Let me share with you two poems that are really close to my heart. I've been posting P.Arrupe's poem in my previous blogs and this time I'm reposting yet again. :)
On falling in love with God
nothing is more practical
than finding God,
that is, falling in love
in a quite absolute, final way.
what you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination,
will affect everything.
it will decide what will
get you out of bed in the morning,
what you will do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends,
what you read,
what you know,
what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you with
joy and gratitude.
fall in love,
stay in love,
and it will decide everything
- P. Pedro Arrupe, SJ
Nothing is indeed more practical than finding God and falling in love with Him. He changes you from the inside out and transforms you to the person who you are made to be. Recently I have been reading this book that acknowledges how people like reading self-help books to improve themselves. It is good we do not settle. We want to be more. People try to change their attitude and the way they deal with people but sooner or later will resort to their old selves. Motives might be wrong and therefore the outward show will be temporary.
It isn't a matter of how much you change outwardly for people to see you and perceive you the right way, it is a matter of the heart. It is a matter of what's inside your heart. What is inside your heart will soon overflow, it cannot be kept hidden. "For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks".(Matthew 12:34)
What is inside your heart?
If God is inside your heart and your purpose is for Him, victory is on its way. As it was said in
Acts 5:38-39 For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."
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I have met some people in my life who would look at Christians in the wrong way. Others would think that Christians are self-righteous and then see them stumble later on. Then they would say, ".. And to think he/she is a Christian".
But what does being a Christian mean? Here is the simplest way for people to get a glimpse of and understand what it means to be a transformed Christian.
When I say I am a Christian
When I say I am a Christian
I am not shouting I’m clean living
I’m whispering I was lost
Now I’m found and forgiven
When I say I am a Christian
I don’t speak of this with pride
I’m confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide
When I say I am a Christian
I am not trying to be strong
I’m professing that I’m weak
and need His strength to carry on
When I say I am a Christian
I’m not bragging of success
I’m admitting I have failed
and need God to clean my mess
When I say I am a Christian
I am not claiming to be perfect
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it
When I say I am a Christian
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my shares of heartaches
So I call upon His name
When I say I am a Christian
I ‘m not holier than thou
I’m just a simple sinner
Who received God’s good grace, somehow.
We Christians are also responsible for our actions. Be a living witness of the love of Christ. This poem is not an excuse for us to fall into sin, this only means that we need God more in our lives because we are aware of the call of the world for us to do wrong. We are aware that we are in need of Him to constantly transform our hearts that we may be become more and more like Christ each day. May we not cause others to stumble but may we be true witnesses of Christ and His unconditional love for the world.
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A blessed Sunday to everyone :)
Today, your writing soak my soul especially. you dont know how much I am encouraged by your presence! so, I also hope to share my mind. I'm sure that P.Pedro Arrupe, SJ was a saint. he worked in Japan with big enthusiasm. Then, as a result, his colleagues and pupils almost became holy priest. (actually, that holy priest who i confessed was also his pupil.) Do you know "Noche Oscura" written by "St. Juan de La Cruz"? P.Arrupe translated it to Japanese first time. thanks to him, we japanese could know so many things about super-natural things because St. Juan is one of the best doctor of the way of prayer. if you feel hunger about prayer, i recommend it. :) St. therese of Lisieux was his spilitual daughter. Mother Teresa was also.
ReplyDeleteWow thank you for this! I did not know about this, I will look him up in the Internet. Praise God for the saints that we know it is possible to live a holy life for God and we know that God strengthens them and gives them the courage to live for God without fear, to withstand the inevitable persecution that we may know of Christ. Feel free to share His words here that all of us may be encouraged =)
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