No cowards in the Kingdom by Fr Noel Connolly

In the early 70s I read Eugene Cuskelly's, No Cowards in the Kingdom. It was a call for courage in living the faith. I found it inspiring. But at the time there were only intimations of the problems to come. We were still young and energised by Vatican II. There were plenty of priests and sisters. Superiors were in their forties and the Church scandals of those days were minor compared to today.

Now priests are ageing and critically short in number. I find it difficult to imagine the Columbans and many congregations in 10 years time they will have to be lay run. Most dioceses are also struggling to care for their people. What is worse in a post-modern secular society like Australia religion is increasingly marginalised and we are struggling to learn how to communicate with youth who seem to want to believe but not belong to any of our institutions. Religion is greeted by many with apathy rather than anger. God is missing but not missed.

There are pockets of success and the Church is taking initiatives such as World Youth Day but I still believe we need Cuskelly's courage, persistence and faith-filled hearts.

I am reminded of another book, David Bosch's Transforming Mission. He tells us that while mission may be in crisis that is healthy. It is normal for Christians to live in a situation of crisis but we are only occasionally aware of this. We are blinded by our successes and consequently depressed by failure when it comes. The Church needs apparent failure and suffering to realise that mission requires profound faith. We have to allow God the freedom to save the world in his way. At times our challenge is to be faithful without success. We have to learn to love and live through all our questions patiently and hopefully.

I think we often misunderstand the purpose of religion. For most of us the purpose of religion is to give us easy, comfortable certainties [a fundamentalist approach]. Actually religion should provoke in us deeper and greater questions but also give us the faith and hope to live courageously through them into a deeper and more joyful life.

Fr Noel Connolly

Freedom from Illusion By Jeff Mirus

In a fine recent article in First Things entitled "The Freedom of Heaven & the Freedom of Hell", Anthony Esolen mines Dante’s Divine Comedy to give us a striking image of what it means to be free. To be truly free, Esolen says, we must first free ourselves from the illusion that we are our own—the illusion that we belong to ourselves.

Ancient spiritual writers used to emphasize that we have been bought at a great price, the price of Christ’s blood. This is a direct reference to an important aspect of the Christian concept of "redemption", which always includes a buying back by God of souls in bondage to sin and to the Devil. And before that, of course, God created us. He is the potter, we the clay. We were made by God and for God. We are not our own.

Esolen sees Dante’s depiction of Satan, whom Dante encounters in the very depths of hell, as a telling reminder of this truth. Satan sits at the very bottom of hell frozen in ice. He eternally flaps his reptilian wings, trying to rise under his own power. But his flapping creates bitter cold winds which keep the waters frozen, locking Satan in their grasp. Cut off from God, Satan's power of flight is utterly self-defeating. He refuses to admit that he is not his own, yet he cannot rise even the slightest amount under his own power.

So it is with us, and it makes a wonderful Lenten meditation. Every time we feel or think or act as if we belong to ourselves, our efforts are miserably self-defeating. For we are not our own. We belong to God.

Written by Jeff Mirus

St. Therese of Lisieux Quote

To offer oneself as a victim to Divine Love is not to offer oneself to sweetness - to consolation; but to every anguish, every bitterness, for Love lives only by sacrifice; and the more a soul wills to be surrendered to Love, the more must she be surrendered to suffering.

St. Therese of Lisieux

Charity Where to Begin?

If you listen to many Heads of Goverment the world is on the brink of collapse and we all may as well give up and lock our doors and hearts.

I don't believe Governments solve problems in fact and in many cases they are the problem.

But I do believe in people.

I believe in the strength and courage of the American people. I believe in the grit and determination of the British people. I believe in the doggedness and generosity of the Australian people. I believe in the goodness of ALL people in all lands, no matter where you are.

But how can we help when the problems are so enormous?

You do so one step at at time.

Charity doesnt always mean a giving of money, if anything money is the easy option. A giving of your time is of more value than money.

In most countries there are nursing homes for the aged. Perhaps it is time to consider spending an hour or two a week visiting the aged in their hospital beds? Maybe you could organize a Rosary prayer group or any other form of prayer which can include singing, have you thought of this?

When you give to charity either monetarily or with your time. It is not about making you feel good it IS about making the person you visit feel special and unique.

