernment,
and lift up your voice for understanding;
If you seek her as silver,
and search for her as for hidden treasures:
then you will understand the fear of Yahweh,
and find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2:2-5, WEB

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me. – Revelations 3:20, WEB-BE

A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion. – Proverbs 18:2, WEB-BE

“Today if you will hear his voice,
don’t harden your hearts.”
-Hebrews 4:7, WEB

This is the boldness which we have towards him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us. And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him. – 1 John 5:14-15, WEB-BE

Listen diligently to me, and eat that which is good,
and let your soul delight itself in richness.
Turn your ear, and come to me.
Hear, and your soul will live:
and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
-Isaiah 55:2-3, WEB-BE

The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary.
He wakens morning by morning,
he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.
The Lord GOD has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious.
I have not turned back.
-Isaiah 50:4-5, WEB-BE

Guard your steps when you go to God’s house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don’t know that they do evil. Don’t be rash with your mouth, and don’t let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool’s speech with a multitude of words. – Ecclesiastes 5:1-3, WEB-BE

I will hear what God, the LORD, will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, his saints;
but let them not turn again to folly.
-Psalm 85:8, WEB-BE

To whom should I speak and testify, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they can’t listen. Behold, the LORD’s word has become a reproach to them. They have no delight in it. – Jeremiah 6:10, WEB-BE

By hearing you will hear,
and will in no way understand;
Seeing you will see,
and will in no way perceive:
for this people’s heart has grown callous,
their ears are dull of hearing,
they have closed their eyes;
or else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their heart,
and would turn again;
and I would heal them.’
-Matthew 13:14-15, WEB-BE

This is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us. And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him. – 1 John 5:14-15, WEB

There is Someone who listens to us. Someone who knows us well and believes in our worth. Someone who gives value to our thoughts, to our feelings. The rest of the world may fail to hear our voice, but God hears. He listens to our every cry.

God listens to us, not only in the hour that we approach Him, but always. God listens not only to our words but to our hearts. He knows what we fail to say. He understands what we really wanted to say.

Sometimes we may wonder, why speak to Him if He already knows what we want to say? But such is not how a Father wants His child to do. Even if a Father already knows, He still wants us to come to Him and speak to Him because He loves us.

Let us come to Him indeed, not only with our words, but with all of our being, with our very presence! For such is how love speaks. And it is such how love listens.

My daughter…why do you not tell me about everything that concerns you, even the smallest details? Tell Me about everything, and know that this will give Me great joy. I answered, But You know about everything, Lord.” And Jesus replied to me, “Yes I do know; but you should not excuse yourself with the fact that I know, but with childlike simplicity talk to Me about everything, for my ears and heart are inclined towards you, and your words are dear to Me. – Jesus to St. Faustina, Divine Mercy in my Soul