A Path for Loving Others

This is a computer-generated transcription that has been included to make the homily searchable.  It has not been verified by the author. 

“Hear O Israel, the LORD our God is Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength. The second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  That’s not easy, right? It can be very hard. This love for others, what’s called fraternal charity, can be very difficult. I want to share with you the account of one woman, one marriage. This was on the John Henry Weston show. You know, John Henry Weston is the one who runs Life Site news, and he’s the one who came here to the mission to do the interview, which was, that was very providential. The Lord sent him right before we started releasing the messages. And so this was on, this was an interview he did just a couple weeks ago with Bob and Trisha Nolan. Well, actually, with Trisha Nolan, and it’s the title of it was “13 children, including two Latin Mass priests. How did this mom do it?” So she’s in her 70s now, so she’s telling us the story, and she says that both she and her husband, her future husband, had very clear signs from God that they were supposed to marry each other, very clear. But it was difficult from the very beginning. They planned a short honeymoon because they knew it was going to be difficult for them to get along. And even after, even after, the honeymoon was just four days, and already they weren’t speaking to each other at the end of those four days. And there was a bishop who was a good friend of Bob, and he said that he was offering all his sacrifices. He had told the Lord He would offer all his sacrifices from now till the end of his life for this couple, because he said he doesn’t know any couple whose marriage looks less likely to succeed. At one point they were trying to pray together, and even praying together was a struggle, but they were both trying to pray, but it was difficult, and at one point they would start arguing, even during their prayers. And at one point, Bob asked Trisha to kneel down and hold his hands for prayer, and here was his prayer, “dear Lord, while we’re sleeping tonight, Please take one of us, because the other one needs some relief.” So he wasn’t telling the Lord who to take. But you know, one of us needs to be taken. And she says, surprisingly, that desperate prayer had a resolution, because the problem they were facing, those kind of resolutions, a problem they were facing at that point, but it didn’t solve the problems in their marriage. So this is Tricia talking. She said, at 25 years of marriage, I went to my husband, and I said, “Okay, now for our 25th wedding anniversary, we’re going to have a Mass and whatnot.” It’s always good to have whatnot at your anniversary. And she said, “but do not ask me to repeat my vows, because I will say no, flat out, no.” And he said, “What? What do you mean?” He said, “Don’t you think God brought us together?” She said, “No, I don’t. And knowing what I know now, I would never do this again ever, so don’t ask.” So that’s the preparation for the 25th wedding anniversary, right? So before I continue with that that story, I want to share a message that the Lord gave Sister, and this was back in January of 2017, So this was the very first month that sister’s receiving messages. And it was, I don’t remember, but I think this message is probably just for our community first of all, because she hadn’t, we hadn’t started sharing it with others. And you know, one thing is, if, it’s hard to get along in a marriage where you have chosen the person, even the person the one person you’ve chosen, then it’s hard to get along, think of a religious community where you don’t choose the people. You respond to a call from the Lord, but you’re with a bunch of people that you haven’t chosen, and who can be, you know, very different and so forth. So the Lord, so this message, the Lord gave it to us, but I think it’s, you know, like a lot of these messages, that’s why I’m sharing it, because I think it has meaning, not just for our little community, but for all of us. And so when I’m sharing these messages, I mean, these messages are very dense. This is a little bit long. It’s very rich. And so you won’t remember it all, you know, just, just maybe, maybe you can see if there’s one point that sticks with you, because the Lord says that there’s a lot of graces, just by listening with an open heart, even if you don’t remember it all, if you don’t remember much of it, if you don’t remember anything of it, just by listening with an open heart, there’s graces. It’s like Isaiah says, the Lord says to Isaiah that “whenever His word comes down, it comes down like a gentle rain from heaven, and it always produces its fruit, even if we don’t remember it or understand it.” So just listen to it with an open heart. You know that we do record these homily so if you want, you can listen to it again. And some people find it helpful to take notes. But, so here’s the message. It’s talking precisely about this topic of loving others. “Of what do I want to speak to you today, of the charity that I want there to be among you, the charity that is the fruit of your union with Me.” And so that’s the key point, this charity, this fraternal charity, the real charity, the real divine love, it always comes from union with God. “It’s a fruit,” He says, “of union with God.” It’s not something we can do just by ourselves. It has it has to flow from our union with Him. “It is the fruit of your union with Me, of My grace and your faith in Me. How difficult, true fraternal charity becomes in this world, so full of your defects.” That is our defects and our wounds, because all of us have been wounded in this world. “Our differences and personalities.” So all those causes, but then He says, “also all the attacks of Satan, who wants to cause division amongst My children.” So on top of all the human difficulties, there’s the attacks of satan. “Among this little flock, because of the mission that I have entrusted to you as a group and individually, I want you to have in a particular way, My charity in you, My charity that is with oneself.” So as the Gospel says, it’s first of all with ourselves, first of all to be charitable, to be merciful with ourselves “and with your nearest neighbor,” like in a marriage that would be a spouse, but the persons God has put