Guardian Angels Impact at 6044 SW 19 St., Miramar, FL 33023 US - In Your Face: February

EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW WHAT’S NEXT. Hookup I know an old priest who one night had a dream. He was a portly Franciscan in his seventies. He dreamt that he was with Jesus. “Robert,” Jesus said in a very strong voice to him. “Look into my eyes.” The priest looked into Jesus’ eyes. “Who do you see?” Jesus continued. “I see myself,” Robert responded tremblingly. “Robert,” Jesus said again. “Yes, Lord,” the priest responded. “Look into my eyes again,” Jesus commanded. “When I am looking at you, who do you think I see?” The Franciscan ventured his answer: “You see yourself, Lord.” Think About It Eyes are important in relationships. We say many things with our eyes. Some eyes have authority. When they are not around, we don’t have to be too clever to realize it is very easy to do things we wouldn’t do if they were there. When no one’s watching, we can change the channel, download porn, slip in violent video games, slap our brother, buy a gun, drop a chemical into someone’s drink. In a relationship of love, eyes see other things. They see when the other is sad or depressed, happy or triumphant. They notice when something is wrong or when everything is going right. A relationship with God through grace can also be described through eyes. God’s eyes are no longer the eyes of someone who is going to punish us if we are caught doing wrong. Why? Because when God looks at us he sees himself: God sees the goodness he has created. Joy comes only through this relationship God makes with us. And he has made it with YOU, if you have turned to him in faith. You are brand new. You live life on a new level. By dying on the cross Jesus has saved us from sin and death, and by rising from the dead he has begun to live the new life we are all given. This freely given love is grace. We know that despite what we feel, witness around us, hear on the news, Jesus Christ has conquered evil forever. Believing in him, we can experience the joy he felt after the resurrection. We can live his relationship with his Father. We can overcome our fears. Stretch It Out This grace God gives us is free. We need to discover ways to let grace shape us. First of all, we need to get in the middle of the torrent of grace God is giving through Christ. God is not cheap, giving a trickle here and a drop there. He is pouring it out, especially in the sacraments. The sacrament of Baptism opens the door to this justifying relationship. Going to Mass and receiving Communion nourishes this relationship because little by little Jesus makes us become like him in every way. The sacrament of Penance strengthens and heals this relationship when it is broken or wounded. Learning about God and reading the Bible are two other superhighways of grace. In a relationship, eyes tell us how the two friends are communicating. Prayer makes the vision clearer and the eyesight stronger. The friendship with God that is set up in the soul begins to show itself in virtue—good and beautiful ways of thinking, treating ourselves and others, acting and feeling. Once we start on the road of virtue, it is like a train that goes faster and faster, because beautiful and loving things draw us after them to obtain them. Love captures us. Pray On It Merciful Lord, you gave us your chosen One, Jesus, as the light of all peoples. Open the eyes of those who cannot see him and lead from captivity those who are in darkness. Send your Spirit, to strengthen the faith of anyone who is in doubt. Give us a sincere love, give us a life-giving grace. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit, to heal our wounds and make us strong. Amen. Sit With It Which of the sacraments have I received? If I would like to pursue being baptized is their a priest I can talk to? Am I able to get to Mass on Sunday? If I don’t, is there a way I can start this week? How long has it been since I’ve been to confession? Is there a priest I can talk to about it? Do I have a Bible? Can I start reading a little piece of the New Testament before I go to sleep at night? What are my favorite prayers? Is there someone I can pray with, or who could teach me how to pray? (Visit http://www.pauline.org/magazines/teen/emails/pray.html). Papal Primer “Jesus loves you. These wonderful words are uttered within the heart of the believer who, like the disciples beloved of Jesus, rests his head on Jesus’ breast and hears what is spoken in confidence: `He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him’ (Jn 14:31).” John Paul II 14th World Youth Day

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