Category: Words of Wisdom

There are times when we may wonder why Jesus did not simply show Himself and His miracles to all who did not believe.

But then another question quickly comes to mind: Would people believe then?

When Jesus still walked the earth with His disciples, He did many miracles. He even brought a dead person back to life! Aside from this, He healed the blind and many who are sick. He multiplied bread to feed thousands. He stopped a storm. He turned water into wine!

But did everyone believe in Him? No! But these even made those who did not believe to become even more stubborn in their unbelief. They plotted for His death! Will not the same thing happen today as it did then?

There is a different miracle that is needed – the miracle of the heart. It is being open to God’s true kingdom, which is love. We may not see Jesus now, but God can grant us the gift of faith.

“If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.” – Luke 16:31

“If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say,’We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.” – John 9:41

“It’s true that we can’t see God with our bodily eyes. But God becomes visible to us through faith. We can’t touch God with our hands, but we see Him clearly in each of his works. Believe me. I’m speaking to you sincerely: I used to believe it was impossible ever to fall in love with a God who is unseen; with someone who can’t be hugged and touched. But today, I can affirm with my hand over my heart, that God completely makes up for that sacrifice. You feel that love so much, and those caresses from Our Lord that is seems God is there by your side. I feel Him so intimately united to me, that I want nothing more, except the beatific vision in heaven. I feel I’m filled with God, and then I hold Him close to my heart and ask Him to make me experience the perfections of His love. There’s no separation between us. Wherever I go, God is with me in my poor heart. That’s the little house where I dwell; it’s my heaven here on earth. I live with God; and despite being on walks, we converse with each other without anyone being able to surprise us or interrupt us. If you knew Him enough, you would love Him. If you were with Him for one hour, you’d know just what heaven on earth is.” – St. Teresa of Jesus of the Andes

Many times, in our anxious attempt to predict or control the future, we lose sight of the valuable things that are there for us in the present moment. Even if all we have at present are trials and heart wrenching difficulties, even these have treasures that they can share with us.

Instead of losing much time worrying about a future we can never control, let us make the most of each moment that is being given us.

Embrace each joyful hour, taste the sweetness of each passing day, treasure even the tears that fall, even the anguish of a heart that is broken and bruised.

You will never pass this way again. Live each moment fully that you may keep what’s truly precious for all eternity.

If all of life were sunshine,
Our faces would be fain
To feel once more upon them
The cooling plash of rain.
—Henry Van Dyke

Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4 (WEB) For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance…

Faith needs a new kind of eye to see, an eye that sees in the light of love. – Jocelyn Soriano

Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me,you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.” -John 20:29 (WEB)

There are times when we experience a lack of faith. We start to have questions. Doubt creeps in and we begin to want solid proofs to what we profess to believe.

Why do we believe Him in the first place? Why do we believe even if we do not see?

But when we come to think about it, we can turn this question the other way. Why should we not believe? Can we have more solid proofs that our faith isn’t true? That He doesn’t really exist? That He isn’t the most beautiful thing we could ever desire and have?

Believing in God is much like falling in love. You can’t have all the evidences and assurance you want. But somehow, what you have is enough to know that it’s worth taking the risk, and if you let go of your chance, you will forever forfeit the most beautiful thing you can ever have. You would gladly sacrifice everything because nothing can ever make sense again without it. You would gladly risk it all because without doing so, you know you have already lost everything.

“You never met him. You never heard him speak. You never even saw him from afar. Yet you… have more faith than most people. How is that possible?”
“Mary took me in as her own… When I look into her eyes, when I watch how she lives. That’s how I know that it’s all true. I see him in her. I hear him because of her.” -Full of Grace (Film 2015)

“This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15, WEB

Sacrifice and Love. Two words that will always go together. Two things God Himself has taught us with His life.

By this we know what true love is. By this we see what’s worth finding and what’s worth dying for.

Many times, we fail to understand the depths of its meaning because we see it from afar. We see saints and heroes who willingly offered their lives in martyrdom, things we supposed we’d never need to do in our own lives.

And yet, were we not all called upon to carry our own cross? It’s in this very cross that we can render the offering of the self for love.

The opportunity is there for us each and every day. It is when we choose to help someone even if there is nothing we’d get back in return. It is when we forgive those who cannot even ask for forgiveness. It is when we let go of our own comforts for the sake of those we love. It is when we forego the little mistakes, the small offenses, the minor irritations we encounter in or daily lives.

Without sacrifice, we end up letting each other go and giving up on one another. Without sacrifice, we sacrifice love itself, and we end up losing that which matters most in life.

“If you really want to love Jesus, first learn to suffer, because suffering teaches you to love.” -St. Gemma Galgani

Consider the shortness of time, the length of eternity, and reflect how everything here below comes to an end and passes by. – Gerard Majella

Our destiny is the possession of God and eternal life- to live in that abode from which all evil is absent and Where we enjoy a multitude and abundance of every good, a place which is commonly called Heaven. – Fr. Charles Arminjon

…only with the Infinite could my desires be satisfied, because the world and all that’s in it is limited; whereas, by belonging to God, my soul would never tire of loving and contemplating Him, because in Him the horizons are infinite. – St. Teresa of Jesus of the Andes

“One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying.”
-St. Joan of Arc

Time Is Always Short

Time here below
is always short
it will never
be long enough.

Long enough to laugh,
long enough to dance,
long enough to touch,
long enough to love.

No matter how long
no matter how well lived,
a lifetime will always
be not enough.

It isn’t enough,
it never will be,
for the human soul,
for the human heart.

For there is something
in our spirit
that longs for more,
infinitely more.

We long
for something
that knows no limits,
that knows no end.

And maybe even that
is a clue
in knowing who
we really are.

We were not meant
to be bound by the limits of time
We were not meant
to die.

For everything here below
will fall short
of the glory and bliss
that only heaven can provide.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts… – Ecclesiastes 3, WEB