Word for the day “A time of comfort during the holiday season”
John 6:37 (NKJV) All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will [f]by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
IN THIS SEASON OF SUCH LOSS OF LIFE, TODAY’S MESSAGE IS A REMINDER OF WHAT THE LORD HAS IN MIND FOR US ALL:
This is the famous passage from St. Augustine’s Confessions (Lib 1,1-2,2.5,5: CSEL 33, 1-5) in which Saint Augustine states, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” It is also sometimes translated in the plural: “our hearts are restless until they rest in you.
THE HEART AND GOD RECONNECT IN THE RESURRECTION.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus talks about raising us on the last day. Our faith is that God will transform the soul into a new and higher body, what Paul calls a "spiritual body." Here we might rely on the profundity of St. Augustine; Augustine is one of the officially recognized Doctors of the Catholic Church, who appreciates the heart as the " expression of the person. God remembers this "form" and then reconstitutes it at a higher level during the resurrection.
In a somewhat wild turn of events, Augustine was forced into the bishopric of Carthage, where he would remain for the rest of his life. After his conversion in the late 380s, Augustine, an African man, would go on to write some of the most important pieces of Christian literature, The Confessions of St. Augustine, The City of God, On the Trinity, On Christian Doctrine, and a host of others. He remains one of the most influential and brilliant Christian theologians of the AD era.
Listen again to the words of Jesus in our Gospel today: "Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me." As you pray for the souls of your beloved dead, take comfort in those words. They will be raised again. We might call our restless heart by different names: our search for meaning, our desire for significance, the passion that drives our accumulation of money and power, but essentially it is our soul longing for its creator.
POINT TO PONDER
Our Heavenly Father is the God of all comfort. He walks us through our hardships. He is there to comfort us during periods of suffering. Pain is guaranteed in our walk. But Jesus Christ tells us to have faith in Him because he has overcome the world.
May you find comfort in this season for your transitioned loved one.
The Lord has not forgotten about you.
Death is a time of promotion when we are aligned with God.
Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.
We are praying for you here @ Grace and Truth Leadership.
Remember, God loves you so much.
Special thanks!
James Baker, Jr. and our leadership team are especially thankful for those of you who provided financial donations and support in the month of December 2022, by partnering with us in efforts to advance the kingdom of God in this 21st century season: Special thanks to Ms. Annette Straker, Mr. Kenneth Washington, Ms. Itholear Abbott, Mrs. Barbara Mason, Ms. Jeanette Grant, Ms. Angela Battle, Ms. Cynthia Artis-Waiters, Ms. Michelle Winder Branch, Ms. Angie Scraders-Murphy, Mr. Calvin Jackson, Mrs. Shakeema Lowe, Mr. Calvin Griffith, Mrs. Angela Harrison, Ms. Shawna Chester, Ms. Jennifer Sanchez, Mr. William Wilson, and Ms. Gertrude Scott.
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Kingdom Blessings,