Even heavy pain
Lazarus was brought to life by
Jesus with Martha having faith in Christ and in the resurrection of the dead.
Martha wasn’t somehow aware that Jesus would raise Lazarus to life right at
that moment and not in the resurrection of the dead somehow in the days ahead
eventually in the designated time mentioned in the scriptures which is in the
last days. Jesus obtained power from the Father for after weeping, he prayed
loudly to the Father and summoned Lazarus to come forth.
Jesus does his miracles in perfect timing and without haste. If we Mt. Sinai to receive the
may recall, he fasted for 40 days and 40 nights after he was baptized to be in
warfare before the Devil who tempted him three times. Far from the character of
Jesus, the Israelites on the other hand became impatient when Moses stayed for
40 days and 40 nights in
commandments of God, that they decided to make a golden calf, which they would
worship.
Even facing temptation to be inhuman with the Devil saying, “I
will give you even all the wealth in the world if you would only bow down and
worship me,” Jesus did not crave for power. Likewise, he saw his mission as an
occasion to obey the will of the Father. In a different occurrence, we observe
that many influential people try to insinuate an episode that could help them
manipulate situations intensified by some famous scenes in the society or acts
displayed. But the gospel is clear about trying to subdue our human nature, and
God does his best to prevent us from acquiescing to temptation. Somehow, one
thing we can learn in this assertion is this: “We should not allow ourselves to
be exposed to temptations even the slightest temptation like what was occurring
in our thoughts.” One abdication to temptation can really destroy yourself even
your faith.
We should not allow temptation to overcome us. Likewise
considering this occasion that the Holy Spirit allowed Jesus to be tempted
three times, we also have to fast and pray to overcome eventual temptation. For
us to be clean vessels of Holy Ghost indwelling, we need to be empty not
necessarily of food, but of sins by confessing these to the priests.
Accordingly, to obtain clean water in the glass, we need to empty it of dirty
water and wash the glass for us to have a new pour of clean water. Referring to
ourselves, the grace of God makes us pure. Jesus knowing that he will be
tempted by the Devil, fasted. Though the Devil is wise, we must even be wiser
enough. Always think of God in the hour of temptation, where in this moment, we
must affirm to ourselves that God really protects us.
We must have the resistance to fight against temptation. Herein,
we have to exercise the moment of self-denial where we die to our sinfulness,
which we must confess our sins. We in this occurrence are reminded that
Christ’s wants us to get rid of temptations. Likewise, it is all right for us
to be tempted because through this occurring in our life, we are even
strengthened of our faith as temptations and trials are part of our lives.
Somehow in this occurrence, God as stated in the scriptures will never allow us
to be tempted beyond what our strength can bear that we may become triumphant
against temptation.
Prayer helps us to encounter God, as fasting otherwise symbolizes
self-denial, and giving alms makes us generous as we share love to others much
more to the beggars. In a relevant situation, happy is the man who fasts that
he may give some to the hungry. Gradual penance is the fidelity to our
vocation. In the season of Lent, we need to practice the acronym ASH:
Almsgiving, Self-denial, and Holiness. When temptation occurs, sometimes we
think only of our selves. We should instead look unto Jesus that gives us
salvation, and helps us turn away from temptation. We need also to give up if
possible everything that we may gain everything for God.
We need to give some to others that we may symbolically exercise
generosity before the eyes of God just like giving our part in our love
offering. We should simply be generous even with our forgiveness to those who
have offended us. Whosoever loves God but does not forgive his brother, whom he
sees, does not truly love God since God cannot be seen. We should not let the
sun go down with our anger remaining in us.
The only means for us to be forgiven is to surrender our sins to
God by unveiling this to the priest that he may give us the necessary
absolution, for as whomsoever sins Peter and somehow Abraham forgives, as same
as whomsoever sins, by hierarchy of the Church, the priests absolve, are
forgiven by God. Say to the Lord Jesus, “Lord, I repent, forgive me of my
sins,” as you also say to the priest, “Father, forgive me for I have sinned, my
last confession is…” Likewise we need to repent in order that we may be
forgiven of our sins and we should also comply our penance. In accordance with
this, if we want to be forgiven, we must also learn to forgive not only others
but our very selves since we get sick because of wrong sentiments.
Let us forgive one another especially ourselves for the
resentments and other ill feelings we harbor to other persons or to our selves.
This is required from us if we want to enter heaven. It is not necessary to get
back the love we are expecting for we must continue to love even unloved. If
one cheats us, we should not worsen the situation by being a traitor to them
and react negatively because of the words thrown to us. It is wrong to say, “I
love you in the event that you would love me.” This is a conditional love. We
should love even in the absence of money. To fail in this process is bribery.
We should affirm others that it is worthy to love them even if
they no longer love us. God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten
Son. Love is God, and God is love. Do not rejoice over the sufferings of
others. The love of God is perfect and eternal. We should even love more even
if we are hated, even if others become disloyal or worse a traitor to us for
love is sacrifice. We should love the Lord with all our heart, mind and soul,
and love others like we love ourselves.
“Conditional relationship is business,” says a Charismatic speaker
named Sis. Rose de Pedro. In that way we cannot taste real love. She asserts,
“We need freedom from arrogance and we should eat up our pride for us to give
love to others even to those whose hearts were hardened.” We should continue to
love even though how heavy we receive pain from others.
-Jyotisman Nearu Upendra
