73. God is with us
Jeremiah, from the beginning of his ministry, as soon as he works with God, he understands him, since he’s with him:
“I knew it because the Lord informed me; at that time you, O Lord, showed me their doings.” Jeremiah, chapter 11, verse 18
The Lord informs and guides us. He is with us when we are with him. From then on, the Lord teaches us, as he informs Jeremiah.
Are we listening like the prophet Jeremiah? Too often, we do not feel that Jesus is close. Too often, too, we are busy elsewhere. Jesus cannot speak to us if we aren’t in a listening state.
If we are not listening to Jesus, we enter a risky zone. For Jesus alone can really teach us about himself.
We are, ourselves, a mystery when we do not understand God. The Lord is not a mystery. The greatest mystery is that we are not listening to him.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Refusing sin, Normand Thomas
Normandt' Bible reflexions
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
74. Jesus is the target
Some people from the temple want to stop Jesus. They closed their hearts. They are convinced that he isn’t God:
“The guards went to the chief priests and pharisees, who asked them, ‘Why did you not bring him?’ The guards answered, ‘Never before has anyone spoken like this one.’” John, chapter 7, verses 45 to 46
The guards hear reason. They find no reason to stop Jesus, because they know that Jesus did nothing wrong.
Still, the temple officials will insist and plan Jesus’s capture. Nicodemus questions them:
“Does our law condemn a person before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” John, chapter 7, verse 51
Nicodemus seeks to rescue Jesus, but some of them don’t want to listen. When we are convinced that a person is false, even wrongly and because of false rumours and conscience manipulation, even if the person is fundamentally authentic, the door closes on the truthfulness of this person.
Then, they develop obscure ways to crucify Jesus. And that’s how, in the world, so many people are crushed, disfigured, so many people are persecuted, abused, killed. It is the same sin that is constantly repeated, because some people are not listening. They do not reflect and observe, hear and understand. Collective prejudice causes death.
Our prayer can help to make a difference, so that people be spared from the deafness of others. But sometimes even our good intentions are not enough because of their heart’s closure. May God be known for who he is. God is completely natural and real for humans.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Refusing sin, Normand Thomas
Some people from the temple want to stop Jesus. They closed their hearts. They are convinced that he isn’t God:
“The guards went to the chief priests and pharisees, who asked them, ‘Why did you not bring him?’ The guards answered, ‘Never before has anyone spoken like this one.’” John, chapter 7, verses 45 to 46
The guards hear reason. They find no reason to stop Jesus, because they know that Jesus did nothing wrong.
Still, the temple officials will insist and plan Jesus’s capture. Nicodemus questions them:
“Does our law condemn a person before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” John, chapter 7, verse 51
Nicodemus seeks to rescue Jesus, but some of them don’t want to listen. When we are convinced that a person is false, even wrongly and because of false rumours and conscience manipulation, even if the person is fundamentally authentic, the door closes on the truthfulness of this person.
Then, they develop obscure ways to crucify Jesus. And that’s how, in the world, so many people are crushed, disfigured, so many people are persecuted, abused, killed. It is the same sin that is constantly repeated, because some people are not listening. They do not reflect and observe, hear and understand. Collective prejudice causes death.
Our prayer can help to make a difference, so that people be spared from the deafness of others. But sometimes even our good intentions are not enough because of their heart’s closure. May God be known for who he is. God is completely natural and real for humans.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Refusing sin, Normand Thomas
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
75. We scream to the Lord
To this demand:
“Graciously rescue me, God! Come quickly to help me, Lord!” Psalm 70, verse 1
Let’s add:
“I waited, waited for the Lord; who bent down and heard my cry.” Psalm 40, verse 2
This cry is the realization that we are sinners, since we think that God is not around. The cry helps in recognizing that we are making too much effort that leads to nothing and that we do not let ourselves be Loved by God or by others.
This cry is also about thinking that we can manage everything on our own, that we can manipulate for our popularity, that we can go so far as to hurt others.
