150. Foundation of faith


Sometimes we think that we have to do many things and find solutions to be accepted by God. But it’s much simpler. Let’s just ask him to help us find him. Let’s just accept him in our lives by saying, “Yes, Lord, I want it, be my Lord, my guide and my master. I want to follow you. Teach me how to stay on the road with you. Thank you Lord.”

There, it’s done. Then, we can remember that we told him “yes” to his will on us. Every moment, we want to let him join us. Let’s pray, then watch our life improve and that of others too.

Let’s not worry about what does not seem to work at the beginning of a conversion. To get out of a traffic jam, we wait for the stopped cars to advance again, then we move slowly and stay behind the others, until we can drive more freely, but always with caution.

Vigilance teaches us to return to the foundation of faith in Jesus, especially during a trial. We continue to be careful not to stray from the Lord, even after passing the test.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart's mission, Normand Thomas

151. United to him forever


We can say to God:
“Lead me in the path of your commands, for that is my delight. Direct my heart toward your decrees and away from unjust gain.” Psalm 119, verses 35 to 36

May our heart look toward the Heart of God and not on the side of lusts, illusions, the “mundane” of this passing world. May we not wait to gain to become happy. We want to remain in his Love. With God, we will have all that’s necessary for our survival. We are happy now, with whom we are, in him.

Jesus wants to teach us. This is the foundation of the mission. Jesus wants to detach us from human and material goods. But, that doesn’t mean to become insensitive, to shut ourselves up. Not at all.

Detachment is to be free from useless ties. It helps us to know each other and to know people better. It also helps us to use material stuff for the sole purpose of bringing us closer to Love, by sharing, for example.

Jesus surrounded himself with Apostles because it is important to be united to others. Jesus didn’t want to be alone. He knows it’s important to surround himself with people. And he doesn’t mention to deny our family.

He proposes to live as a christian, like him, to become who we are to evangelize and to create important and significant relations with all, through his presence. He is the centre. He wants to teach us the foundations of faith. Let’s allow ourselves more time to know Jesus. To trust in Jesus is part of the desire to be united to him forever.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart's mission, Normand Thomas

152. Faith in Jesus


John the Baptist is so right in saying these words:
“He must increase; I must decrease.” John, chapter 3, verse 30

Following Jesus is not diminishing. But we understand what John teaches us. To follow Jesus is to become humble before whom he is and to appreciate the gift of his person freely given to us. Even though he is God, Jesus thinks of us, wants to live with us, wants to dwell in us and pass through us to touch the hearts of people.

Even if we aren’t perfect, let’s remember that it isn’t us that people must follow, but Jesus. May the people not follow our personal difficulties, because we are struggling to become saints, but that they absolutely follow the Honest, the Pure, the True, the Perfect, Jesus.

When we understand that Jesus is the only one we need to follow and receive his teachings, we discover even more that we aren’t perfect. This is the beginning of healing, of openness to reality that leads to the path of holiness. We will develop the desire to give him more space in our lives and we will accept to make him present for our contemporaries.

Jesus must find more space in hearts. Otherwise, the evil in the world will increase. It’s one or the other, the Love of God who raises us or moving back from his Love, the slip to the evil and the pain of the loss. Let’s be sure to let faith in Jesus grow in us. Let’s not think we have succeeded.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart's mission, Normand Thomas

153. A journey to eternal life


John the Baptist declares the reality of who Jesus is. He is inspired:
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” John, chapter 1, verse 29

If there’s anything the world should remember about Jesus, it’s that he cleanses us from sin. Especially the sin of wanting to take his place. To understand Jesus “the Lamb of God” let’s develop a sincere relationship with him, observe him and listen to him. We will be stunned by him. May we take the place that is ours. It’s a privilege!

We know how hard it is to keep a promise. It’s better not to make a promise, because it’s quite possible that we cannot hold it. But Jesus fulfills what he promises:
“This is the promise that he made us: eternal life.” 1 John, chapter 2, verse 25

Is there a better friend than being with Jesus? To remain with Jesus and to follow him is to guarantee ourselves freedom, to offer ourselves a better life, a more confident and well-adjusted life. For if we have Jesus as a friend, we will be better equipped to face the difficulties and the more difficult moments. With him, we are already in a journey to eternal life.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart's mission, Normand Thomas

154. Jesus is here


After choosing Jesus as a friend, we have the opportunity to welcome him as a teacher. It’s difficult to trust God with everything we hear, what they suggest in the world, but it’s up to us to create a relationship with him. Let’s verify by ourselves and with competent people, verify who God really is. Let’s not rely on half-measures, half-words, half-explanations. We want to know the true Jesus. He’s always present and waiting for us to place our trust in him.

