I borrowed this from FB today - it is so appropriate for this wonderful man, who has been our humble prayerful Pope for the past almost 8 years! He has a profound love and understanding of Jesus, as he has written books about HIM. This saying is so appropriate today as Satan tempts Jesus in the desert, and power part and the ego part are right there as the things that get us to look away from Christ, and more to selfish needs and wants. Here is a great quote for this year of FAITH by our Papa Benny;
“Are we not perhaps all afraid in some way? If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us? Are we not perhaps afraid to give up something significant, something unique, something that makes life so beautiful? Do we not then risk ending up diminished and deprived of our freedom? . . . No! If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation. And so, today, with great strength and great conviction, on the basis of long personal experience of life, I say to you, dear young people: Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ – and you will find true life. Amen.”
― Pope Benedict XVI
The frosty world yesterday morning after the fog lifted... Reading the sharing of Pope Benedict about how we are to allow Jesus to be our close personal friend... "he takes nothing away, He gives you everything... you will find True LIFE." So true, and so such a beautiful thought at this Lenten time in our seasons of the Church. That we are dying to self so that our friend, Jesus, can enter into our lives and make them a work of art. Jesus, we thank you and trust in you. Allow us to let go of those selfish ways we are tempted and sin. May we love and follow after YOU, our friend and tremendous LOVER - loving us and forgiving us unconditionally. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Halleluia
Bless-bless, Barb
“It is not by sidestepping or fleeing from suffering that we are healed, but rather by our capacity for accepting it, maturing through it and finding meaning through union with Christ, who suffered with infinite love.”
― Pope Benedict XVI, Saved in Hope: Spe Salve
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