Let’s not wait. Let’s accept the Lord’s truth, fully. He will free us from harm, since he hears our cry. Better still, he had heard our inner complaint before our cry.
God separates within us evil from good to elevate peace anew from our baptism:
“He drew me out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud of the swamp, set my feet upon rock, steadied my steps.” Psalm 40, verse 3
When we are drawn from the mud and placed on the rock, it is God who embraces and establishes us in a safe place.
With confidence (faith), may God take us in his arms as the child lets himself be embraced by his parents. May the truth of God filter our being to remove the residue of evil.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Refusing sin, Normand Thomas
To this demand:
“Graciously rescue me, God! Come quickly to help me, Lord!” Psalm 70, verse 1
Let’s add:
“I waited, waited for the Lord; who bent down and heard my cry.” Psalm 40, verse 2
This cry is the realization that we are sinners, since we think that God is not around. The cry helps in recognizing that we are making too much effort that leads to nothing and that we do not let ourselves be Loved by God or by others.
This cry is also about thinking that we can manage everything on our own, that we can manipulate for our popularity, that we can go so far as to hurt others.
Let’s not wait. Let’s accept the Lord’s truth, fully. He will free us from harm, since he hears our cry. Better still, he had heard our inner complaint before our cry.
God separates within us evil from good to elevate peace anew from our baptism:
“He drew me out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud of the swamp, set my feet upon rock, steadied my steps.” Psalm 40, verse 3
When we are drawn from the mud and placed on the rock, it is God who embraces and establishes us in a safe place.
With confidence (faith), may God take us in his arms as the child lets himself be embraced by his parents. May the truth of God filter our being to remove the residue of evil.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Refusing sin, Normand Thomas
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
76. The rule of Love
God is Love and his Love contains a Law:
“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.” 1 John, chapter 4, verse 7
A person who has a grudge or hatred is invited to do an examination of conscience. Why is he like this? Well, it’s because he is like that or has he become like that? Is it because he himself did not receive love from people or did not discover the Love of God?
It’s very difficult to define someone’s fault. This is why we are invited to let this person observe himself before God. The person who did some harm is the only one who can figure out what led him there. This harm comes either from him or caused by another person. He did not receive this evil from God.
We are invited to perform an examination of conscience before God. Jesus invites us to receive faith by inviting him into our life. The faith that will abound in us will help better understand the more difficult situations.
The Love of God is the rule of love between people. Let’s give the people back to God, even if they are unfair to us, even if we don’t understand everything.
Let’s put ourselves in Jesus’s hands, so that his Love will lead us to a new conversion. And gradually, we will obtain lights to become better, to better understand.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Refusing sin, Normand Thomas
God is Love and his Love contains a Law:
“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.” 1 John, chapter 4, verse 7
A person who has a grudge or hatred is invited to do an examination of conscience. Why is he like this? Well, it’s because he is like that or has he become like that? Is it because he himself did not receive love from people or did not discover the Love of God?
It’s very difficult to define someone’s fault. This is why we are invited to let this person observe himself before God. The person who did some harm is the only one who can figure out what led him there. This harm comes either from him or caused by another person. He did not receive this evil from God.
We are invited to perform an examination of conscience before God. Jesus invites us to receive faith by inviting him into our life. The faith that will abound in us will help better understand the more difficult situations.
The Love of God is the rule of love between people. Let’s give the people back to God, even if they are unfair to us, even if we don’t understand everything.
Let’s put ourselves in Jesus’s hands, so that his Love will lead us to a new conversion. And gradually, we will obtain lights to become better, to better understand.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Refusing sin, Normand Thomas
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
77. Indispensable Love
Love is abused and very often refused. If God is Love, why does it seem there’s lack of love on earth?
Believing in God, transforming our way of life, returning to a heart to Heart with God, so that his Love flows freely within us, is indispensable.
Otherwise, we block God’s Love and without a compass we drift away. The implications of misleading ourselves or not following Jesus are many. The risk is to have difficulty returning to him.
