April 2009 Family Newsletter GLOBAL CATHOLIC NETWORK By Deacon Bill Steltemeier Jesus came down from glory to my suffering level that I might rise from my misery to His Glory. But to do this I must take upon myself the whole Christ – suffering and resurrected. He took upon Himself my sins that I might sin no more. He took upon Himself my weakness that I might have grace to overcome. He took upon Himself my pain that I might hold his Hand in mine. He took upon Himself my humiliation that I might be raised to His Throne. He took upon Himself the loss of His friends in His hour of need that I might never be alone in the hour of my need and then He stood alone, abandoned by God and man, so I need never feel desolate or rejected. How then can I ever think, even for a moment, that I can be transformed into a worthy son of God unless I follow in His Blood-stained Footsteps? “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jer. 31:3) — Mother M. Angelica Dear Family, I want each of you who read this letter, to read and reread the above quotation. Read it slowly while in the presence of the Lord. Read it with your heart. Allow the words to reap the fruit of repentance. Let’s take a closer look at this quote, line by line. He took upon Himself my sins that I might sin no more. How can I dare to be attached to my sin, my own desires, or my own opinions? Our Lord has taken upon Himself the unbearable burden of my sins. I must lighten this load through the fruit of repentance and humility. He took upon Himself my weakness that I might have grace to overcome. Not only did our God become Man, but He gave us an example to follow. He taught us how to embrace weakness and depend upon our Father in Heaven. He ‘walked the walk’ and ‘talked the talk’ – faithful to the end. He showed us the way, now we must follow. He took upon Himself my pain that I might hold His Hand in mine. We ought never to believe the enemy – especially when he tries to convince us that we are alone in the fight. Our Lord took upon Himself our pain, so that when we face painful times we would feel His Hand in ours. He promised to never leave us orphans. And Jesus is always faithful to His promises. He took upon Himself my humiliation that I might be raised to His Throne. Jesus emptied Himself – and took delight in humility and poverty and littleness. He taught us that only little ones enter the Kingdom of Heaven. He raised us up by coming down. Jesus, raise us beyond the self-centered little world of me, myself, and I. Pride drags us down. Lord raise us up by way of humility and love. He took upon Himself the loss of His friends in His hour of need that I might never be alone in the hour of my need and then He stood alone, abandoned by God and man, so I need never feel desolate or rejected. One of the most bitter pains in life that the human heart can bear is grief. Whether this grief comes from the loss of a friend through misunderstanding, or more dramatically through death, grief rips at the fibers of our hearts. No one loved like Jesus…for God is love. His love is strong and pure and whole. Therefore, when He was abandoned by those He loved uniquely and intensely, His Heart knew a grief that was beyond compare. We must never believe we are alone in our grief or rejected or abandoned. Our Lord would never do that to us. He would never subject us to that sort of abandonment. He stays at our side through thick and through thin. However, He does not force Himself upon us. If we choose to grieve alone, He remains near but does not force us to accept His love and consolation. Unlike Him, we will never stand alone. Family, as we celebrate Holy Week and Easter, let us reach out for the Hand that is ever ready to grasp our own. Never distance yourself from the fire of His love. He will never abandon you as you carry the cross. I love you, Family! In Jesus and Mary, Deacon Bill Steltemeier