closest to us, “and with all of My far-off children also.” So a charity which extends to all. “I form you so that this charity grows, is well rooted and it becomes light in your souls.” So I’ll just quote what the Catechism says. When it defines this charity, it says, “charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things.” So it’s first of all, “loving God above all things for His own sake,” not just for what we were, what reward we hope to get from Him, but for “His own sake and our neighbor as ourselves, for the love of God.” So that’s what’s special about this attitude towards others. It’s motivated by the love for God, and so the message continues. “It is the charity that sees Me in and with the other person”, so that it’s seeing God in the other person and loving the other person for God. That doesn’t mean being blind to the defects of the other person but realizing loving them for the love of God. And He says and that “out of love for Me and out of being attentive to My presence and My voice opens you up to mutual understanding, to patience with your own defects and those of others.” Patience first of all with our own defects and those of others, so even to be patient with ourselves, sometimes the reason we treat other people badly is because of our impatience with ourselves. “It makes you be like mothers who understand everything in their little ones. This is how I see you, as My little ones, and this is how I am patient and understanding with you.” So He says He sees us as His little ones, as little children, but now He’s going to give a very different image. “I also see you as my little and great warriors,” so both as His children and as His warriors. And he says little because of our own abilities, but great because of because of His call, “warriors faithful in battle and who carry many wounds, and because of this, My heart also sees you with tenderness and the pride of a father.” So He knows how difficult is the battle that we’re facing. He knows it much better than we do, because we don’t realize all the spiritual attacks that are affecting us. And so now He’s going to focus on realizing that each one of us is necessary. “Think that I have called each one of you to come and help Me in this mission that is Mine.” So He’s emphasizing that it is He Who is calling us. And this is true for a religious life. It’s true for marriage, it’s true for each one of our vocations. “And each one has heard me in their heart and has responded and is here to help me.”  So that, for instance, that’s what should characterize our little mission, and not just the religious community. Because the mission is called not just to be a little religious community, but it’s called to be a movement, a movement in which many people participate. And the reason we should be there is because of God. The reason we should be here together, because there’s a lot of differences in us here today, those the Lord has gathered here today, but the reason we’re here is, first of all, because of Him, He has called us. “The presence, the work of each one is necessary for Me in this cooperation between us. I am God, and therefore you would not be necessary for Me. I can do everything, but I want us to work together, and in this work that we do together, each one of you is indispensable to Me.” So because of His will, each one is indispensable. “Both your presence, who you are, and your work, your particular talent.” So not just whatever talent or work we have, or we do. But He says, first of all, our presence – who we are. “Let no one feel less. Let no one feel undervalued. I see everything. I appreciate, even the least effort and everything is useful to Me. I want you to have this assurance well planted in your hearts and in your minds, so that satan cannot distract or sadden you with the thoughts which are not Mine, that no one appreciates you or your work. This is My mission.” So that’s very important. It’s not our mission. We belong to it. He’s called us to it, but it’s His mission. “This is my work, and I have called each one of you personally so that you may help Me and be able to do in you and through you, My will.” And so, you know, and I say that again, that this is His mission. And now, though, now that we’ve opened it up, the messages. And so there’s a lot more people learning about it, not just people here locally. I mean, we’ve had, for instance, that we have our volunteers. This makes me think of our volunteers, because, you know, there’s a lot going on at the mission. I know that there’s a lot that I’m not aware of. And so, you know, there’s a lot of things that go on behind the scenes that people, that nobody knows, all the work that they did to make things happen, and but nobody knows, but God knows. And I say that not just for those who you know come volunteer here at the mission, but for instance, a lot of times where, like, we’re hearing from people, or people come visit and they’re telling us about how they’re spreading the word of the messages, wherever they are, you know, in a different place. Like, for instance, I think a week or two ago, there’s someone from Massachusetts, telling us how the word was being spread in Massachusetts. And that’s just one example. And so there’s a lot of different people now helping in this, in this mission to spread, in this great reconquest, to spread the truth of the Lord. And so I think this is for all of them. “This is the base of charity, knowing that each one of you is necessary and important to Me, and each one has their own unique mission. It is also the effect of faith in Me and your obedience, because it gives you light, My light, to see things as they really are, not as satan wants to present them to you, only to cause divisions and misunderstandings between you.” What is the Book of Revelations called satan the accuser of our brothers. He’s always accusing people. He accuses us to ourselves and accuses others to ourselves and so we need and the more we listen to him, the more the more hatred it causes in us. And so the Lord says that this charity is also the effect of faith. That is because when we believe the Lord and let His light and His truth come in, then it makes it much – it makes us much more capable of responding well to others.  “My little ones, I need you one with Me, all gathered in My heart and in My will. Place your heart and mind and your thought in mine and I will make the holy and pure waters of My charity, of My love overflow in you and in the torrent, take away, clean any thought or feeling that is contrary to this unity that I ask for.” So this action of the Holy Spirit. “My little ones be each time more with Me. Desire this union with Me, even if you don’t feel or perceive anything.” Desire this union with Me, even if you don’t feel or sense anything. “If your desire is united to mine, then in faith, you have the assurance that this desire is fulfilled, even though you do not perceive it.” You know this mission; I forget what this mission is supposed to do, what it’s about. Do you remember? Faith? Faith so that God can act. And one thing that faith means is believing without seeing, without feeling. And that’s what He’s talking about here. “Trust in me, little ones, that if you want to be with Me, I want it even more. And with your will given over to Mine, I can work marvels in you. Give Me this joy of unburdening My charity in you.”  Unburdening, like He’s is suffering from all this need to give His love, and so He wants us to accept His love, “uniting you through My heart and My will, only in this way will you be useful to Me and useful to your brothers. Look at Me and you will be able to look at others with My charity and understanding. May My light fill your sight. And in this way, My light, gaze on everyone else and see them as I see them. I give you my blessing. I place My hand over your heads and over your hearts, so that My peace descends and remains in you always. And so that in this peace you may receive My charity in you. I love you so much My little ones, your Abba.” And then He says to Sister Amapola, “Florecita, thank you for writing. And yes, it was My Jesus who spoke to you at the beginning, but I have wanted to end it. Go do our errands.” So she had some errands to do. And so now to go back to the account of Trisha Nolan. So they were there. You know, this was difficult. Even after 25th anniversary, they were making a lot of efforts that they had started early on fasting as a way to try to improve their marriage, that they were fasting from all food, all food and drink on Fridays. Then after a couple years, that got difficult, they sought for something that they could do for the rest of their lives. So he decided to give up sweets. He loved sweets, so he gave up sweets, all sweets forever, I think, I don’t know, for some days or a bit, but sweets and she decided to give up pants, wearing pants. So that was a sacrifice she felt called to make, but still so they were fasting and all that, making these sacrifices, it’s still very difficult. At one point, she said to the Lord, “I just want to be done.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord say, “Good.” And I said, “What good? What do you mean? Good? What’s good about this?” And He said, “I’m glad. I’ve been waiting for this day. Human love is never enough to sustain a long-term relationship.” Very important – humanly love, “human love is never enough to sustain a long-term relationship. You can’t live out marriage with just human love. More is needed. It will always expend itself. Human love is fickle. Human love is changeable. It’s a product and a result of sin, and so you will never be able to love in the way that’s needed to be able to make the marriage last. It requires divine love.” He said, “so I’ve been waiting for you to say this so that I could move in, so that you’d open your heart to Me.” So Lord said He’d been waiting over 25 years for her to finally say, you know, I can’t do it, and to open her heart to Him. “So here’s what I want you to do.” Give up. No, He didn’t say that. “So, here’s what I want you to do. How about I take a flame of divine love, the love I have for Bob, the love I have for Bob, for your husband, and I’ll put it in your heart, and now I will be loving in you. I will be loving him through you. Now, the love that will burn in your heart will be My love, and everything you do will be My love, acting for your husband. But it’s just a small flame, so you have to be careful to nourish it. Don’t let it extinguish.” Then, she says, and then in my mind, I saw Christ reach over, and He put in my heart, my chest, this flame. And let me tell you, it was a flicker. She says, it was really tiny, you know, kind of one of those flames that you see on those church candles, those little church candles, you know, they’re just barely, that’s what it was. But as soon as He inserted it, there was a difference. And with time, little by little, it grew and grew. And so I don’t have the time to share the whole passage with you, but I encourage you, if you want to again, it’s on life site news, an interview with John Henry Weston just a couple of weeks ago.  But she says by their 30th anniversary, her perspective shifted dramatically, viewing her husband as the greatest blessing. She grew to understand his struggles and how her personality affected him. Now, after 50 years of marriage, she can’t imagine life without him. And so, you know, she discovered that human love was not enough. She needed divine love, and that’s this whole message of fraternal charity. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” And so this Mass is an opportunity, with our Blessed Mother, to ask the Holy Spirit to enkindle in us His divine love, and we might not feel it. And maybe we could even maybe ask Him today if there’s one person in particular He wants us to pray for in this Mass, and maybe ask the Lord to give us His love for this person. So when we’re not just trying to love with our own love, our own efforts, but we’re recognizing, as she did. The great moment which helped her was when she realized that she couldn’t do this, and she was trying to do it. She was trying hard to do it, but she couldn’t do it. She had to realize that she couldn’t do it. It had to be God in her. That doesn’t mean that she didn’t have to cooperate, like she said she had to. She did have to cooperate, but it had to come from God. She had to realize that it had to come from God. And so we could ask the Lord, maybe, if there’s one person that we want to ask that grace for, that love, for His love, to put that, His love in us, and we could today offer our sufferings for that person. “There is no greater love than to give oneself for one’s friends.” Amen.

KEYWORDS / PHRASES:
Mark 12:28b-34
Deuteronomy 6:2-6