1 John 4:18: There
is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to
do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Did you ever hear a homily that hits so close to home,
you swear the priest crawled right into your soul and found out what you are
hiding, and what you need to set you free? That is what happened yesterday when
I casually turned on the Mass (EWTN). Fr. Wade Menezes, a Father of Mercy, gave
a homily on the freedom which comes from love. He explained that God does not
want slaves, people who love Him because they are afraid of the consequences if
they don’t, but He wants sons and daughters who love Him freely and
confidently. He explained that problems we have in life are based in fear, and
that the perfect love of Jesus for us is the way to release ourselves from the
fear that we are carrying, fear that we are not good enough or that we cannot
change the situations in our lives. He then gave the following 10 Social
Resolutions that will help us live out the beatitudes and commandments without
fear and with love.
1)
Listen
without interrupting. God could be trying to speak to you through the words
of others. Proverbs 18:2: Fools find
no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.
2)
Speak
without accusing. Just state the facts. James 1:18: In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by
the word of truth
3)
Give
without holding back. Be generous. 2
Corinthians 8:13-15: For I
do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter
of fairness your abundance at the present time
should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need,
that there may be fairness. As it is written, “Whoever
gathered much had nothing left over and whoever gathered little had no lack.”
4)
Pray
without ceasing. All activities, including work and recreation, can be
forms of prayer if we offer them up to the Lord. Colossians 1:9: for this
reason also, since the day we heard of
it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that
you may be filled with the knowledge
of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding
5)
Answer
without arguing. Stay calm. Proverbs
17:1: Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it than a house full of feasting
with strife.
6)
Share
without pretending. Don’t tell “little white lies” or exaggerate to make
yourself seem more than you are. Be honest. Speak the truth and only the truth.
Ephesians 4:15: but speaking
the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into
Him who is the head
7)
Enjoy
without complaint. Always find the good.
Philippians 2:14: Do all things without grumbling
or disputing
8)
Trust
without wavering. Jesus, I trust in You. 1 Corinthians 13:7: bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things.
9)
Forgive
without punishing. Desiring to somehow punish those who hurt you is the
work of Satan, causing you to stop any spiritual growth. Colossians 3:13: bearing with one
another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint
against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
10)
Promise
without forgetting. Be honest. Keep your word. You are as good as your
word. Proverbs 13:12: Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Always remember: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24: Now may the
God of peace Himself
sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful
is He who calls
you, and He also will bring it to pass.
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