Fire tries iron

Upon the onset of any temptation, you have at your disposal prayers to your Mother. Use them frequently to ward off the arrows of the devil. He seeks to first distract your soul and then throw you into the pit of sin. You must know yourself well, acknowledging your weaknesses so that you can ask Mary and your guardian angel to help defend your soul. When you are tired...overworked...not praying...you notice the difference, don't you? When you don't take the time to read, go to Mass during the week because you allow yourself to get too busy...when you don't make room for the people in your life who encourage your faith...you forget who you are and who He is.

Fr. Fernando spoke of the good thief and the bad thief both residing within you. You knew this to be true because you recognized the voice of the bad thief when he described him. "If you are really who you say you are, save yourself and the rest of us! GET ME OFF OF THIS CROSS!" That stung, didn't it? You knew that in all the moments when you wanted to be relieved of your pain, you were crying out the same thing. "You're God...can you do something about this?"

And whispering from the "other side of your heart", the good thief understands that whatever suffering you go through is necessary for the sanctification of your soul. You know you belong on that cross, and you are honored to be there beside Jesus on His cross. You also know that His suffering is much worse than yours and that He's done it all for you...just so you could be with Him in Paradise.

Yes, you. You have the cross for now. You will be tempted to get off of it. Or at least to not want to be there anymore. That's your humanity speaking. But the joys that last forever are incomparable. And that's what gives meaning to the rest of your life. You've seen the purpose in the hard times, when you didn't think things would ever get better. Look at where He has brought you...closer to the reality of His Passion. That's a beautiful thing, my dear. You're getting there...to that place of wisdom where you see in hindsight that it all had to happen the way it did. The sequence of events...the circumstances...the bouts of sitting in darkness, just waiting on Him.

When you study the life of Christ, you'll see that He fully participated in the human condition. But the important thing to remember is that He surpassed it. So did Mary...and all the saints. They went beyond being men and women of the earth and recognized that they were citizens of Heaven. You are in constant awe over the priests at St. Peter Chanel and the Carmelite Sisters because you see this in them as well. Men and women, born as you were...but formed by God into HOLY PEOPLE. Those who have immersed themselves in the heart of Jesus have transcended their humanity and tapped into the presence of the Divine as temples of the Holy Spirit.

The challenge for your life is remaining in the world as a lay person and dealing with the temptations and struggles that come with your state of life. Remain obedient and faithful, and God will reward you. Of course, you don't do it for the reward...obedience and faithfulness come from the love He put in your heart for Him.

Dependence on God is priority in order to pull this off each day of your life. Keep asking for the daily bread. Do not tire of the spiritual sustainance you are given as the Israelites had when provided manna from Heaven. They wanted variety because they were bored of the food. Eventually they wanted to go back to the "good ole' days" of slavery in Egypt because they felt their lives were better back then. DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN. God gives you what you need...first and foremost, the EUCHARIST. Other treasures are the Holy Rosary, the written Word of God, daily prayer and song (as Fr. Ed had talked about tonight). Would you really want to go back?

"We have a great High Priest, Jesus, the Son of God, who has entered Heaven. Let us then hold fast to the faith we profess. Our high priest is not indifferent to our weaknesses, for He was tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sinning. Let us, then, with confidence approach the throne of grace; we will obtain mercy and, through His favor, help in due time." (Heb 4:14-16)