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Meditation Two Hundred Eighty One

The Third Week of July 2008 

The Result of Forgiveness

 Begin with prayer to the Holy Spirit 

 

Reading: Romans 5:1-11

 

 

St. Paul begins this chapter on a very positive note by announcing that we are at peace with God. Whatever obstacles may have separated us from the peace of God, have been removed.  Our relationship with our creator has been healed and restored; we have but to acknowledge it, to return the love that God bestows upon us. This mutual love – initiated by God and responded to by man – provides us with a place of perfect peace with our heavenly Father. This is something to be excited about, something that should bring us immeasurable joy. But we must always keep in mind that this divine peace is not our innate right; it has been purchased for us by the greatest act of love possible: It flows directly from the completed work of Christ on Calvary , the work that makes whole our shattered relationship with God.  The restored access that we have to God's grace has resulted in some privileges and benefits. As a result of entering into relationship, into covenant with our eternal Father, we become more stable in our devotion and commitment to Him. This gives us many reasons to rejoice as a result of God's love toward us. 

 

    We have gained an anchor of hope that is immovable. This hope prepares us for the tribulation that is part of every life on earth. The writer of the Book of Job reminds us of this when he says; "Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward." (Job 5:7) One of the great benefits to being anchored in hope – despite   our many troubles and tribulations – is that as we hold fast to God’s promises, we are able to grow in patience over time.  Cycles of tribulation in our life teach us that through trust in God we can progress from anxiety to hope to experience to patience, to renewed hope.  Such hope insulates us from depression and disappointment.  Paul reveals that the Holy Spirit brings to man resources of faith, patience, hope, and perseverance, and an emboldened love, which helps us to be fearless and unashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul speaks of this beautifully when he says, ". . .I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." ( Rom. 1:16) 

 

    Did you ever think about where you stood as a possible child of God when this plan to bring about forgiveness, redemption, and salvation was being forged and carried out? Paul gives us a glimpse of this in verses 6 through 8. These verses make us aware of what has happened to us as children of God and what our inheritance is through Christ. As we are made aware of the extent of God’s love for us, we can only feel overwhelming gratitude toward God.  It is this gratitude that should grow within us making us conform more and more to the desires of our divine creator.  It should make us more aware of His love for us and should make us love others in every way, especially by performing works of charity and service toward the poor and needy.   

                                                                                                 

Quotation for Meditation

 

 

True peace is born doing the will of God, and bearing with patience the sufferings of this life, and does not come from following 

one's own whim or selfish desire, for this always brings, not peace and serenity, but disorder and discontent.

 

--Compiled and edited by Anthony F. Chiffolo, Pope John XXIII In My Own Words, Liguori, Missouri, pg. 72

 

 

Quiet Time and Then Discussion

 

Questions for Meditation

 

1.   Discuss what Paul says about God's peace and what it means to you.

 

2.   According to Paul what reason do we have to rejoice?

 

3.   What does hope prepare us for?

 

Prayer 

 

My God, I hope to obtain Your holy assistance so that I may never avoid learning Your holy Will, nor ever fail to follow it in my daily life.  I may find a little less pleasure if I follow Your Will, but I shall enjoy your peace, which , which is greater than any pleasure. If ever I become selfish enough to avoid Your Will, let my conscience disturb and annoy me until I return to You. Amen.

 

--Anthony J. Paone, S.J., My Daily Bread, Brooklyn, N.Y., Confraternity OF The Blood Of Jesus, Pg.30