The only compass we can trust is the Love of God. Jesus invites us to welcome and follow him to truly live within his Love. We are also encouraged to humbly find our place before God.
May we be persons who are signs of Christ present among our contemporaries, to help them receive the Love of God.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Love is abused and very often refused. If God is Love, why does it seem there’s lack of love on earth?
Believing in God, transforming our way of life, returning to a heart to Heart with God, so that his Love flows freely within us, is indispensable.
Otherwise, we block God’s Love and without a compass we drift away. The implications of misleading ourselves or not following Jesus are many. The risk is to have difficulty returning to him.
The only compass we can trust is the Love of God. Jesus invites us to welcome and follow him to truly live within his Love. We are also encouraged to humbly find our place before God.
May we be persons who are signs of Christ present among our contemporaries, to help them receive the Love of God.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
78. God's Kingdom
Paul gives us a very beautiful message:
“For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.” Ephesian, chapter 2, verse 10
“We are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus.” How powerful, just these few words!
We usually live in a house and we always come back to the house. Our real home is in Jesus Christ. We are true when we establish ourselves in him.
Mary and all the saints are also in the Kingdom of God and they watch over us helping us constantly to get closer to Jesus. Everything is there, now, freely offered, to lead us in Jesus.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Paul gives us a very beautiful message:
“For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.” Ephesian, chapter 2, verse 10
“We are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus.” How powerful, just these few words!
We usually live in a house and we always come back to the house. Our real home is in Jesus Christ. We are true when we establish ourselves in him.
Mary and all the saints are also in the Kingdom of God and they watch over us helping us constantly to get closer to Jesus. Everything is there, now, freely offered, to lead us in Jesus.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
79. Dehumanized thinking
This is a reflection that God proposes to Job. It can also feed our thoughts. The Lord addresses Job from the midst of his personal storm:
“Who is this that obscures divine plans with words of ignorance?” Job, chapter 38, verse 2
Jesus showed us, when he passed into our world, how we disfigure God. We risk being upset when we chase God away. We expose ourselves to lose a lot when we back away from him.
We observe humans, we fall into the faults and sins of the past to such an extent that we come to think God is like us. We hear it everywhere. This one is like that, that one is like this. Why should I follow people in the Church if they are not able to be charitable, to be happy?
We believe that by observing the human being, we see God there. But it’s a little simpler than that. The human being is not God. So, it’s impossible for a human to be perfect either in the world or in the Church.
It will always be easy to find some fault with someone, but let’s not put that fault on God’s back.
We should be responsible in the faith to understand that a fault, a human who sin is contrary to the reality of God. God has created us Love, but we have trouble sharing and receiving it.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
This is a reflection that God proposes to Job. It can also feed our thoughts. The Lord addresses Job from the midst of his personal storm:
“Who is this that obscures divine plans with words of ignorance?” Job, chapter 38, verse 2
Jesus showed us, when he passed into our world, how we disfigure God. We risk being upset when we chase God away. We expose ourselves to lose a lot when we back away from him.
We observe humans, we fall into the faults and sins of the past to such an extent that we come to think God is like us. We hear it everywhere. This one is like that, that one is like this. Why should I follow people in the Church if they are not able to be charitable, to be happy?
We believe that by observing the human being, we see God there. But it’s a little simpler than that. The human being is not God. So, it’s impossible for a human to be perfect either in the world or in the Church.
It will always be easy to find some fault with someone, but let’s not put that fault on God’s back.
We should be responsible in the faith to understand that a fault, a human who sin is contrary to the reality of God. God has created us Love, but we have trouble sharing and receiving it.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
80. God's grace on us
Job is in the middle of the storm. And he responds to God with wisdom:
“I am of little account; what can I answer you? I put my hand over my mouth. Though I have spoken once, I will not do so again; though twice, I will do so no more.” Job, chapter 40, verses 4 to 5
In seeking the good in the other, we will discover goodness in us and we’ll move forward together by following Jesus. Easy.