If you belong to a prayer group, bible study or mothers group perhaps you could contribute a certain amount of money and buy good quality books for schools that do not get enough funding.

Don't always wait for the 'government' to do something. If you see a school that is in disrepair where noone cares, DO something about it yourself. Get your friends involved and your Parish if possible.

Many people are good and generous at heart and want to help in a beneficial way. If this is YOU then explore your community and see where you can help and then do it.

Remember many of our greatest Saints began their work in their own communities.

We cannot help everyone but that should never be an excuse to help noone.

Written by Marie

Take Courage...

Something Amazing About Grace

Are we hypocrites?

Do we willingly dish out advice without taking a dose of it ourselves?

It is very easy to opine and tell the people of Israel to make peace with a terrorist organization like Hamas even though Hamas makes no secret that it wishes to destroy Israel.

Yet when have we Christians lived and embraced real peace?

Sure we may not throw rockets at each other or strap bombs to our bodies because someone is from a different denomination. We instead throw words around with never a thought that we will be held accountable for what comes out of our mouths or face the fact that we too can hate with a smile.

How can we preach peace and yet in our hearts we may detest our Seperated Brethren? Whatever denomination they may be?

Whenever the song Amazing Grace is sung there are many Catholics who cringe away from singing this particular hymn as it is simply 'too protestant' for them. This word is spoken as if it were a disease with a 'oh you mustn't say this prayer or sing that hymn lest you be thought Protestant.'

I can remember attending a seminar where a Baptist Minister stated that the Catholic Church is a cult and that Catholics were the real heretics. He went on in a most hateful manner, I stood up and spoke up and asked where in the Bible is it correct to hate another merely for their difference of religious belief? The Minister thought I was a Catholic. No! I was a Lutheran at that time, but after speaking my mind and telling him that I would not sit and listen to him insulting our brothers and sisters in Christ I then left the auditorium.

A few followed me. The majority stayed.

How can we talk peace if it is not in our own hearts? If a Catholic dislikes a person because they may be a Lutheran, or a Baptist hates a person because they are Catholic. Then where are we different?

We slay each other with words and wound the Heart of Christ.

The Reformation tore the Heart of the Church asunder but did not destroy it therefore we must show some responsibility in reaching out to each other in mutual respect, where love is essential.

Is the Catholic Church perfect? No but it is the Church that Christ handed down to the Apostle Peter and now to Pope Benedict XVI. The first Christian Church was the Catholic Church, the Universal Church meant for All and not for the elite.

We cannot speak peace until we are at peace with one another, lest we be considered hypocrites who hate with a smile.

In many Christian hearts there is a great winter. I pray the Son will be able to shatter the icy shards and turn what was once an immovable obstacle into a still lake of Divine Grace and inner peace.

Written by Marie

What Mary Did Not Say

I was reading a book over Christmas about how Our Lady responded to Gods call and the meaning of the few words she spoke recorded in the Gospels. After contemplating different elements of the book I wondered what would have happened if Our Lady had responded to Gods invitation in a totally human, selfish way. And how do we respond to Gods Will.

So this is what Mary did not say.

"Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." ..."Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

Mary: "But ArchAngel Gabriel, I am still not married so if I were to suddenly appear pregnant this would ruin my reputation in the eyes of my neighbours and my betrothed, Joseph. And if I say I have seen an Angel the people will scoff at me and think me mad. In the end what others think of me is more important than to follow God's Will."

Do you follow God's Will or are you more concerned with 'what will the neighbours think?'

"The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God."

Mary: "you know this and I know it but my family, my friends and my neighbours will not know this. Once again what will people think of me? They will think me disgraced how could I bear such a burden. It is all too much for one so young."

If you are accused of something you did not do, can you persevere through misunderstanding and remain at peace because God knows you are innocent? Or do you rail against the injustice of it all?

"And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God."

Mary: "This is great news for Elizabeth and her husband and I know that nothing is impossible for God except controlling human opinion or gossiping tongues. Elizabeth is married so when she gives birth there will be great rejoicing and noone will accuse her of anything. With me it will be different for I am unmarried and many people will think ill of me. And there is Joseph to consider, he will never understand and I do not wish to hurt him...So thank you but no thank you Archangel Gabriel."

+++++++++++++++++

When reading the fake discourse above can we truly appreciate Mary's Fiat, for indeed she would have faced questions from the community where she lived. There would have been raised eye brows, hushed whispers and much finger pointing.

Thankfully Mary put Gods Will first. Do you?

Written by Marie.

Meditation with Catherine Doherty III

"How could you be afraid of anything but sin? Sin alone has the power to bring real death. It, but nothing else, has to be feared with a great fear."

**********************

Reflection

Much of the worlds problems we face today is due to the fact that we have become either a fearless people or a foolish people, for we no longer fear sin. If anything the word sin has almost been struck from the English language.

Think about it when was the last time your Priest, or Pastor spoke of the dangers to your immortal soul if you are living a sinful lifestyle or harbouring heretical thoughts which are in direct opposition to The Teachings of The Catholic Church?

We fear a loss of worldly goods over and above any mortal sin which may seperate our souls from God for good through our own sinful choices.

God does not move. We do.

We must ask ourselves where have we placed our Treasure? In the loving Hands of our loving Heavenly Father thereby securing our eternal Salvation or a financial institute which will keep us in the temporal luxuries we think we have earned.

So many of us care more about our bodily comfort than our souls end.

In the end are we a foolish people or a fearless people? What do YOU think?

Reflection Written by

Marie

Achieve Your Dreams

~Life is what happens while you are making other plans.~

~A person of words and not deeds is like a garden full of weeds.~

~The key to happiness and success is to have a dream.~

~All the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of today.~

~You always pass failure on the way to success.~

~You have to wake up in order for your dreams to come true.~

~Don't let lack of praise nip you in the bud.~

~The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is just that little extra.~

~Count your age by your friends, Count your life by smiles.~

~Stand for something or you'll fall for anything.~

~If you don't lie down no one can walk on you.~

~Motivation is when your dreams put on work clothes.~

~Happiness is the journey not the destination.~

~To succeed do the best you can, where you are, with what you have.~

When It's Time To Let Go....

"There comes a point in your life when you realize

who matters,

who never did,

who won't anymore...

and who always will.

So, don't worry about people from your past,

there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future."

***********************

So much of our unhappiness is rooted in our inability to let go, instead we cling and become demanding to our families and our friends.

What causes us to be like this?

Insecurity.

What happens to water if it lay alone where no wind or earth can disturb it's peaceful surface?

It stagnates and becomes noxious.

When we try and stop change and growth we are choosing to stagnate, why then are so many surprised when others wish to move on, to live life with all its joys, pains and hardships?

What makes us think that everything must stay the same?

Life is meant to be challenging and more so if you are a devout lover of God and follow the dictates of your Church.

How many of our Great Saints and Martyrs died snug and warm in their beds?

And the Greatest of all women who have ever lived and graced this earth with her glorious presence, Our Lady. Did Our Lady cling to Jesus and demand he stay home with her where she could protect Him, her son and her God?

Rather Mary followed her Son even though at times she did not understand fully the meaning of His Life, she let Him go....

We are also called to let go even if that letting go is painful to us, was it not even more painful for the Mother of God?

Do we think ourselves greater than God's Delight, that is Mary? That the shadow of suffering and loss must never darken our own lives as if we were somehow better than Our Lady and the Saints in Heaven.

Our lives are made of up sunshine and shadow, we can either learn to dance in the shadows or wail in the dark.

Reflection written by Marie

Quote Thanks Jean

Happiness-The Key

In order to discover what makes us happy we must understand what it is that makes us unhappy.

Our happiness lay in what is predominant in our own thought processes.

Are you thoughts consumed with the past? A past full of mistakes where you have hurt and been hurt in return? A past that we cannot change no matter how much our thoughts linger over particular events that may have grieved us.

Do you with desperation cling to people who may not wish to continue a friendship or relationship and find that no matter how much you reach out to these people it is ultimately rejected and one is left feeling bruised and crushed?

Are your thoughts then consumed with how badly you have been treated as if noone has the right to move on and away from you.

That is not love. It is control.

A good excercise is to examine your thoughts. Does a higher percentage of your thoughts linger on what you are feeling, whether it be good or bad? Do your thoughts circle around your own person in that you have made yourself the centre of your universe? And even if your thoughts dwell on God it is a case of 'what are you doing for me Lord?' Or 'how could you allow this to happen to me God?'

That is not love. It is manipulation.