God is Love and a Master who is Love is the best Master who exists.
A prophecy:
“‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said”. John, chapter 1, verse 23

Let’s find all the means to create a bridge between us and Jesus. Let’s enter our heart and constantly search for our master. He always lets himself be found, and especially in the good, the right, the beautiful, the true and the real, that we live and observe in people.

Let’s find some time to find Jesus. Let’s learn to be patient with ourselves, because we often block the way. Let’s learn to free the surface of the bridge, to better see on the other side. Let’s free the course so that we can quickly reach the shore where Jesus is standing. The sooner we find him, the more we will improve the quality of our lives. Jesus is already here. Let’s find him, he’s easily found.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart's mission, Normand Thomas

155. God is present


Here’s a testimony of people who have allowed the Lord to establish himself in their lives. People flourish, they enter a new life, in the eternal promise. Even the unfortunate will live in joy:
“The deaf shall hear the words of the book; And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see. The lowly will ever find joy in the Lord, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah, chapter 29, verses 18 to 19

But what are we watching today? Faced with so much misery in the world, did the world understand Isaiah’s prophecy? We could conclude that God is not as present as we would like.

But it’s the people who are turning their backs for many reasons. In reality, God is more than present, but there are people in the world who don’t let him open their hearts. They block the passage between them and God. Then, they try to block the passage of those who believe. They think and try to manage the world at their convenience.

There are some who are nevertheless interested. The deaf hear the Word. The blind see God, they receive the Eucharist too. The humble ones recognize themselves in God, they rejoice. The unhappy exult immediately while they meet him and listen to his Word.

May hearts open up to the presence of the Lord and we will witness more and more small and less small miracles. There are so many people who need to hear that God is with us and that he offers us his Love, that he Loves us.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart's mission, Normand Thomas

156. Faith in Jesus


Have we discovered God’s Love in our hearts? Isn’t it the best way to help our neighbour to let God simply pass through our heart, to ignite it? Jesus will guide us and show us what we are called to become:
“Here comes with power the Lord God, who rules by his strong arm; here is his reward with him, his recompense before him. Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.” Isaiah, chapter 40, verses 10 to 11

How comforting! The Lord illuminates his servants. The people who enter the service of the Lord are the people who have accepted him in their hearts and in their lives.

With two blind men, Jesus makes them discover that faith in him is the solution to their discomfort:
“‘Let it be done for you according to your faith.’ And their eyes were opened.” Matthew, chapter 9, verses 29 to 30

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart's mission, Normand Thomas

157. Behold Mary


Mary and all the saints help us to stay on the road of faith through their experience. Jesus offers us to behold Mary as our Mother. Let’s recognize her as Mother of God:
“Standing by the cross of Jesus was his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.” John, chapter 19, verses 25 to 27

Jesus’s message is also for us, “Woman, behold, your son”. As Jesus introduces Mary to John, we are also Mary’s children. John wasn’t forced by Jesus to welcome Mary home.

Let’s read the Catechism of the Catholic Church which is a simple and practical prayer. Let’s just read the important points about Mary, what the Church believes and teaches about the Mother of Jesus in numbers 963 to 975. Let’s meditate especially number 971, why we pray with Mary, why she helps us in the mission:
“‘All generations will call me blessed’(Lk 1:48): ‘The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.’ (MC 56). The Church rightly honours” the Blessed Virgin with special devotion.

From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honoured with the title of ‘Mother of God,’ to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs... (...).

This very special devotion ... differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration. LG 66); The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God (see SC 103) and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an ‘epitome of the whole Gospel’, express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.” (cf MC 42.) Catechism of the Catholic Church - IntraText

The worship given to Mary is different from that reserved to the Trinity. But it’s essential. We worship the Trinity, but we pray with Mary. Mary adores and prays the Trinity with us. She is for us an example of faith and life with Jesus.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart's mission, Normand Thomas

158. Mary pray with us


Marian worship is at the service of the Trinity and for the people. The recognition of Mary’s grace in our world and especially her relationship to Jesus should lead us to cry out with joy, to accept God as she did and then to do the will of the Trinity.

Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with you (Message of the Angel Gabriel),
blessed are you among women
and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus. (Her cousin Elizabeth)
Holy Mary, mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death (It is our request to Mary that she helps us and pray to Jesus with us, so that we persevere in faith following her Son and that we may enter the promised eternal life, in the Heart of God).
Amen. We worship Jesus in Mary’s belly.

Let’s notice that all christians are asked by someone to pray for them. It’s mutual help and it’s a service of charity to pray for all.

