Encouragement
“I have hidden your word in my heart.” Psalms 119:11
When the time comes to leave school at the final end, we all like to hold with great esteem and fondness the little autograph book where all our dear friends have penned their thoughts and feelings to summarize the emotions of so many years spent together, from childhood to teenage days. Their words are ingrained like tiny treasures on our hearts which we tend to recall as we pass through the ages of life. I distinctly remember one such verse written by my friend; “When my arms cannot reach those who are close to my heart, I will hug them in my prayers.”
One of the most common parable that has been recited to us and perhaps the very first in our Bible class is the story of 'The Good Samaritan'. This story takes the cake as with another popular parable of 'The Prodigal Son'.
We see how the good Samaritan helps a Jewish man who was robbed, almost beaten to death and left lying on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. A Levite man walks by but continues on his way. Later a priest too passes by but goes on without any further glance. Both presumed the man to be dead and were afraid that they would be defiled on touching the man since they were on their way to perform religious rituals. It is remarkable to note that both passed by on the opposite side of the road so that they could avoid checking whether the man was alive or dead. However the Samaritan man is moved by pity and he stops to help the man, bandages his wounds and takes him to the inn and after paying the inn keeper, he promises to settle any extra amount on his return through that way.
Very often, this story is linked to how the Lord is the good Samaritan and He picks us up after we are bruised and broken by the bondages of sins, soothes our wounds and pays with the price of His life to the inn-keeper who is the Father, also promising to return back which refers to the second coming.
We can easily see how when Jesus narrated this parable He also wanted to make a point, as Samaritans were often looked down upon by the Jews in those times. The Lord wanted to highlight the heart of God that this man possessed. A heart of gold is a heart ever ready to help, a heart which lives in the image of the heart of our Lord. A heart which sees no distinction in race or cultural barriers. A heart more precious than any treasure in this world. A heart in keeping with the heart of the Father where the whole world belonged to Him and shared in the salvation of His son, not just the Jews alone who considered themselves to be the privileged ones.
A few days ago, we celebrated the feast of the Visitation where our Lady modeled in the golden heart of her son rushes to help her cousin Elizabeth on hearing that she is with child. Very often, our lady visits us by way of her own visitation, her spirit communicates to us via various means.
As we all know, this month is consecrated to the most Holy and Sacred Heart of Jesus; we dwell on the infinite graces that we find in His golden heart, a heart aflame with an enriching love, a heart pierced with a lance, wounded for our iniquities, an abode of goodness, a heart substantially united to the Word of God.
Today we also celebrate the Feast of the Holy Trinity, the Trinitarian golden heart of the Father, Son and Spirit, a flawless love between them where each person of the Trinity performs an unique role in unity. The festive spree continues until next week when we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, the most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
In the book of Ezekiel 36:26-28 the Lord promises; “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will put my spirit in you, You will be my people, and I will be your God.” May the Lord touch and heal our hearts with the spirit of His love. May He prune our hearts so that we too can share in the ecstasy of His presence at every Mass, feel His divinity and visualize the very throne of God with the Cherubim & Seraphim singing in unceasing chorus.
May our prayer be as in Psalms 19:14; “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”
May we also recognize and laud the golden heart that others possess as molded after our Lord.
Maria Franco
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
"Very often, our lady visits us by way of her own visitation, her spirit communicates to us via various means." I wonder how a human being whose spirit has departed manages to cross over and "visit" the earth? God never allowed such a visit as His Word tells us in Luke 16:19-31 that there is a big chasm between hell and heaven, and no one can get out of it to speak to those on earth. Christ said in John 14 - 17 that He will dwell IN us and His Spirit -the Holy Spirit will instruct us all about the things of God. (John 17:3) Jesus Christ will not just "return one day" He will live in us and be in us. The "new heart and new spirit" you mentioned here refers to being BORN-AGAIN (John 1:12; John 3: 5-8) Anyone therefore who receives Jesus Christ ALONE as Savior and LORD becomes a "new creation" with a new heart and a new spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Cynthia, I was referring to my own dreams where both Our Lady and Jesus Christ have appeared to me with their personal messages. How this is possible, only God can answer this question. The mysteries of the Lord are vast and incomprehensible at times. Yes, Jesus Christ alone is Lord and Savior. There is no name greater than His name as we read in Matthew 28:18; "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” We receive His body and blood in the Eucharist where He is truly present. His spirit is poured into us at Baptism and at all the other Sacraments that we receive. He already dwells within us as mentioned in Luke 17:21; “The kingdom of God is within you.”
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 1864 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Maria Franco or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 1864 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.