Do you worry for tomorrow when today has not ended? Are your thoughts consumed with what may happen, rather than dealing with the reality of the present moment?

That is not love. It is lack of trust.

If you wish to know the key to happiness, then let it go.

You are in charge of your own happiness. It is not God's job to make you happy nor is it the task of your family or friends neither can your enemies steal your happiness unless you hand it to them.

Authentic happiness lay in a forgetting of self.

You are in charge of your thoughts. You are responsible for the attitude you take to any given set of circumstance whether they be favourable or adverse.

The key to your happiness is not in God's Hands it is in yours.

"Do not fear what may happen tomorrow. The same loving Father who cares for you today will care for you tomorrow and everyday. Either he will shield you from suffering or he will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings." St. Francis de Sales

Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer....Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good. (Romans 12:12 & 21)

Written by Marie

The Dangers of Designer Faith

There have been many instances where I have heard people say that they do not wish to belong to a 'religious organization or Church' they then go on to say, that they are instead 'spiritual people.'

What exactly does that mean?

Is it a case of all truth is truth if it is your truth?

The people that believe themselves 'spiritual' yet do not follow God instead have made themselves 'a god'. This kind of thinking would be like being on a boat without a rudder, you will be blown in every direction except the right direction.

A designer faith is no faith at all.

This kind of designer faith allows a person to follow their 'feelings' and it is these fuzzy wuzzy feelings that have little to do with real spirituality.

We see this 'spirituality shopping' with the likes of Oprah Winfrey, who despite her great wealth and popularity, still remains unhappy and unfulfilled. We have seen Oprah embrace one New Age fad after another only to find there is no spiritual elixir that will fill the empty void within her and at the end of the day you are left alone. There is no 'secret' that can fulfill the emptiness we feel in our souls. That emptiness is there for a reason; it is there for us to reach out to God the Source of Love and of Life.

There is also the case of St. Mary's Church in Queensland which thinks it can design it's own Liturgy in total disregard of Catholic Church Doctrine. Here is their idea of The Sacrament of Baptism:

"We baptise you in the name of the creator, sustainer and liberator of life", adding "who is also father, son and spirit".

The priest then added: "That's good, nice and cool" and invited "everyone to put water on him".

No Fathers, it is not 'cool' it is 'Kool Aid.'

The Catholic Church is in no need of 'hip renegade 'priests' who think they know better than the Catholic Church and are in fact disobedient to the Magisterium.

What happens though when Priests and Religious decide that the Catholic Church and it's Teachings are no longer relevent to our present age?

We have anarchy in the Pulpit.

What happens when it's Parishioners follow these 'hip hop priests' who are in fact performing illegal masses.

We have a falling away of the Faithful.

The role of the Priesthood and Religious are to teach the Truths of the Church as revealed in Holy Doctrine and to be obedient to these very Teachings under the guidance of the Vicar of Christ in whom they are in communion. Priests are not to dissent from the Traditional Teachings of the Church which has been passed down through the generations. The role of the laity is to pray for our Priests, Religious and to learn, obey and defend the Truths of the Church as we give our allegiance to the Vicar of Christ. (Can. 273 Clerics have a special obligation to show reverence and obedience to the Supreme Pontiff and to their own Ordinary.)

To follow one's own idea of 'spirituality' is to follow into folly, for when did man become wiser than God? How can any one person think that they are all knowing and all wise, that they are in fact much smarter than God?

As for those 'priests' who choose to be disobedient to Rome, let me finish by quoting St. Augustine, 'Rome has spoken; the case is closed."

Written by Marie

Priorities

Minute Meditation with Fulton Sheen II

"Faith begins at a point where there is seemingly nothing to get out of it; nor is there any indication that prosperity will follow. Faith begins with a considerable doubt about one's own goodness and power."

Bishop Fulton Sheen

**********************

Reflection

There is an element of self seeking in each of us, that little voice that says 'what's in it for me' or when we do something good we want others to know about it and expect congratulations to follow. Faith is the exact opposite it is the realisation that whatever good we do is not on behalf of God but because God has empowered us and given particular Gifts to each of us individually. It is this Gift flowing from God's Grace that we put into effect when helping others or when we stand for what we believe in the face of persecution. Faith is in essence a spilling out of God's Love through us and towards all we meet. The measure of the Faith we have is the level in which we love.