Let’s become beings filled with the Presence and the Light of God, in order to become familiar with his Light. Let’s ask God’s grace on us to discover his light in the heart, the life and the being of the people around us.
Let’s give thanks for the Presence of God in our life and welcome his Light that enlightens us on the daily path of conversion and faith.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Job is in the middle of the storm. And he responds to God with wisdom:
“I am of little account; what can I answer you? I put my hand over my mouth. Though I have spoken once, I will not do so again; though twice, I will do so no more.” Job, chapter 40, verses 4 to 5
In seeking the good in the other, we will discover goodness in us and we’ll move forward together by following Jesus. Easy.
Let’s become beings filled with the Presence and the Light of God, in order to become familiar with his Light. Let’s ask God’s grace on us to discover his light in the heart, the life and the being of the people around us.
Let’s give thanks for the Presence of God in our life and welcome his Light that enlightens us on the daily path of conversion and faith.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
81. To run away
Moses responds to the people:
“Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the Lord will win for you today. These Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again. The Lord himself will fight for you; you have only to keep still.” Exodus, chapter 14, verses 13 to 14
It takes caution to clearly understand this text. The Lord fights evil among the Egyptians, although God does not fight the Egyptians. Pharaoh chooses evil by confining a nation to slavery.
Pharaoh lays his evil on the backs of his own Egyptians. He makes the Egyptians, his people, responsible for his evil and he swings his evil against the Israelites.
If the Lord fights for the people of Israel, it is simply to give them the courage of their convictions and to continue on the road of faith in God. That will set them free.
Fleeing evil leads to God. By fleeing the state of slavery in which the Israelites have been for far too long, they are giving themselves the means to take back their lives.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Moses responds to the people:
“Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the Lord will win for you today. These Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again. The Lord himself will fight for you; you have only to keep still.” Exodus, chapter 14, verses 13 to 14
It takes caution to clearly understand this text. The Lord fights evil among the Egyptians, although God does not fight the Egyptians. Pharaoh chooses evil by confining a nation to slavery.
Pharaoh lays his evil on the backs of his own Egyptians. He makes the Egyptians, his people, responsible for his evil and he swings his evil against the Israelites.
If the Lord fights for the people of Israel, it is simply to give them the courage of their convictions and to continue on the road of faith in God. That will set them free.
Fleeing evil leads to God. By fleeing the state of slavery in which the Israelites have been for far too long, they are giving themselves the means to take back their lives.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
82. Two Choices
The human person has two choices: to focus on God or to move away from him. The image represented by the escape of the Israelites before the Egyptians represent a return to God. To return to God is to be placed in the line of good, to want his Love, to accept the best he offers, to let ourselves be raised and then be peacefully embraced.
A nation who is in God and on the move is recovering his freedom. All peoples should be on the way, together, both feet in the Kingdom of God.
It’s with the Love of God that people and the environment are transformed. They are walking with him.
Let’s cling to this thought:
“Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Matthew, chapter 12, verse 50
The one who loves his brother and his sister, his mother and his father and all humans, place himself in God’s family.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
The human person has two choices: to focus on God or to move away from him. The image represented by the escape of the Israelites before the Egyptians represent a return to God. To return to God is to be placed in the line of good, to want his Love, to accept the best he offers, to let ourselves be raised and then be peacefully embraced.
A nation who is in God and on the move is recovering his freedom. All peoples should be on the way, together, both feet in the Kingdom of God.
It’s with the Love of God that people and the environment are transformed. They are walking with him.
Let’s cling to this thought:
“Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Matthew, chapter 12, verse 50
The one who loves his brother and his sister, his mother and his father and all humans, place himself in God’s family.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
83. Evil hates Light
Often in the Bible, there are clear passages like this one and at the same time, precise and without appeal:
“For everyone who does wicked things, hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.” John, chapter 3, verses 20 to 21
To do evil is to hate light. To hate light is to hate God. Evil and light are not compatible. It is unthinkable to build up a bad action and declare that it’s luminous.