That’s what we’re asking of Mary too. Mary, pray with us. Mary prays for us. She prays that we turn to Jesus.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The heart's mission, Normand Thomas

159. Jesus leads us


Jesus introduces himself into our world to live his mission:
“I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.” John, chapter 6, verse 38

Jesus came to our world with the mission to make known to us the Father and the Holy Spirit. He came to do exactly what God proposed to humans in the Old Testament; to console, to heal, to recover, to save, to Love. He kept nothing for himself and offered his life for us. Jesus serves us:
“This is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it (on) the last day.” John, chapter 6, verse 39

The Father’s will is that all those who adhere to the message of Jesus Christ, become disciples of God and never be separated from the Trinity.

The mission is those who are meditating to let Jesus pass in their hearts and to consider what Jesus is transforming in them. They let themselves be taught by him to make sure they will be true disciples on the road of faith. The experience of faith is discovered in the heart.

To believe in Jesus, to know him and to resurrect with him, is the surest way. Jesus wants us to receive his teachings. He leads us to salvation and he wants to entrust in us, initiate us, then reveal his mission.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Watch with faith, Normand Thomas

160. The path to peace


“Love and truth will meet; justice and peace will kiss. Truth will spring from the earth; justice will look down from heaven.” Psalm 85, verses 11 to 12

The Love of God who leans toward us seeks his truth in us. God’s justice brings peace to our lives. Justice is all that God offers us. May we share what we receive from God: Joy, peace, hope, mercy...

We read that Love is received in the Truth and the Justice of God leads to peace. Now, how can we get peace in our hearts if we are quick to get into conflict and slow to listen to God? How to get peace, when some groups in the world provoke war and want to control the world?

The bottom line is very simple. Everything is simple with the Trinity. When we turn away from Love, from Truth, from God’s righteousness, we do not have peace, we do not live justice, love and truth. The lack of peace causes war and makes the path to peace more difficult.

Peace is a sign, a foretaste of holiness. Peace is a sign that we are a family, a people approaching God. Let’s observe the peace, the truth, the justice and the love of a person, a family, a people, a nation and we will discover the quality of their openness to God. The lack of these dimensions is diminishing the ability to receive the Love of God.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Watch with faith, Normand Thomas

161. God’s perfect plan


Let’s pray to the Lord every day:
“Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke, chapter 21, verse 36
Let’s stay awake and continually receive Jesus’s message for us.

We will be able to escape some obstacles that come around on the road, because the light of God transmitted by prayer allows us to see clearly. Prayer enables us to discern what are the different objects and the people who take us away from God from those who gather us to him. Prayer illuminates what is happening in our lives and in the lives of those surrounding us. To see clearer let’s stand in the Light of the Lord.

Jesus prepares us for the mission of evangelizing:
“Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.” Luke, chapter 12, verses 35 to 36

Let’s stay awake and vigilant, to grasp every movement of the Holy Spirit in us. Mary, herself, had to be in a state of deep prayer to be fulfilled and to welcome what the Holy Spirit wanted to achieve miraculously in her. Her mission is to host. The evangelization that Mary realizes is to offer Jesus, God with us, the Son of God, to the world.

Since we hold fast to prayer, we hold fast to the Word, we hold fast to the Eucharist, we hold fast to the Trinity, we want to share God’s Love to the people. God is with us. The Holy Spirit wants to realize his miracle of peace in us and fraternity between us.

We have a special mission, a unique mission in a precise plan, immutable, unchangeable, God’s perfect plan. We don’t see all that Jesus realizes in our life, by our life, but he works with us, he continues to be God for the world.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Watch with faith, Normand Thomas

162. Let Jesus transform our heart


Jesus divinely proposes to us:
“Be merciful, just as (also) your Father is merciful.” Luke, chapter 6, verse 36
And how can we be merciful and like the Father, when we see that we have difficulty to be patient with ourselves, to be at peace? Once more the answer is the Holy Spirit.

Despite our failings and mistakes, the Holy Spirit can go through us to touch the hearts of people. Despite the little in good we think we can achieve, let’s live in peace, and we will obtain more results. With a free and happy heart, may we allow the Spirit of God to pass through our life.

Let’s let him transform our heart as well as the hearts of the people we meet. Goodness will increase, since we will let the Holy Spirit fulfill us.

