Category: John Paul the Great
Seeing ourselves as God sees us
” . . . we are used to seeing ourselves as the world sees us–broken, struggling, failing, and frustrated. But when God looks at you, an eternal and boundless love wells up inside him and he sees past every doubt, every fear, everything you think is shameful or broken about you. When God looks at you, he sees something more beautiful, remarkable, and amazing than you could ever even wrap your head around. In the words of St. John Paul the Great, ‘We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of his Son’ (Pope John Paul II, 2002).”
(Gregory K. Popcak, Broken Gods)
Never, ever give up on hope
Throw open wide
Never, ever give up
We lack words
Let us look with eyes of faith at the paschal events which begin today, during the Last Supper.
We lack words to express the depth of the mystery which opens up before us.
St. John Paul II
The courage and strength to press on
Today is the Triumph of the Cross. May this from Blessed John Paul II encourage all of you:
The Way of the Cross . . . invites all of us, and families in particular, to contemplate Christ crucified in order to have the force to overcome difficulties. The cross of Christ is the supreme sign of God’s love for every man and woman, the superabundant response to every person’s need for love. At times of trouble, when our families have to face pain and adversity, let us look to Christ’s cross. There we can find the courage and strength to press on . . . .
In times of trial and tribulation, we are not alone; the family is not alone. Jesus is present with his love, he sustains them by his grace and grants the strength needed to carry on, to make sacrifices and to overcome every obstacle. And it is to this love of Christ that we must turn when human turmoil and difficulties threaten the unity of our lives and our families.
Did you catch this sentence: ” The cross of Christ is the supreme sign of God’s love for every man and woman, the superabundant response to every person’s need for love.” Remember that His cross will triumph in your life as you turn to Him for help.
Be not afraid!
Witnesses to Hope is close to its 1000th post. This is the first post I ever put up. I think the reasons are obvious.
BE NOT AFRAID! (John Paul II, October 16, 1978 and many, many times afterward . . .)
“We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of his son, Jesus.” (WYD 2002, Toronto)
Mary words
“In the light of Mary, the Church sees in the face of women the reflection of a beauty which mirrors the loftiest sentiments of which the human heart is capable: the self-offering totality of love; the strength that is capable of bearing the greatest sorrows; limitless fidelity and tireless devotion to work; the ability to combine penetrating intuition with words of support and encouragement.” (Bl. John Paul II)
You do not suffer in vain
For those of you who are suffering . . . even in this Easter season . . . here is a word from John Paul II:
You have not suffered or do not suffer in vain. Pain matures you in spirit, purifies you in heart, gives you a real sense of the world and of life, enriches you with goodness, patience, and endurance, and–hearing the Lord’s promise reecho in your heart: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Mt 5.4)–gives you the sense of deep peace, perfect joy, and happy hope. Succeed, therefore, in giving a Christian value to your suffering, succeed in sanctifying your suffering with constant and generous hope in him who comforts and gives strength. I want you to know that you are not alone, or separated, or abandoned in your Via Crucis; beside you, each one of you, is the Blessed Virgin, who considers you her most beloved children. (Pope John Paul II, Address at Lourdes, France, May 22, 1979)
Witnesses to Hope 