It’s also difficult to get rid of bad habits. When they don’t seem too damaging, we tend to forget them. And yet the tiniest bad habit can degenerate into unhealthy or even harmful habits.
So, it’s important to watch over our habits and dig out those that can cause harm. If they can harm others, they can also hurt us:
“Whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.” We move in faith only with the light of God.
To come to the truth and to get rid of our bad habits is to allow the truth to be generated in our life. God’s light helps us to discern the issues of life.
Moreover, when we feel bad after an action, it’s necessary to check if it really is good or bad, true or false. It would be nice to take some time to find solutions. To realize this discernment and to want to return to goodness is to let ourselves be improved by God.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Often in the Bible, there are clear passages like this one and at the same time, precise and without appeal:
“For everyone who does wicked things, hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.” John, chapter 3, verses 20 to 21
To do evil is to hate light. To hate light is to hate God. Evil and light are not compatible. It is unthinkable to build up a bad action and declare that it’s luminous.
It’s also difficult to get rid of bad habits. When they don’t seem too damaging, we tend to forget them. And yet the tiniest bad habit can degenerate into unhealthy or even harmful habits.
So, it’s important to watch over our habits and dig out those that can cause harm. If they can harm others, they can also hurt us:
“Whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.” We move in faith only with the light of God.
To come to the truth and to get rid of our bad habits is to allow the truth to be generated in our life. God’s light helps us to discern the issues of life.
Moreover, when we feel bad after an action, it’s necessary to check if it really is good or bad, true or false. It would be nice to take some time to find solutions. To realize this discernment and to want to return to goodness is to let ourselves be improved by God.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
84. The Lamb
Jeremiah has a very beautiful relationship with God. We feel he’s like a son talking to his father:
“The Lord informed me; at that time you, O Lord, showed me their doings.” Jeremiah, chapter 11, verse 18
The closer Jeremiah is to God, the more the Spirit of God guides him through difficulties and sorrows. God helps him maneuver among people who hurt him and does not seem to listen to the Lord.
Besides, it doesn’t prevent the prophet of God to be persecuted because he disturbs while transmitting the truths of God:
“I was like a gentle lamb led to slaughter.” Jeremiah, chapter 11, verse 19a
This text prefigures what Christ will live: “I was like a gentle lamb led to slaughter.”
The only difference is that Jesus is not “like” the Lamb, but he “is” the Lamb who will be led to slaughter, because of the evil in the world and for his sole purpose to save us.
The psalm reveals the same thought:
“Lord my God, in you I take refuge; rescue me; save me from all who pursue me, lest they maul me like lions, tear me to pieces with none to save.” Psalm 7, verses 2 to 3
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Jeremiah has a very beautiful relationship with God. We feel he’s like a son talking to his father:
“The Lord informed me; at that time you, O Lord, showed me their doings.” Jeremiah, chapter 11, verse 18
The closer Jeremiah is to God, the more the Spirit of God guides him through difficulties and sorrows. God helps him maneuver among people who hurt him and does not seem to listen to the Lord.
Besides, it doesn’t prevent the prophet of God to be persecuted because he disturbs while transmitting the truths of God:
“I was like a gentle lamb led to slaughter.” Jeremiah, chapter 11, verse 19a
This text prefigures what Christ will live: “I was like a gentle lamb led to slaughter.”
The only difference is that Jesus is not “like” the Lamb, but he “is” the Lamb who will be led to slaughter, because of the evil in the world and for his sole purpose to save us.
