Sine me nihil | Without me | EN | IN | ES

"You cannot do anything without me" – John 15:5.

Jesus speaks to his disciples with great love. Because he knows it is the best way to enter the human heart. The Son of God understands how important is unity. He unites himself with the Father in the Holy Spirit. Consequently, he does everything according to the will of his Father. Also, he tries to explain spiritual matters to the people who belong to this earth. Therefore, he gives an example of the true vine and friendship. 

The disciples can learn from their Master the most important values. Jesus Christ is an expert in spirituality and theology. So he shows them how to build deep relationships. Both heavenly and earthly things are important for Jesus. The universe is the place where the Spirit of God works. Human beings often make mistakes through their own actions and decisions. They can feel dry and empty when they lack love. This fact leads them to various diseases and other problems. 

The children of God need to accept that they are being loved. They are to open their hearts for true friendship. They belong to the same true vine that is trimmed by the Father and they wait for the cleansing of the Holy Spirit. They also need the teaching which comes from the Holy Scriptures. When they read the Bible, they remain faithful to the love of the Holy Trinity. They grow in the special love of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Only in this love, they achieve perfect happiness and inner peace. They can also love one another and fulfill the whole world with divine love. 

The community is the proper place to show love for friends and to offer our life. In the Church, the Lord speaks to us as his friends, tells us everything, and gives us whatever we ask in his holy name. 

Reflection on John 15:1-17 by Fr Józef Trzebuniak.

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Vestrum est regnum Dei (Lk. 6:20)

 

In Luke’s Gospel today, we hear that Jesus presents a list of four blessings for those who depend on God and believe in Him. Jesus classifies those who are poor, hungry, weeping, and persecuted as blessed because of the kind reward that they will receive in His kingdom. God really loves them and gives them blessings because they trust in God and depend on Him. Accordingly, if we want to be classified as blessed people in the Kingdom of God, we must truly believe in God and depend on Him.

Many people think that they will be happy if they possess a lot of money, position, good food, a beautiful girlfriend or handsome boyfriend, etc. But, all those things don’t lead them to real happiness, because they don’t come to the source of true happiness. And the source of true happiness is God Himself.

Today Jesus gives very good advice for us. If we want to be happy and blessed in the Kingdom of God, we must truly believe in God and depend on Him. Don’t think that material things and wealth will give us true happiness. Yes, it can make us joyful. However, without God, we will lose everything. We should find God first, the source of true happiness and then we can get other things. Thus, we will get the earthly wealth and achieve the heavenly treasure too. We will be happy in this life and in the life to come.

By Fr. Risco Batbual, SVD.

Da nobis hodie (Mt. 6:11)

 

Life is usually understood as kinds of various conditions experienced by human beings on earth: happiness, peace, wealth, health, wisdom, certainty, uncertainty, fairness, unfairness, suffering, and many other conditions. In seeking happiness,  pleasure, or satisfaction, many times one hurts others, using others, and many other things that can not be tolerated, and even crime. 

God teaches us to work hard in order to live a happy life. God doesn't forbid us to be happy, to be joyful, to experience pleasure, and satisfaction. For God promised human beings a comfortable and happy life in the Garden of Eden. Our Lord, Jesus Christ leads us towards eternal life with perfect and holy happiness. We also can experience happiness during our journey to the real home in heavens. Jesus shows us the way... He teaches us to have food enough for today... He doesn't teach us to have many excessive things... 

Accordingly, we should be grateful for every blessing. We should not hurt or cheat others... God wants us to be grateful... God doesn't force us to cross an ocean or climb a high mountain every day.

If only we can have enough food, that's enough... The Lord teaches us about sufficiency and simplicity. In any circumstances, we still can enjoy the perfect and holy happiness and joyfulness in our life. It happens if we live side by side with our God according to Jesus Christ's teaching.

By Ceisu Nita Wuntu.

Appendit corda Dominus (Prov. 21:2)

Living in the world, people tend to pursue their worldly happiness rather than heavenly happiness because this happiness has its lure that can directly attract and stimulate humans’ senses.  This can be clearly seen in so many pieces of evidence that show the people’s worldly curiosity like a shopping center, mall, tourists’ destinations, hotels, bars, movies, and many more.  Many things can be done by a man in finding this-worldly happiness and comfortable life. It will be very dangerous to satisfy this greed. People with this hedonistic spirit can destroy other people mentally and physically and can make them fall into misery. The world is constantly serving all of humankind's wicked and evil desires. Cheating becomes their flaming spirit to ruin other people. This horrifying spirit is making the world older and older when they start to destruct flora and fauna which at the same time they are destroying this planet. Climate change, as a result of that spiritual conduct, is now showing its "bullet". Many people are now experiencing the bad impact of natural disasters.

 Deciding to be the children of God needs a strong desire for consistency. The only power that weakens the spirit of following God is the bliss of momentary pleasure or temporary pleasure. Even there is a typhoon, we have no reason to be afraid of it. We need to convince ourselves that we have our God, Jesus Christ who is in control. Letting Him work the rest that we can’t do and He will do.  Let Him control the rest that we can’t do including facing those who think that they are powerful and can deceive us. So many of them are walking around us every day. But Jesus will never let them take control of us.  Hold tightly to His teaching, His hands, even though it seems impossible but everything is possible with Him.  There will be hope forever.

Two years ago, I started my chemo for treating my breast cancer stadium 3b.  I was very sad thinking about the very high cost that my family couldn't afford these treatments. For every 3 weeks, we had to spend about 40 million for a year. There were 18 times of treatment. God understood our crying heart after my daughter and I visited BPJS main office in Jakarta in vain.  To make the long story short, finally, all the treatments were perfectly done. God gave us everything we needed by answering our continuous prayer and bringing all of our burden in Him. All the needs were paid in cash and in time. Glory be to God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit!!!

By Ceisy, Indonesia.