Abbe Zeno said, 'If a man wants God to hear his prayer quickly, then before he prays for anything else, even his own soul, when he stands and stretches out his hands towards God, he must pray with all his heart for his enemies. Through this action God will hear everything that he asks.'
Just as it is easy to love people who are far away and not real to us, it is very easy to pray for those enemies who are also not the enemies who taunt us day after day or cause us real grief and pain. The enemies in our daily life: relatives, co-workers, bosses, people who irritate us, people who have hurt us, these are the ones we truly need to pray for and forgive, and it is the hardest thing of all, perhaps, but essential to our growth.
If you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5: 23-24 RSV
Holding these fires in our heart blocks our connect to God in serious ways. We are told in the Lord's prayer: Forgive us of our debts as we forgive our debtors. If we harbor an active hate towards our brother, we cannot be forgiven.
But hate, like love, is a decision we can override or choose. If we combat that darkness in our own hearts with acts of love, by choosing to pray, by choosing to act in a loving way, we can be reconciled, forgive, act with love. It is in the action more than the feeling this takes place.
St. Therese of Lisieux said: "True love grows by sacrifice and the more thoroughly the soul rejects natural satisfaction the stronger and more detached its tenderness becomes." She also says:
True Charity consists in bearing with all the defects of our neighbor, in not being surprised at his failings, and in being edified by his least virtues; Charity must not remain shut up in the depths of the heart, for no man lighteth a candle and putteth it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house. (Cf. Matthew 5:15). It seems to me that this candle represents the Charity which ought to enlighten and make joyful, not only those who are dearest to me, but all who are in the house.
St. Therese of Lisieux - Story of A Soul, Chapter IX
Jesus also tells us to be merciful the way his Father is merciful to the selfish and ungrateful. A hard thing to do, but worth so much in the long run. Don't expect to be highly sucessful at doing this at once, and don't expect that your enemy will approve necessarily of the prayers and love you are ready to offer. But if we do it for Jesus, through Jesus' power, because he asks us to, we cannot help but to make a difference
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1787292/posts
Please pray for badly injured Marine
Posted on 02/19/2007 6:16:46 AM PST by tiki
On Valentine's Day Travis was badly wounded.
This is an email from a Major to his parents.
Today I talked to our embedded report from the Stars and Stripes, Steve Maraz. He was with Travis and his platoon when they were attacked and he helped the Corpsman treat Travis. He said that Travis was awake during the entire treatment and evacuation and as he was being carried to the MEDEVAC landing zone he told his squad leader "Stay Motivated!" and pumped his fist in the air to inspire the Marines, which it did.
The spirit is strong than the body. Clearly Travis is a strong young man and possesses the strength and will to recover from this.
Finally, although I try to remain positive in all of our phone calls I do want to make sure that you prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for the moment you see Travis. It will be difficult to be sure as the damage was extensive. However Travis didn't get his strength of character and spirit from the Marine Corps, he got it from you and your family.
My prayers are with you and Travis. Will call again tomorrow when we find out more.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1787292/posts
Hark! universal nature shook and groan’d,
‘Twas the last trumpet—see the Judge enthroned:
Rouse all your courage at your utmost need,
Now summon every virtue, stand and plead.
What! silent? Is your boasting heard no more?
That self-renouncing wisdom, learn’d before,
Had shed immortal glories on your brow,
That all your virtues cannot purchase now.
All joy to the believer! He can speak—
Trembling yet happy, confident yet meek.
Since the dear hour that brought me to thy foot,
And cut up all my follies by the root.
I never trusted in an arm but thine,
Nor hoped, but in thy righteousness divine:
My prayers and alms, imperfect and defiled,
Were but the feeble efforts of a child.
Howe’er perform’d, it was their brightest part,
That they proceeded from a grateful heart:
Cleansed in thine own all-purifying blood,
Forgive their evil and accept their good.
I cast them at thy feet—my only plea
Is what it was, dependence upon thee:
While struggling in the vale of tears below,
That never fail’d, nor shall it fail me now.
Angelic gratulations rend the skies,
Pride fall unpitied, never more to rise,
Humility is crown’d, and Faith receives the prize. {William Cowper}
Thank You, Sovereign Lord, that All our Hope is in Jesus Christ.
We Trust You, we Love You, and we Worship Your Majestic Name.
Be Pleased, Your Grace, to Help us to Live to Your Praise.
Thank You for the Promises of Your Word.
"For the Mountains may Depart and the Hills Disappear, but my Kindness
Shall not Leave you. My Promise of Peace for you will Never be Broken,
Says the Lord Who has Mercy Upon you." (Is.54:10)
"The Blessing and the Honor and the Glory and the Power
Belong to the One Sitting On the Throne
And to the Lamb Forever and Ever. Amen!" (Rev.5:13)