The psalm reveals the same thought:
“Lord my God, in you I take refuge; rescue me; save me from all who pursue me, lest they maul me like lions, tear me to pieces with none to save.” Psalm 7, verses 2 to 3
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
85. Free Jesus!
Nicodemus allows us to think and understand that persons can condemn other persons without knowing a lot about them. Nicodemus is touched by Jesus:
“There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night.” John, chapter 3, verses 1 and 2a
Nicodemus meets Jesus and he appreciates his quality of God. Only a person who knows Jesus and who loves him can understand what Jesus is doing in the world. He will defend Jesus after his capture:
“Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, ‘Does our law condemn a person before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?’” John, chapter 7, verses 50 to 51
Can we judge Jesus? Can we ensnare Love? This is the impression that emerges: “I was like a gentle lamb led to slaughter.”
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Nicodemus allows us to think and understand that persons can condemn other persons without knowing a lot about them. Nicodemus is touched by Jesus:
“There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night.” John, chapter 3, verses 1 and 2a
Nicodemus meets Jesus and he appreciates his quality of God. Only a person who knows Jesus and who loves him can understand what Jesus is doing in the world. He will defend Jesus after his capture:
“Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, ‘Does our law condemn a person before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?’” John, chapter 7, verses 50 to 51
Can we judge Jesus? Can we ensnare Love? This is the impression that emerges: “I was like a gentle lamb led to slaughter.”
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
86. The confusion
There is confusion around Jesus. Instead of looking in each of their hearts, the people openly question themselves and become confused. Some say Jesus is the Messiah, others say no. Another group would like to stop him. They question the guards who come back:
“‘Why did you not bring him?’ The guards answered: ‘Never before has anyone spoken like this one.’” John, chapter 7, verses 45 to 46
The guards come back to some priests and pharisees and say to them, “Never before has anyone spoken like this one!” Let’s imagine the Romans, in the drawings of Asterix and Obelix, return to the emperor and say to him: “Ave, Caesar! These Gaul’s are too strong!”
Here, the Love of Jesus is too powerful.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
There is confusion around Jesus. Instead of looking in each of their hearts, the people openly question themselves and become confused. Some say Jesus is the Messiah, others say no. Another group would like to stop him. They question the guards who come back:
“‘Why did you not bring him?’ The guards answered: ‘Never before has anyone spoken like this one.’” John, chapter 7, verses 45 to 46
The guards come back to some priests and pharisees and say to them, “Never before has anyone spoken like this one!” Let’s imagine the Romans, in the drawings of Asterix and Obelix, return to the emperor and say to him: “Ave, Caesar! These Gaul’s are too strong!”
Here, the Love of Jesus is too powerful.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
87. Jesus is so Holy
This man speaks so well that he turns us upside down and inside out. He is so true that he fills us with his presence. He is so God, that we have no more doubt. He opens our eyes.
But not of all. The only way to really follow Jesus is to take our responsibility in hand and follow him.
Let’s grant to Jesus, the High Priest of the Eternal Covenant, to fill us with his presence, to open our heart, to dispel our doubts. Let’s live in joy and hope to see the Church filled with people renewed by grace.
May Jesus be unveiled and known by the future generations.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
This man speaks so well that he turns us upside down and inside out. He is so true that he fills us with his presence. He is so God, that we have no more doubt. He opens our eyes.
But not of all. The only way to really follow Jesus is to take our responsibility in hand and follow him.
Let’s grant to Jesus, the High Priest of the Eternal Covenant, to fill us with his presence, to open our heart, to dispel our doubts. Let’s live in joy and hope to see the Church filled with people renewed by grace.
May Jesus be unveiled and known by the future generations.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
88. Our sins
Peter does not accept that Jesus must die for our sins. Peter stands before the reality of his own sins, his old sins, and he cannot understand why Jesus would die for him. Peter does not understand Jesus’s words and mission and he tells Jesus how he must behave. He doesn’t want Jesus to leave for Jerusalem because he’s going to be killed.
“Peter, takes him aside and begins to rebuke him, ‘God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.’” Matthew, chapter 1, verse 22
We would also like to tell Jesus what he needs to do to make us happy, but we need to walk away from that conception. It’s easier to understand how Jesus wants us to be happy. Let’s not refuse Jesus anymore in our life.