Let’s reduce the noise to find peace in hearts. May our life and our heart continue to find their source of peace in God’s Heart.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Watch with faith, Normand Thomas

163. Let’s receive his peace


Jesus reminds us to forgive:
“Go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew, chapter 5, verse 24

Reconciliation is realized in different ways. The most effective is to give everything to Jesus, absolutely everything at every opportunity. What we experience as negative, what stifles, what destroys us and keeps us enslaved to evil, we do not need. When we give them to Jesus, he gives us peace. He helps us improve.

Let’s allow the Lord to cleanse what seems to be drying in our hearts, for lack of forgiveness. Forgiveness is an act of healing within us and for others. It may seem hard to forgive sometimes, especially when we have been deeply hurt, but it’s actually and effective act of healing.

Let’s entrust everything in God’s hands. Let’s receive his peace. Our heart will expand, it will drink the Living Water in Christ’s Heart. It’s a holy sharing between us and God.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Watch with faith, Normand Thomas

164. Peace and forgiveness


Paul’s mission is a way of walking and growing in holiness:
“Let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful.” Colossians, chapter 3, verse 15

The liberation of our faults allows the reign of Christ to be effective in our heart. To live in peace after forgiveness and to rejoice in thanksgiving, confirms us in our vocation to remain unified in Christ. We will find little by little our unique person, whom God has created.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Watch with faith, Normand Thomas

165. Forgiveness leads to peace


Forgiveness leads to peace:
“Bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.” Colossians, chapter 3, verse 13

To reconcile with the neighbour is the condition to live a life of peace and joy. Let’s continue to forgive and build lasting relationships with others, freely and smoothly on our way. Suffering itself will diminish. Even though forgiving is sometimes difficult, it’s liberating.

Let’s praise God continually. Whenever we have good dispositions of the heart with God and with the neighbour, each time it’s the Holy Spirit who lives in our heart and he motivates our actions and our sharing. He transforms the walls into fields of wheat, into generous vines. May the Holy Spirit stimulate us with his graces:
“Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy sanctuary; give praise in the mighty dome of heaven. Give praise for his mighty deeds, praise him for his great majesty!” Psalm 150, verses 1 to 2

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Watch with faith, Normand Thomas

166. 77


How many times do we have to forgive, asks Peter? Here is Jesus’s answer:
“Seventy-seven times.” Matthew, chapter 18, verse 22

Jesus answers as only God can answer. Forgive all the time. Do not stop forgiving. This is another way of liberating the world and especially of converting us to God’s Heart.

It’s not always easy to understand, especially if we’re experiencing a painful injustice. But to forgive remains the best heart remedy for us, and for the people of our time. To forgive in our heart is a mission. Teaching others to forgive is evangelization. And when we confess, we free people from our mistakes.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Watch with faith, Normand Thomas

167. The Doctor

Jesus declares:
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” Matthew, chapter 9, verses 12 to 13

Ah well, it’s surprising! Jesus calls “sinners” to him. He Lo-o-o-o-ves sinners! Not because he encourages us to sin, but because he knows that our request for forgiveness will heal us and grant us peace of heart. His Love will be able to go through our life.

Jesus comes not for the ones who are well, but for the sick, for those who need the Doctor. To acknowledge that we are sinners, to recognize that we need Jesus, to recognize that we need the Doctor is already a step ahead.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Watch with faith, Normand Thomas

168. Life and faith in Jesus


May we recognize that Jesus is Lord and saves us from evil and sin.

Jesus sends his disciples to learn at the mission school. He sends us there too. He tells us, “Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

It’s reassuring. We are all called to him. Here and now, he asks us to be merciful. It’s difficult for us to become “righteous”, but it’s to become righteous that we are called to be. We are sinners and yet we are asked to offer to others what God offers us.

God’s justice is what he transmits to us through Love; joy, peace, mercy, hope, etc. Let’s offer them too. In this way, we will always be searching, standing, walking.

The school of life and faith in Jesus is just beginning. Let’s remain in the mission and stay awake to seek the Doctor. Here we’re on the road to follow Jesus and we want to enter salvation, freely.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: Watch with faith, Normand Thomas

169. The one we talk about


The Holy Spirit passes in hearts and between people. The Church is moving when its members become fervent. The Church is growing and the Holy Spirit is helping to multiply its members. John writes in his first letter:
“Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.” 1 John, chapter 3, verse 18

What seems most difficult in the mission is to mention what is needed at the appropriate time or for the appropriate activity, meeting. It is about being in the best disposition of ourselves and knowing the one we’re talking about, in truth. Are we really talking about God?

Even though sometimes the deeds and words are not always in accord with the Gospels, since we are not perfect, let’s continue to improve our relationship with people. And if we succeed, may we remember that we have done only what we could.

The new American Bible, 2011-2014
Book: The Fruit that lasts, Normand Thomas