Category: Words of Wisdom

“An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie; for an excuse is a lie guarded.” – Alexander Pope

Our problem is that quite often, we already have an idea of the truth but we excuse ourselves from doing what is right and say that it doesn’t apply to us because of this or because of that.

Are we really searching for the truth? Or do we desire only to gather evidences that will support our own desires?

If we really seek for the answers, we shall find it. But if we do not really want to see them, we won’t even bother looking. We’d rather close our eyes and remain blind than open them and see what we’re afraid to see.

Are your eyes open? Or do you have excuses for remaining blind?

Only those who sincerely seek for the truth will dare to open their eyes to see what they’re looking for.

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
“Teacher,” the blind man answered, “I want to see again.”
-Mark 10:51,GNT

Some characters will succeed in reforming themselves only by the loving contemplation of the divine Master; for we imitate those whom we love, without being conscious of doing so. – Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange OP

What is it that your heart desires the most? Whom do you love? For what treasures are you willing to offer your very life?

Quite often, we fill our hearts and minds with many things. We dream those dreams everybody else is dreaming. We love those things everybody else is seeking.

We have to pause every now and then however to see if such things are really worth pursuing. We need to know how valuable they really are and what meaning they add to our lives.

In the pursuit of such things, how are we being transformed? Are we becoming better persons? Are we learning to be generous? Or are we becoming selfish? Are we being set free? Or are we being imprisoned?

If we give our hearts to such things, to whom are we surrendering who we are?

“Every man becomes the image of the God he adores.
He whose worship is directed to a dead thing becomes dead.
He who loves corruption rots.
He who loves a shadow becomes, himself, a shadow.
He who loves things that must perish lives in dread of their perishing.”
– Thomas Merton

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” – Luke 12:34, WEB

There is no need to be dismayed if love sometimes follows torturous ways. Grace has the power to make straight the paths of human love. – Pope John Paul II

We can’t force others into loving us. In love, there is no violence but freedom. If we are not truly free, how can we really love?

Let others love whom they wish to love for we do not hold their hearts. Let them go and let them be. Let the love that returns to you be free, be true, be whole. For only then can it be holy.

Be not afraid that there is no love that is meant to be yours, for such is not true. Every person is born to love and to be loved. But we seek it from people who can never give that kind of love to us.

Never settle for anything less because anything less than this could never be love.

Wait for that person who bears this kind of love alone. If he or she does not come, it doens’t matter. God’s love is more than sufficient to make you happy forevermore.

“The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved — loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.” – Victor Hugo

Love must be sincere… – Romans 12:9, NIV

“I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love…” – Ephesians 4:1-3, WEB

We forgive not only our enemies. Many times, it is those who are closest to us whom we need to forgive the most.

For how can we possibly live together in peace if we take vengeance upon each little offense that is done to us? How can we live in love if, instead of trying to understand one another, we carry a grudge in our hearts?

It was never promised that here on earth, we shall always be pleased with one another. On the other hand, what is often asked of us is to “bear with one another”.

God knows that no matter how sincere we are in trying to love one another, there will be times when we’d say words that hurt, when we’d do things that would be displeasing to others. He knows we can’t always be angels and that flesh would always battle with the spirit that yearns to do what is good.

Have a little more patience therefore, and ask God for the grace to forgive and to love.

“There is no one on earth who does what is right all the time and never makes a mistake. Don’t pay attention to everything people say—you may hear your servant insulting you, and you know yourself that you have insulted other people many times.” – Ecclesiastes 7:20-22, GNT

“To err is human; to forgive, divine.” – Alexander Pope

“It is our destiny to find perfect beauty and goodness. God has made us for Himself and in Him is everything that is beautiful and good.” – Jocelyn Soriano

We love the good. We love the beautiful. It is easy then to love others whom we find good and beautiful. They make us happy. Their mere presence elevates us to heaven and inspires something good and beautiful in us as well.

The challenge comes in loving others who are not that good or beautiful in our eyes. Instead of attracting our hearts, they repel us. Instead of evoking love, we feel hatred and annoyance.

How could we ever love them? And how could we even love ourselves when we, too, bear the same marks of imperfection and darkness in our souls?

Maybe the key is in loving God who is perfect in all goodness and beauty. We love God above all. And we love all other things through Him, out of love of Him.

He has made us out of love, didn’t He? He created us after His own image and likeness, didn’t He?

No matter how stained with sin or darkness, we bear something of His own. This then is what will always be left upon us all, and this is what we can love.

“God alone satisfies.” – St. Thomas Aquinas