In Jesus, the sacrificial lamb, a compassionate God is revealed, one that waits patiently for our positive response to Him. He is with us forever, the very core of our existence. It is entirely up to us to acknowledge the love of God and accept His warm embrace.
As in the story of Moses, God calls and we must respond freely. We must contemplate the face of the Lord and reflect Him. Interceding for others, a vital aspect of prayer, allows us to grow as children of God, moving away from our self-serving nature.
The Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, the Third Person of the Trinity – helps us understand the Incarnation, infuses us with courage, just as He did with the Apostles, and inspires us to become saints and evangelists.
To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to detach ourselves from our individualistic mentality, become part of God’s plan to evangelize and fulfill His vision for the world.
The transformative power of the Holy Spirit is so utterly sublime and powerful. It takes what would be considered completely useless and turns it into gold to be offered in obeisance to the Lord. The Spirit fills us with the love of God and opens the Church to all peoples, irrespective of origin.
Discerning God’s will, accepting it and pursuing it wholeheartedly requires much effort. When we are ready to submit to Him completely is when we will be on our way to achieving sanctity and joy.
Abraham is a model of prayer in that he teaches us to remain in God’s presence, allow God to approach us and hear His voice. He is an example of faith in the face of uncertainty and when all the odds seem to be against us. Lastly, he teaches us the need for interceding for others, even when people appear unworthy of compassion.
The historic devotion to Our Lady of Consolation will continue in the Archdiocese of Manila, most especially at the Shrine of St. Augustine in Intramuros. The archdiocese also aims to aid the needy devotees of the Blessed Mother through an apostolate service that will equip them to be self-reliant.
Jesus remains with us in the suffering and the poor, but most especially in the Eucharist. Christ also entrusts us with the responsibility of representing Him to those that do not know Him through our words and deeds.
Christians are not perfect people. They are imperfect people who have doubts despite their belief in the Savior. And it is still these imperfect people that Jesus chose to carry His word to those that do not know Him. The imperfect Church must carry the light of the unblemished lamb to every corner of the earth.
Follow