Reflection written by Marie

Be Of Good Cheer

They had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke with them, "Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!" (Mark 6:50).

The Bible encourages us all to 'be of good cheer/ take courage,' why is that verse so important that Jesus repeats it over and over?

It is repeated because through all the ages people are people. Frail, faulty, wounded, thoughtless and yet capable of great deeds and heroic acts, but still we are imperfect. Who then do we turn too in times of adversity?

The Holy Spirit is the Great Comforter of the afflicted, the wounded and the broken hearted. All are accepted into God's Heart. There is no litmus test for any of us in order to deserve God's Love. If there were a litmus test then who amongst us would be Saved?

How many times do we pray, 'Lord bring me closer to you,' but do we truly understand what we are saying? Are we not like John and James who requested to be seated at Jesus right and left hand, unkowing of the price for such an honour. Even more unknowingly Jesus tells them what they do not wish to hear, "whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all."

When we ask to become closer to Jesus we must understand that there is only one way and that Way is through The Cross. Why then when adversity strikes us do we balk at what is being asked of us. Is not God answering our prayer? Do we not gain our strength from the partaking of The Churches Sacraments?

Be careful of what you pray, lest you receive it.

Whenever adversity strikes us, whatever form it takes, be it through ill-health, betrayal or loss we must realise that God has already given us the strength to endure it. So endure it with a smile.

We fall into misery and bitterness when we are relying on our own strength. God does not give us misery, He gives us hope. God is our strength, He is our fortress against our greatest folly- the belief that we can go it alone. No we can't.

Trust in God's Goodness. Not your own.

The getting of wisdom is the understanding that in and of ourselves we are miserable, weak, frail creatures. We are needy. Noone is an island unto himself and if adversity strikes we become embittered, miserable a curse to ourselves and to others. We fall into self pity.

Wisdom is to understand the above and as illness makes us vulnerable, rather than close our hearts we open them to The Son's Love. Through God we radiate hope, perseverance, patience in the dreadful understanding that through our suffering we have become...Him to others.

Our Lord did not promise that adversity would not strike us, if anything He warns that if we follow Him we must pick up our Cross. How we carry our cross is our choice whether it be with a smile or a curse.

What do you choose?

"In this world ye shall have tribulations, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Written by Marie

My Prayer

Let me walk in patience, Lord,
For you to open a door
To a new way of life, if You please
For what is past is no more.

Help me, Lord, only to see
That You give to me each day
Things you know will make me
Stronger along life's way.

Help me to accept life
And each little event
As blessings for me, Lord,
That you have sent.

Let me look at trouble
As a blessing in disguise.
Help me see in loneliness
Your strength which beneath lies.

Help me see the joys
Intermingled with the tears.
Give me undaunted courage
To face the future years.

Let me know the perfect love
That You so willingly give.
For others and You, Lord,
Help me so to live.

Thank You for the past, Lord,
And let me not forget
That You gave the past to me
To make me stronger yet.

Anon

Daily Prayer

Take my lips, O Lord, I pray,

Show me clearly what to say.

Take my ears and let me hear,

Only those things that You make clear.

Take my eyes and let me see

Those beautiful sights you have for me.

Take my hands and let me touch

What will help the others so much.

Take my feet and let me go

To those places that You will show.

Take my mind so every thought

Will remind me of all You've wrought.

Take my heart and let it beat

In tune with Yours at the mercy seat.

Take my life to do Your perfect will

And assure me that You love me still.

Looking For Love In The Wrong Places

Many people in today’s world are seeking validation in all the wrong places and in the wrong people. In that in order to feel good about themselves they rely on another’s opinion, this leads to a roller coaster ride of insecurities.

We see in the world around us, how many people fall into the trap of making the outside look perfect whilst ignoring the inner soul. Even in this consumer society, just how many face lifts, botox treatments and divorces do people need in order to gain some sense of security?

Many reach this predicament because they have forgotten what love is, for sincere love is selfless, it longs to give rather than receive. True love seeks not after its own gratification, but instead it seeks to enrich those who have most need of it. Most especially those in the margins of life, who feel unloved, unwanted and who feel the chill of knowing they are special to noone.

God loves us without need of a receipt.

