Caritas Dei | The Love of God

"For if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins" - John 8:24

 

Jesus’ mission is to free us from the bondage of sin. He never hesitated to speak the truth, He rebuked anyone who deviated from the path of truth.  Strived to the last point on the cross just to lead us home, on the right path.

We often ignore Him by ignoring our own conscience every time we sin.  But God is never tired of leading us patiently.  In our daily life, God often sends us His message through our conscience, through events of life.  Some of us really get His message but some of us are even deaf and blind to hear His voice and to see with our eyes of faith. That He is always waiting for us when we are despair of our sinful ways, or when we enjoy our own life too much.

God’s love for us is so great that He gave His only Son who redeemed us by His blood.  If we don’t repent, if we never feel guilty for the sins we have committed, then as He said, we will die in vain in our sins. As Christians, we believe that God is merciful, full of compassion.  Even the great sinners will be forgiven if they are willing to repent.

Why do we still hold on to our old way of life if it prevents us from entering His kingdom? Lent is a time of self-reflection. Let us turn to the right path, let’s accumulate treasures for eternal life by doing what is pleasing Him. God bless us all.

 

Reflection on John 8: 24 by Sr. Yanti Purnawati SFSC

Ex Toto Corde | Wholeheartedly

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." - Mark 12: 29 (RSV-CE).

Today's reflection is taken from the book of Mark 12: 28-34 and Hosea 14: 4. It describes how God, as a Father who loves us patiently, calls us to come back and turn to Him. Love God wholeheartedly and at the same time, love others. Because if with envious hearts we offer sacrifices, God will not heed.

The gospel of Mark 12:28-34 reminds us of Jesus' commandment to love one another. Our lives will be filled with peace if each of us tries to be an instrument of love, a bearer of peace so as to present the kingdom of God in this world. Sometimes we often feel that our love for God is an exclusive love. We forget that after receiving the acts of love from God, we should share it by loving others as ourselves.

Nowadays, we often find people harming each other, slandering each other, destroying other's life.  In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus teaches us that our love for God must be balanced with our love for our fellow human beings.

Our community will become a community of love, a community of God's kingdom, as long as we live in peace, not creating any kind of problems that could cause division.  Jesus is expecting us to love, to bring peace and love in our daily lives. Our life will be happier than before if we truly follow His commandments. God bless us all.

 

Reflection on Mark 12:28-34 by Sr. Yanti Purnawati SFSC. 

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Et hoc anno (Lk. 13:8)

 

"Sir, let this tree grow for another year. I will dig up the soil around it and fertilize it. Maybe next year it will bear fruit. If not, cut it! "

Jesus’ word in today's gospel teaches us about God's patience. Be patient with His people who always commit the same sins and mistakes. He is tolerant of us who often do not appreciate His creation and who are not grateful for all the received gifts. How patient and forgiving our God is. Since we were born, each of us carried out our missions. Unfortunately, not everyone is fully aware of that. Nowadays, many people live in vanity. Some youth and even adults enjoy parties, drink alcohol, and consume narcotics. These have set a trend of life in big cities. Their lives are wasted in vain while in other parts of the world, there are still many poor and homeless people who die because of hunger—what a sad reality.  

On various occasions, God still opens-up opportunities for us to come to repent and return to Him, do as many good deeds as possible so that someday we could enjoy eternal life. When someone is still alive after experiencing a deadly accident while driving a car or motorcycle and being drunk, that is God's time to show His great love and compassion. When there are heavy floods and severe earthquakes, and many people die, God rebukes, awakens, and reminds us that our life is just like leaves. Today, it is still green and fresh, but,  tomorrow it will turn yellow and withered, fall, and return to the ground. Until when do we last on the path of iniquity? It's not too late to return to God's way. Before God, we are like a shady tree without fruit. While the Gardener is still patient, let us try to stretch the roots as far as possible to find the source of water, namely God Himself.  Peace of God be with you all. 

By Sr. Yanti Purnawati, SFSC.

Coram hominibus (Mt. 10:32)

 

The Bible today speaks of denial. Denial is a harrowing event, and Jesus himself had experienced how Peter denied Him three times before the rooster crowed. Many reasons make people who are close to us, commit betrayal. Maybe at that time he felt pressured like the apostle Peter and the only way is to deny. Feelings of guilt usually come later after denial. Jesus set us a good example when Peter denied Him.  Though felt so hurt, Jesus forgave him and even gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven to Peter. Are we able to follow Jesus' example?

"Everyone who acknowledges Me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angel of God." Blessed are we when we always confess Jesus with faith. God expects our confession to be sincere and full of faith and animate our deeds. Confession without action is meaningless. Show the world that we are Christ's brothers and sisters. Whenever we experience difficulties, face it with a smile and full of faith in God. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is a sin that cannot be forgiven, and the consequences are significant, no place to rest in heaven. God is very loyal to His people. Even though He is often betrayed, often hurt by various sins committed by humans, He remains faithful, still waiting for His children to come home and lie on His lap. Let us learn to be faithful to God, faithful to do good deeds, faithful to meditate on the Word of God, devoted to each vocation of life, and many other types of faithfulness. At the time He has appointed, our faith will be rewarded by eternal life. Peace to all of you. Have a blessed weekend.

By Sr. YantiPurnawati, SFSC.

In magnitudine Dei (Lk. 9:43)

 

The series of events concerning Jesus made it clear that He was "the Messiah of God" (Luke 9:20). Such events as the exorcism of evil spirits, the resurrection of the dead, the feeding of the five thousand people, the glorification on the mountain, etc. The three passages we read today show the struggle of his disciples to understand their calling as followers of Jesus.