God alone knows the way. And when Jesus says he will have to surrender to the elders of Jerusalem and they will kill him, he knows what he means. He shows us his way. Jesus says what he does and does what he says.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Peter does not accept that Jesus must die for our sins. Peter stands before the reality of his own sins, his old sins, and he cannot understand why Jesus would die for him. Peter does not understand Jesus’s words and mission and he tells Jesus how he must behave. He doesn’t want Jesus to leave for Jerusalem because he’s going to be killed.
“Peter, takes him aside and begins to rebuke him, ‘God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.’” Matthew, chapter 1, verse 22
We would also like to tell Jesus what he needs to do to make us happy, but we need to walk away from that conception. It’s easier to understand how Jesus wants us to be happy. Let’s not refuse Jesus anymore in our life.
God alone knows the way. And when Jesus says he will have to surrender to the elders of Jerusalem and they will kill him, he knows what he means. He shows us his way. Jesus says what he does and does what he says.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
89. God never allows evil
God never uses the strong way like giving cancer to drive a person back to him. It’s impossible. He doesn’t need that. This is not his way.
The body is fragile and sometimes there are complications. But God does not give sickness hoping that someone will convert. Never.
The only powerful way of God is the infinite tenderness of his Love. The test can lead a person to consider God, because it allows time for reflection. Reality and the present moment, in pain, often leads a person to ask himself the important questions of life; sickness, evil, suffering, loss of energy. Often, he will cast a simple look toward God.
Suffering takes him inside himself, turns him toward his heart, and perhaps he will shout. However, it’s always a shame when a person waits to be with his back against the wall to think and react. Perhaps he will accept to let his heart open up to let God create in him silence, then peace.
God is always present and he’s waiting for that person to turn to him. He does just that, wait for him. The person who decides to let God enter into his life will receive him in his heart. And it is guaranteed that God will be there too in his heart.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
God never uses the strong way like giving cancer to drive a person back to him. It’s impossible. He doesn’t need that. This is not his way.
The body is fragile and sometimes there are complications. But God does not give sickness hoping that someone will convert. Never.
The only powerful way of God is the infinite tenderness of his Love. The test can lead a person to consider God, because it allows time for reflection. Reality and the present moment, in pain, often leads a person to ask himself the important questions of life; sickness, evil, suffering, loss of energy. Often, he will cast a simple look toward God.
Suffering takes him inside himself, turns him toward his heart, and perhaps he will shout. However, it’s always a shame when a person waits to be with his back against the wall to think and react. Perhaps he will accept to let his heart open up to let God create in him silence, then peace.
God is always present and he’s waiting for that person to turn to him. He does just that, wait for him. The person who decides to let God enter into his life will receive him in his heart. And it is guaranteed that God will be there too in his heart.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
90. Let’s find means
We are the only ones who can block off the Love of God. We are the only ones who can pretend to love if we block the Love of God in our heart. To the limit, it is inconceivable to block the Love of God in our heart, without dying in evil.
Let’s find ingenious means to not refuse the Love of God. We’ll see how simple it is. It’s not demanding to think about it and to walk with God.
Let’s give our heart to Jesus, so that he helps us to open the door, that his Love passes in us and that it overflows on people.
Let’s imagine that we hear God say this to us today: “Everyone will know that I am a Loving God when people live in my will. The world will see me in your life.”
But for us, humans, it’s not so easy, because we know how far we can dwell from his love.
We are invited to encourage ourselves and remain vigilant in prayer and spiritual friendship.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
We are the only ones who can block off the Love of God. We are the only ones who can pretend to love if we block the Love of God in our heart. To the limit, it is inconceivable to block the Love of God in our heart, without dying in evil.
Let’s find ingenious means to not refuse the Love of God. We’ll see how simple it is. It’s not demanding to think about it and to walk with God.
Let’s give our heart to Jesus, so that he helps us to open the door, that his Love passes in us and that it overflows on people.