God does not love us because we have made efforts to deserve it, He loves us because we need Him. Therefore the Triune Spirit endeavours to give each soul the Gifts it needs in order to teach the soul how to Love with Christlike compassion and mercy. But, this Christlike Love is not what we share with our family and friends. This love calls us out into the desert. It calls us to go beyond our bounderies and limitations to risk ourselves, for loves sake alone.

God's Love is a Radical Love.

It is when we place our happiness in the hands of another that we are doomed to a life of inner unhappiness, in that it is beyond man's ability to provide the inner joy and peace that many seek. This inner peace and joy can only be found in Christ, and through the Holy Spirit our souls are illuminated to the fullness and meaningfulness of the essence of Divine Love which ignites the heart and sets itself aflame.

God calls the broken hearted for only He alone can heal that which man has torn asunder.

Love is risky. Love hurts. Love scorches our souls till we cry out in anguish and loss..and then we understand..Love Sacrificed Himself so we could live Eternally with Divine Love.

Written by Marie

Love Takes Time

Love takes time. It needs a history of giving and receiving, laughing and crying...

Love never promises instant gratification, only ultimate fulfillment.

Love means believing in someone, in something. It supposes a willingness to struggle, to work, to suffer, and to rejoice.

Satisfaction and ultimate fulfillment are by-products of dedicated love. They belong only to those who can reach beyond themselves; to whom giving is more important than receiving.

Love is doing everything you can to help others build whatever dreams they have.

Love involves much careful and active listening. It is doing whatever needs to be done, and saving whatever will promote the other's happiness, security, and well-being. Sometimes, love hurts.

Love says no with empathy and great compassion.

Love is firm, but when needed it must be tender.

When others have tried and failed, love is the hand in yours in your moments of discouragement and disappointment.

Love is reliable.

Love does not attach conditions... Genuine love is always a free gift.

Anon

WORDS...

We need to use our words wisely for in our words we have the power to bring both happiness and grief. We can either build someone up who has suffered or add to their burden by thoughtless words uttered by inexperience if not downright ignorance. It helps if we have gained a sound knowledge and grounding in Scripture for as the Word reveals to us, "Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing." We are all a work in progress, and at times we too are in need of an encouraging word but also one guided in wisdom, lest we speak more as a longing to be liked than speak the Truth as revealed to us through the Word and the Teachings of the Church.

We must always be aware that every person needs to feel loved, validated and needed. So in order to be truly wise, we must weigh our words for they will act upon the heart like a flower ready to bloom or they will crush the bud before it has a chance to reach full maturity. So before we speak remember to examine your own inner motives, and to pray to the Holy Spirit so we may speak in wisdom so as to edify the recipient rather than cause harm and hinder the spiritual path of another. As Thomas Kempis says, "In all your actions keep your end in sight, and how you will stand before your judge, your God, from whom nothing is hidden."

At times we may not know that our actions and words are harming another in that our overzealousness instead of helping may in fact harm the recipient, St. Philip Neri wisely says, "If you wish to go to extremes, let it be in sweetness, patience, humility and charity." When our friends come to us with their souls in anguish and the wounds within exposed, do we rub salt in them or do we with utmost compassion become a balm to the troubled and pained individual?

We may think what has words to do with spiritual warfare? This is so because it is from the mind that sin begins and is then carried out in both word and deed. For Satan knows our weakness, if we are quick to take offense he will send us offensive people. If we are over sensitive, he will send people to criticize our every word and action, but if some are lazy and apathetic, Satan leaves them to themselves, for they are already his. So if we think that Satan has no use for words then many will be sadly mistaken, for Satan is a sower of malice, and discord is its seed upon which hate becomes its fruit.

On the other hand God also understands our weakness and will put trials in our path not to break us but to strengthen that which is weakest in our nature. So if offensive people cross our paths it enables us the chance to practice patience. If one is over sensitive and meets a person with little sensitivity this again enables the person to practice charity.

For everything Satan tries to do, God will undo, through prayer.

This should teach us to measure each word as if our soul depended on it for it does, for when we wound another, we wound Christ. We need to take heed of our words and motives, but in order to do so we also need to know what is pleasing for God to hear, and that is words spoken in love, even when correcting another. In the words of another great Saint, "A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love." St. Basil is correct for what we give to others and how we treat them will affect our own relationship with our Heavenly Father.

We are all at times in need of a kind word, a gentle reminder that all is not lost and the knowledge that we are loved.

Written by Marie