They find it difficult to understand Jesus' announcement that He must suffer (Luke 9:44). It was very difficult for them that they also have to accept the cross. Actually, they dreamt about great honor and high position. But Jesus took a young child and made him a role model in the Kingdom of God. They were taught to serve in the name of the Lord Jesus. 

The teaching of this passage is extraordinary. As Christ's disciples, we are called to various ministries. We should not choose better status and position in the community. On the contrary, we are called to accept the cross and become despicable for God's sake.  

By Sr. Yanti Purnawati SFSC.

Factum in sabbato (Lk. 6:1)

 

The Pharisees were aware of the Sabbath rules, so they judged that Jesus did not respect the Sabbath rules when doing things that should not be done on the Sabbath. They put in the first place rules in order to find faults with Jesus and His disciples. Even though Jesus' act of healing people on the Sabbath was not against Sabbath's observances. Which is more important: the rules or helping others? Is it justified to obey the rules to the point of sacrificing the lives of others?

Jesus has authority over all regulations. When Jesus said that He was the Lord of the Sabbath, it meant that He was more authoritative than the Sabbath rules, because He is God at the center of the Sabbath. He knew more about the sense of Sabbath than others, so how could He Himself transgress it? He couldn't violate the laws that He had established for humans. He did not intend to change the Sabbath law, but He was a reformer of law. He wanted to teach the meaning of the true Sabbath, but unfortunately, the Pharisees and scribes were not open to His truth.

By Sr Yanti Purnawati, SFSC.

Benedicta tu (Lk. 1:42)

 

The simplicity of Mary leads her heart and soul to God. Although she was the Mother of God, blessed among women, she did not live the life of a princess. In fact, as a poor village girl at that time, excitedly run to her cousin’s house to share her great joy.  Usually, people easily get irritated and become unhappy because of the success of others. They are jealous and cannot see their friends enjoy life. Mary is teaching us, that we should live in harmony, support each other, share common goods, and so on.

Mary’s humbleness and simplicity touched the gate of heaven so that God exalted her above all living persons. Sometimes in my life, it is hard for me to accept any kind of humiliation. I am not humble enough like Mary. With Mary, the Mother of God and our mother, let us pray to be able to follow the path of holiness, so that one day we may share in the eternal choir of heaven. 

By Sr. Yanti Purnawati, SFSC.

Vester minister (Mt. 20:26)

“But we hold this treasure in pots of earthenware, so that the immensity of the power is God’s and not our own” (2 Cor. 4:7).

This passage pictured the humbleness of Apostles as they admitted their limits, weaknesses, and nothingness without God’s power.  These apostles and we are nothing compared to God’s Almighty will and power. If they had been overconfident to themselves, they would have been knocked down to any kind of hardships. As a result, they will not set an example in our today’s living as they were facing many hardships like persecutions, famine, sickness, and even death. Why are we so easily distracted by our own preoccupations?  Why are we so worried about our daily living and about our future?  Our God is not dying; He is always in our hearts.  Do not be overconfident, have confidence in Him because He could remove all our worries.

“Anyone who wants to become great among you must be the servant and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave” (Mt. 20:26-27). Nowadays we could rarely see leaders who become servants of his or her group members.  On the contrary, some of them just like to be served than to serve others and everything they need should be provided on time.  Jesus our great Lord, humbled Himself down to the earth just to show us examples of true service of great love.  We are all leaders for each other.  We could serve each other with a humble heart.  To serve not to be served; to be loved as to love.  With saint James whose feast we celebrate today, let us fix our eyes and mind upon Jesus, always.  Peace be with you all.

 By Sr. Yanti Purnawati, SFSC.

Convivae nuptiarum (Mt. 9:15)

Our minds, thoughts, and attention are focused on God when we start to fast because we wish God would answer our prayers.  Jesus’ answer is reflected in today’s gospel, telling us that He is still and always be with His disciples and be with us, so we don’t have to mourn and show our frowned face in our daily living. The time will come when our bridegroom will be taken from us. It means the time when storm and darkness of life surround us or whenever we face difficulties. It will be the right time for us to rise and face the world. Before we rise and face the world, we should fast and pray so that we could hear clearly that Jesus is always with us.

He always speaks in silence, whispers through natures, wind, and air. We could listen to them well if we spend our time in silence. We have to leave our daily works and search for Him to be able to feel His daily gracious presence. When times of darkness come, most of us fear. The word “FEAR” has two meanings, and there are two choices that we can make. The first one is FEAR ( Face Everything And Rise), and the second one is FEAR (Fight Everything And Run). If our FEAR is Face Everything And Rise, we are indeed people who have faith in Jesus. Our bridegroom always stays in our hearts. Sometimes we don’t even realize this. Let us pause a while from daily activities and listen to God’s words so that our life be always meaningful. God bless us all. Peace be with you all.

By Sr. Yanti Purnawati, SFSC.

Sicut credidisti (Mt. 8:13)

I focus on the great faith of the Centurion.  There are events in life that happen out of our control.  Sometimes we do not even imagine if something will happen to us or something will happen to one of our loved ones.  All of a sudden, someone we love can have an accident or we can experience hard times in our lives.  This situation, at that moment, can make us closer to the gate of desperation and crisis of faith.  Today’s gospel tells us about how Centurion’s faith and hope in Jesus, Son of God who at that time was known as the Son of a poor carpenter, Joseph. 

That Centurion’s great faith abandoned all worries, pains, uncertainty to Jesus. We should humble ourselves to be able to reach God’s compassion. We should become like a little child who casts everything to Jesus.  If we love our significant ones so much, we must believe that God loves him/her more than us.  He cares for us more than anyone else.  Each one of us has been given mission during our lifetime here on the earth.  Let us nurture our faith in God and let us cast everything to Him; all our worries and pains.  Be sure He will take care of us.  

Sr. Yanti Purnawati, SFSC