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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
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