Let’s imagine that we hear God say this to us today: “Everyone will know that I am a Loving God when people live in my will. The world will see me in your life.”
But for us, humans, it’s not so easy, because we know how far we can dwell from his love.
We are invited to encourage ourselves and remain vigilant in prayer and spiritual friendship.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
91. Dried up
These people’s thoughts are interesting, in this next passage. They recognize that they are moving away from God. We feel here the heart that is ready to receive the presence of God:
“All of us have become like unclean men, all our good deeds are like polluted rags; We have all withered like leaves, and our guilt carries us away like the wind,” Isaiah, chapter 64, verse 5
because we kept away from you, Lord.
Even so, the world should know that we are sinners and that we can never be perfect enough to let God perfectly pass in our lives. God is passing by, though. Let’s give him his place.
Fortunately, there are people who allow us to feel the presence of God, despite their sinful state. They become examples of faith.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
These people’s thoughts are interesting, in this next passage. They recognize that they are moving away from God. We feel here the heart that is ready to receive the presence of God:
“All of us have become like unclean men, all our good deeds are like polluted rags; We have all withered like leaves, and our guilt carries us away like the wind,” Isaiah, chapter 64, verse 5
because we kept away from you, Lord.
Even so, the world should know that we are sinners and that we can never be perfect enough to let God perfectly pass in our lives. God is passing by, though. Let’s give him his place.
Fortunately, there are people who allow us to feel the presence of God, despite their sinful state. They become examples of faith.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s Love God, Normand Thomas
Re: Normandt' Bible reflexions
92. The loss of meaning
Closing in on evil leads us to move away from Love. Then Love does not stick with us because of the limits that evil causes. Jesus conveys a strong enough image of the loss of meaning and sin:
“If the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes.” Matthew, chapter 11, verse 21b
People who move away from faith in Jesus open the door to evil and lead others into it. When the Love of God does not pass, evil multiplies like a virus and contaminates those who let themselves be influenced by it.
Now, when Love passes, there is a progression in goodness, according to the pace of evolution of the person.
Jesus uses the example of these two cities to demonstrate to what extent sin can lead a person and groups of people, by a loss of meaning, a lack of good values, to their ruin. If Jesus’s miracles do not come to us, we should check the quality of reception we confide into his Love.
If we move away from people, for example, let’s check if the drug that we consume is not too strong and destructive. Evil and drugs acts in a similar way and destroys relationships between people.
When we reject God’s Love, what we really lack is the healing of the heart and soul through the flow of Love which is unfortunately diminished because of the evil that keeps us prisoners.
As soon as we ask Jesus for healing to welcome his Love, there is automatically something good happening in us. Even though the feeling may be subtle now, with determination, later on we will appreciate the inner transformations.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s be Loved, Normand Thomas
Closing in on evil leads us to move away from Love. Then Love does not stick with us because of the limits that evil causes. Jesus conveys a strong enough image of the loss of meaning and sin:
“If the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes.” Matthew, chapter 11, verse 21b
People who move away from faith in Jesus open the door to evil and lead others into it. When the Love of God does not pass, evil multiplies like a virus and contaminates those who let themselves be influenced by it.
Now, when Love passes, there is a progression in goodness, according to the pace of evolution of the person.
Jesus uses the example of these two cities to demonstrate to what extent sin can lead a person and groups of people, by a loss of meaning, a lack of good values, to their ruin. If Jesus’s miracles do not come to us, we should check the quality of reception we confide into his Love.
If we move away from people, for example, let’s check if the drug that we consume is not too strong and destructive. Evil and drugs acts in a similar way and destroys relationships between people.
When we reject God’s Love, what we really lack is the healing of the heart and soul through the flow of Love which is unfortunately diminished because of the evil that keeps us prisoners.
As soon as we ask Jesus for healing to welcome his Love, there is automatically something good happening in us. Even though the feeling may be subtle now, with determination, later on we will appreciate the inner transformations.
The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Let’s be Loved, Normand Thomas