Encouragement

---

“I open my heart to you, O God for you are my strength, my fortress, the rock on whom I build my life.” – Psalms 18 : 1-2

It is said that when Love is not reciprocated, it fades away. But somehow this statement is very far from the truth. Love can never ever fade into oblivion. It is always kept burning and alive in the hearts of those who have loved.

Today, we recall the greatest gift of Love which Jesus left for us. His very own Body and Blood. How many of us truly reciprocates the love of God in full measure? Yet, He continues to love us, He never stops or gives up. His Love is forever shining and vibrant irrespective of our attitude in return.

If we think for a moment that the people in Jesus’ time were lucky to have His presence with them, then we can think again. Because even today, He continues to be present with us in the Eucharist. If we believe that the people in His time were fortunate to have His healing hand upon them and were more privileged than we are, then we have not realized the power and importance of the Eucharist. Because the Eucharist is the very heart of Jesus dwelling in our hearts, touching our lives and healing us of all that hinders our being.There have been various miracles attributed to the Eucharist and incidents where the host has come alive in the form of flesh. On scientific investigations, it was revealed that the flesh was a part that belonged to the muscle of the heart. His most Sacred and Precious Heart which is still throbbing with intense love for us all.

In order to inherit eternal life, we have to first acquire the very nature of God. How do we acquire this nature which is based on the virtues of love, peace, truth and justice? The key word is Righteousness. To hunger and thirst for righteousness until we are filled and satisfied. Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.”Matthew 6:33
Those who seek God’s righteousness in their lives will bear witness to the presence of God. They will be transformed by the fruits of the Holy Spirit and in turn will spread their light to the world in which they live.

The Psalmist writes in Psalms 36:5-6, “Lord, your constant love reaches the heavens; your faithfulness extends to the skies. Lord, your righteousness is towering like the mountains; Your justice is like the depths of the sea. Men and animals are in your care.”

Jesus said in John 6:35, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." Again, in John 6: 51, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
These are the life sustaining words which can fill the hunger in our hearts like no other food can and provide the rewards of righteousness which is eternal life. Jesus wants us to long for Him just as a starving man longs for food, with the same intensity and urgency.

We carry those whom we love in our hearts and in this manner we are forever with them as they reside in our thoughts, our waking moments, our joyful and nostalgic times.
Similarly, we carry the Lord in our hearts at every Eucharist that we receive and His perpetual presence in the very Holy spirit that dwells within us. May we be comforted by the precious thought that He is with us always until He comes again to gather the harvest into His kingdom.

We all know that Tomorrow is never promised to us. But, in reality, there is no need to fear Tomorrow because when we are strong in the Lord and have full faith and confidence in Him, He will give us infinite tomorrows.

Maria Franco

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE