God's great tenderness

 

 

I'd like you to take a minute and think of someone that you really appreciate.

What are their characteristics?

Are they loving and kind to you? Do you observe their generosity of spirit or their sacrificial ways?

I read this quote by Denis ("The Treatise on the Divine Names" in "Aquinas and His Role in Theology") and found it interesting:

"In this way every quality of perfection in creatures exists in a more excellent way in God." (Think "people" when you read creatures.)

The point is, the goodness and love that you see exhibited by someone you know is a reflection of God, whose love and goodness is even greater than what you are seeing.

That's because God pours out his goodness on (or in) us, and through others we get a hint of how amazing God is.

Think back to a time when that someone you appreciate took care of you in some way. Now imagine God being there for you even more!

The tenderness that you felt from another is just a smidgen of God's love and tenderness towards us.  We can barely imagine how much more we are loved by God. 

If you ever start to wonder about God's love or his presence, call to mind that special someone and remember that God's love is even greater and more tender than what you have experienced here on earth.

I hope you are enjoying these beautiful days leading us to Pentecost!

Pray for peace and an end to war.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy 

 

  

 

Do you fear death, or dying?

 

 

When I read this verse from Psalm 34--"I sought the Lord, and he answered me, delivered me from all my fears"--it reminded me of something I heard years ago . . .

"People are not so much afraid of death as they are afraid of dying."

This got me to thinking that, of course, it is natural to fear the process of dying when you think of all of the conditions that we may be subjected to that are out of our control. The pain and suffering that we may have to endure is part of the reason why people turn to euthanasia, but that's a different discussion for another day.

I started wondering why we would be more concerned about the physical affects of dying and less concerned about where we might end up for all eternity.

We know our life here is temporary, and any suffering we might have to endure will technically be short-lived, yet we still do whatever we can to ease our pain, here and now.

That's understandable.

But what doesn't make sense to me is why we are not just as concerned about where we will go after we die.

Life after death isn't temporary and how we live our life here today makes a difference in where we spend it.

Seek the Lord. His mercy is available to you. He will deliver you from all your fears. 

Live your life close to him and you will have no reason to be afraid.

Pray for peace and an end to war.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy 

 

 

 

Our Powerhouse

 

Just a quick thought for today . . .

While praying the Glorious Mysteries the word "powerhouse" came to mind over and over again.

The Glorious Mysteries cover the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus, as well as Mary's Assumption and Coronation, not to mention the Holy Spirit. 

What a powerhouse of people we have in heaven that are standing with us, ready to help us every step of the way. 

But even more, we have a whole host of saints and angels and our loved ones who have gone before us. We have great access to a true powerhouse that has the ability to overcome evil.

However, in this world, we must participate with them and call on them. When we do, the sheer magnitude of what can be accomplished can barely be imagined.

Instead of us simply complaining about people and those whose evil actions bring about death and destruction, let us make sure we are doing our part as a huge community of believers to make a difference through our own actions, especially prayer.

Why wouldn't we want to tap into this great resource created to change the world? 

God is not to be outdone. Not ever. But let's make sure we are working with him in every possible way to overcome evil and to spread the Gospel. 

Pray for peace and an end to war.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy