Jesus speaks divine words…

April 12, 2019

“Therefore, my children, apostles of my love, I am calling you to adore Him, to ceaselessly give Him thanks, and to be worthy. Because He has spoken to you divine words, the words of God, the words which are for all and forever…” (April 2, 2019)

Fr. Max gave a beautiful homily about truth, light and love on April 8, 2019. I have transcribed it for us to read and ponder. Jesus’ words are divine, the words of God!! They are for all and forever! In our contentious time, Jesus’ words are light and love and truth for us!

English Homily for April 8, 2019 by Fr. Maximilian Dalve:

 

In the Gospel of John, Jesus says “I am.” And progressively He reveals Himself to us in His Godhead, in the fullness truth. “I am the light, the light which enlightens all those who are in darkness.” And a special darkness has come upon us after original sin – the darkness of our not knowing God. Lack of knowledge, blindness – so He enlightens our minds with the light of truth.

 

In another passage He says, “I am the truth, the way and the life.” I am the light of the world, so I am the truth of the world. I give you the true knowledge about God but obviously this knowledge, (and we have to be careful since from the beginning of Christianity one of the heresies was Gnosticism) but that knowledge is just not doctrinal…just “knowing”, but it has to involve our whole person, because the truth is not some thought, some concept, a philosophical synthesis. But the truth is a Person – it’s Jesus.

He invites us to enter into a personal relationship with God, to enter into the family of God, for God is family – a union of love and He invites all of us to be part of it, for all eternity! Therefore, we have to decide for truth and for love. They always go together, like light and warmth in nature are always together. The natural light of the sun always brings with it, warmth, which warms our hearts. So that light which is truth, which is Christ, brings us the Holy Spirit, the love which warms our heart and enkindles in our hearts the fire of love. They always go together.

 

There was a time in the Church when we always put in our teaching truth first and then love. Now it seems to switch – now we put love first. But it cannot be without truth. This is very important. We cannot say we love everyone but then the truth is secondary.   No, they go together. And this oneness is only possible when we, through the power of the love of Christ, become children of God. The one who receives the light, who welcomes the light, he is given power to become a child of God.

 

Only when we feel ourselves not anymore orphans, but truly part of the family of God, children of God, children of the Father, daughters and sons of the Father. then we can witness the truth in love. They will be always for us difficult to unite.    

Mary, in seventy-eight messages, speaks about light… and she always says light of truth, light of love and peace. So, she combines light with truth and love. As I said because natural light is a beautiful symbol of the light which is Christ.

 

Catherine, of Sienna, the Father told her in her revelations, speaking about the sun, which is a beautiful symbol, as an analogy of the Trinity, where the Father sends us the light of the world, Jesus, and He brings the warmth the Holy Spirit. But they are one, they are not three. And we are called to enter into it. So, she combines those two always together as they have to be. In her messages many times she speaks of the light of truth, light of love and peace.

  

Obviously if you live in truth and love, peace is the result. Yes, she also speaks about that, and it confirms again the Gospel. It is in all of her messages that Jesus, her Son, brought light to the world to all who want to receive it. Because we know also that there are those, John in his Gospel is clear about it, there are those who did not accept Him. In John 3: 19 he said, “The Light came into the world, but people preferred darkness for their deeds were evil.” I think that is the only sin that exists. People can prefer evil. It is the result of egocentrism, of putting our “I” first. We go back to original sin. As St. Massimo the Confessor says, “They wanted to be like God, but without God. In counter position to God”. But the fundamental truth is that God is the Creator. And we are His creatures. And in the Light of Love we say that God is the Beloved Father and we are His beloved children.

I think there are many times when people are afraid to entrust themselves to God because they did not yet experience the love of God. The don’t believe in His love. So, believe always in the love of God, wherever you are, believe in the love of God. There are recent saints who have said that even if I had done all sins (Theresa of the Child Jesus, Faustina Kowalska) – if I had done all sins, I would throw myself into the arms of the Heavenly Father. I would run into the merciful embrace of Jesus, my Savior. Only in His love can we change. Only in His love can we live the light of truth. And how much light of truth has been given in these times by the light of the Holy Spirit, because since 1984-85, the very early years, Mary says “Pray that the Holy Spirit may enlighten you.” He gives you the light of truth. Truth and love are not separated. But united.

Today we have created (this is a human achievement) that we can separate light from warmth – LED lights! They give light but not warmth. If you want to see an analogy of God, you have to go to creation. There light and warmth are always together. Just look at a fire, at the flame of a candle. Therefore, it is so beautiful to contemplate it because it speaks to us about the light of the world and the love of God, which is the Holy Spirit. The light is not just a concept, just an idea, just a philosophy, but it is a Person. The Truth is a Person, Jesus. So, Love is not just a feeling. Love is a Person. It is the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.

Yes, a lot of light has been given into today’s world to the Church. Just think of the teachings of John Paul II. Think of the Catechism he gave us. All the truth is in there. Think of all his encyclicals, “The Splendor of the Truth”, a most beautiful encyclical which speaks about the truth. Not just the light, but the splendor of the truth. And then to all these teachings, Benedict XVI had given his theological, doctrinal foundation. And after that the Holy Spirit had to give us a pastoral pope.

Now doctrine has to have certain principals and it has to stand firm, but a pastoral activity has to go beyond. Because there are always specific cases which cannot be contemplated in firm doctrine, which is needed. They are both needed. So, it is a gift of the Holy Spirit to have Pope Francis who opens his arms and goes beyond – that everyone can reveal the truth which is in him. Because in the pontificate of John Paul II and Benedict XVI there had been a lot of teachers in the Church that did not agree with the magisterium. They went on to make their own teachings and they were hiding. And so, Jesus, the light of truth, brings it all up. Everyone can express himself. And therefore, we have this big confusion. But don’t worry. Mary says if you are with Jesus, if you follow the light, she says: “My children those who act in the light of merciful love and truth are always helped by Heaven and are not alone.”

 

So, this is a time that seems to be in a big confusion, but it is not. We are not alone. Like Suzanna was not alone. God was with her. She acted in merciful love and truth, and pleaded to God, and yes, we should plead to God. Really. And so, God raised up Daniel who defended her. Who by the Holy Spirit could say the truth. Today so many times there is great falsehood, and it is so painful. Let’s just pray to the Lord. Let’s listen to Jesus, who is the truth in our heart, and let us be with Him. Let us avoid gossip and idle talk. We think that because everyone talks, we also have to talk. And a lot of gossip is spread around. No, let us speak, yes. But in the silence of our hearts let us speak to the Holy Spirit. Let us remain with Jesus. And let us give thanks and praise to God. That is most necessary.

Mary never said to have endless discussion, but to give thanks and praise to God. And adore as much as possible my Son. Adore him, obviously in the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist. But we have our duties, so we cannot always be in church. But let us always adore Him in our hearts. There we can focus and not go with every wind of doctrine which goes left and right and up and down. Don’t worry about that because one day we will all be before the light of truth, and God will not ask what the others said, and what your opinion is, but where you heart is.

When your heart is in the light of truth, when you heart is filled with the Holy Spirit, you are fit for heaven. Today you are the light of the world, today You will enlighten this world. Mary said, Be the light, the reflection of Jesus which will enlighten this unfaithful world, which walks in darkness. So, let us now be the light. And let us not worry about anything else. For heaven is with us in a most special way, “like never before” also Mary in a message said. Let us be the light, by loving adoration, by falling in love with Jesus, by giving thanks and praise. Now on earth, and forever in Heaven. Amen

You can view Fr. Dalve’s homily here:  https://marytv.tv/english-mass-in-medjugorje/
Look for April 8, 2019