To Love and Truth @toloveandtruth - Tumblr Blog

Simon Peter

Lament of Saint Peter Vignon Wikimedia Commons

Simon Peter had many qualities I can identify with. He frequently misunderstood Jesus (Matthew 16:16 and 22-23) and some of His simplest parables (Matthew 15:15). He professed great faith, vowing his allegiance to Jesus unto death (Matthew 26:33-35). But, when tested quickly abandons Him (Matthew 26:58). Peter’s explicit denial of Jesus is particularly…

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Darkness

Darkness http://wp.me/s3smRd-darkness

Christ “The Light of the World” Paris Bordone Wikiemedia Commons

Darkness is our preference. Through our concupiscence, this is how we begin and what we continually struggle against, the allurements of the flesh, the seduction of pride. We naturally favor “darkness to light” (John 3:19).

But, we were not made for darkness. We were made for light. We are continually being called from darkness to…

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To Those Who Have Denied Jesus

St. Peter in Penitence El Greco Wikimedia Commons

“I will not deny you,” was Peter’s and the other disciples’ reply to Jesus’ statement that “this night all of you will have your faith in me shaken.” (Matthew 26:30-35). Yet, a few hours after their vow that they would not deny Him, they fled and left Him.

Like the disciples, we may deny and flee Christ or His body the Church when our faith is…

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To Hope

Schnorr von Carolsfeld Faith, Hope, and Charity Wikimedia Commons

“Hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5). Hope is one of the three theological virtues infusing a faithful heart with sanctifying grace. Faith and charity are the other two theological virtues, with hope spring from faith and…

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#Abandonment #Discouragement #Faith #God’s Goodness #God’s Love Poured into Our Hearts #God’s Providential Care #Holy Spirit #Holy Spirit Pouring Grace #Hope #Hope Does Not Disappoint #Life Lived in Hope #Life Lived in Service to God #Love #Romans 5:3-5 #Theological Virtues #Three Devine Virtues

To Righteousness God displays and imparts righteousness. We are recipients of His righteousness. He is faithful to His promises and generous in charity and mercy.

#Brokenness and Sin #Call Us Back #Faithful #Fallen Nature #Generous in Charity #Generous in Mercy #God’s Righteousness #Recipients of Righteousness #Righteousness #Transformed through Grace #Transformed through Mercy

According to His Word

Samuel Cousins Child in Prayer Wikimedia Commons

How should we respond to what God has reveled to us in prayer, His written word, and teachings and traditions of His Church? His Blessed Mother provides us with a beautiful example in her response to the Angle Gabriel, “let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38) and her good counsel at the wedding feast in Cana, “do whatever he tells you”…

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#Angle Gabriel #Blessed Mother #Every Dan Did what Was Right in His Own Eyes #Judges 21:25 #Let it Be to Me According to Your Word #Luke 1:38 #Matthew 6:10 #No King in Israel #On Earth As It Is in Heaven #Our Father #Respond to God #Revealed in Prayer #Revealed in the Teachings of His Church #Revealed in Traditions #Revealed in Written Word #Thy Will Be Done

The Affects of Sin Sin affects our relationship with God, but it does not alter His relationship with us. He is forever our loving father.

#Affects of Sin #Faithfulness #Forever Faithful #Immerse in Love #Immerse in Mercy #Loving Father #mercy #Participate in a Loving Relationship with God #Rebuff of Sonship #Relationship with God #Return to the Lord #Turning of Heart #Unfaithfulness #Withdraw Love

To Seeking Forgiveness

Bartolome Murillo The Return of the Prodigal Son Wikimedia Commons

Those seeking forgiveness of their sins should not fear the Lord. His mercy is without limits and is available to all who approach Him seeking forgiveness.

Prepare your heart. Humble yourself. Rend your heart and not your garments (Joel 2:13). Express your desire to turn from sin and surrender all attachment to sin.

The Lord asks…

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Be a Missionary

Ecstasy of St. Francis Giotto di Bondone Wikimedia Commons

The United States of America is missionary territory filled with people seeking truth and love. They know what their heart desires, but wander about aimlessly and follow those more lost than they in their quest of truth and love.

Their creator placed the desire for truth and love in their heart. What they desire is their creator, who is…

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#Baptism #Baptized Catholics #Full Truth of Christ #Full Truth of Jesus #Missionary #Sacraments #Seeking Truth and Love #Transform the World #United States #What the Hear Desires #Witness to Love #Witness to the Truth

To the Great Mysteries of Faith

Christ with Eucharist Joan de Joanes Wikimedia Commons

The three great mysteries of our faith are the Trinity, Incarnation and Eucharist. Mathias Josef Scheeben, a German theologian of nineteenth century, saw a relationship between these three great mysteries.

In the Trinity, the Son of God is mysteriously present in the Father and dwells with Father and Holy Spirit through all eternity. In the…

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#Blessed Mother #Dwells Among Men #Eucharist #Father #Holy Spirit #Incarnation #Mathias Josef Scheeben #Mysteries of Faith #One God in Three Persons #Son #Son of God #Takes on Flesh #Transubstantiation #Trinity #True Flesh and True Blood

To Happiness God wills our happiness, and our happiness lies in our service to Him. God calls each by name to a particular service for which they were created and no other can do.

#Everlasting Happiness #Glorification of God’s Will #Glorify God #God Calls #God Calls Each by Name #God’s Will #Good We Can Do #Happiness #Saintly Crown #Service to God #True Happiness

To the Rock

Moses Striking Water from the Rock Tintoretto Wikimedia Commons

“For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?” (2 Samuel 22:32) He is the Rock “that begot” us (Deuteronomy 32:18), and whose “work is perfect” and “ways are justice” (Deuteronomy 32:3-4). “There is no rock like our God” (1 Samuel 2:2). David sings praises to the Rock, “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my…

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#Christ the Rock #Lord God the Rock #Messiah to Come Rock #Praises to the Rock #Rock of Israel #Rock of Refuge #Rock of Salvation #Supernatural Rock

To the Marriage of Gomer and Hosea

Hosea Wikimedia Commons

In many ways, Hosea’s marriage to Gomer prefigures Christ’s marriage to His church. Gomer was a harlot with many lovers, yet the prophet Hosea married her at God’s request. Gomer would be unfaithful, leaving Hosea for her former lovers, yet Hosea would take her back.

At the request of His Father, Christ wedded us sinners through His passion and death. Like Gomer, we…

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