Tag Archives: #allaboutthegrace

Praying for our Beloved Dead

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“It is the will of Him Who sent Me that I should lose nothing of what He has given Me.” —John 6:39

The Church is “the pillar and bulwark of truth” (1 Tm 3:15). Jesus Himself founded the Church to be His Body (e.g. Eph 1:22-23), and He gave her the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Mt 16:19). Therefore, the universal Church will always faithfully proclaim the Lord’s will and always rightly interpret His Word.

For two thousand years, the Church throughout the world has authoritatively taught that we should pray for our brothers and sisters in purgatory so that they will be purified as soon as possible and enter heaven. The Church teaches: “From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1032). “Our prayer for them is capable not only of helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective” (Catechism, 958).

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How Satan Uses Fear Against Us

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“I say to you who are My friends: Do not be afraid.” —Luke 12:4

God’s grace continues to be lavishly poured out on us to free us to love Him with all our hearts. In that love, we have the power to transform the world. However, Satan tries to block our reception of God’s grace and love. He does this by tempting us to sin, and he manipulates us into sinning in many ways, especially through fear. Therefore, the Lord commands 365 times in the Bible: “Do not be afraid” (see Lk 12:4).

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Why Doesn’t Jesus Heal Everyone? Or Does He?

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In the Gospel passage, LUKE 18:35-43, we see Jesus’ mercy toward the blind man as a hallmark of his ministry. But does God heal everyone? And if not why? This is a question I have asked, and many others who read this blog, watch my YouTube Channel and listen to my podcast have asked me over the past 10 years, and many have asked, throughout time. If you are struggling with this question, this reflection may give you an insight into God’s plan.

Below is the story of Jesus healing the blind man.

Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar Near Jericho (LUKE 18:35-43)

As he [Jesus} approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When the blind man heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” Then he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who were in front sternly ordered the blind man to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and ordered the blind man to be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Lord, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.” Immediately the blind man regained his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.

Jesus comes as healer, savior, inaugurator of the kingdom. He is the embodiment of hope. Jesus wanted to connect human suffering to the very source of life and health. The energy of God pours through Jesus to the needy.

Now back to the question, why doesn’t Jesus simply cure everyone, then? The answer is obviously wrapped up in the mystery of God’s will, but the important point is this: Jesus is healer in many senses, but ultimately in the sense that he heals us from sin and death, not only physical maladies. What appears historically in Jesus is an eschatological anticipation, a hint and foreshadowing of what is coming in God’s time and in God’s way.

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Blue Butterfly and Christian Renewal

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2 Corinthians 5:17 says

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” This verse highlights the radical change that occurs when someone accepts Christ. 

God shows us many things through His creation. Jesus often told stories using nature and everyday occurrences to teach his followers about His love for us and His Father’s will. 

A blue butterfly represents hope, joy and peace. While there is not a direct scriptural reference to butterflies, butterflies’ natural life cycle involves a transformation from caterpillar to a butterfly. 

The message to all of God’s people is God wants to transform each person into that which He created them for. God created each person with a specific purpose in mind. Each person has great potential to be transformed with God’s grace into that person that God desires for them.

2 Corinthians 3:18 says

.”And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” This verse focuses on the progressive nature of transformation, where believers are gradually changed into the likeness of Christ. 

We become new creations in Christ once we become a believer in Him. We can continue a renewal process by renewing our minds by reading God’s word and receiving the sacraments.

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Spiritual Direction (Part 4) Is it Consistent?

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Spiritual Direction (Part 4) Brigid Ayer, Host of All About The Grace Podcast, delves into the question, What Does God Want? with the particular focus on the question in this episode Is it Consistent? This 6-part series of podcasts on Spiritual Direction: What Does God Want, it will help you discern any decision you need to make large or small using this practical guide to making decisions according to God will. These concepts are based on a book by Father Michael Scanlan, TOR, former president of Franciscan University in Steubenville. This episode delves into determining if what you are discerning is consistent with the way the Lord has communicated with you in the past.

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Return to Your First Love

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I was scrolling thought my social media feed when I stumbled across a fellow Christian’s YouTube channel. After watching a few of the videos, it stirred up many good, holy memories and scripture verses that came alive to me years ago when I first had my conversion to Christ.

The message I felt God was impressing upon me very clearly was, “Return to your first love!” I wasn’t sure if that was an actual scripture verse or not, so of course, I Googled it and sure enough, I found the full verse in Revelations. The verse referring to “returning to your first love” is Revelations 2:4-5. In this passage, Jesus addresses the church in Ephesus, saying, “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”. 

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