The Lord Giveth and the Lord Taketh Away

The Lord Giveth and the Lord Taketh Away

By:  Eric Gajewski

I was born with nothing and I choose to die with nothing.  Such was the motto of Pope St. Pius X.  It is the duty of any eagle to be detached from all things not God but especially money.  Over the past few days I have stepped up the amount of time given to my adult ministry.  It is truly sad to see so many attached to money.  There are so many “high end” escorts living ungodly lifestyles all on the basis of money.  It is their “god” and consumes their hearts.  Yet, after a few email exchanges with these young ladies, explaining, this upcoming coming economic collapse, they grow very silent.  They don’t know how to respond because they know that “if this is the case” they have literally been wasting their time pursuing mammon.  Think of how it will be for souls who “do all they do” for mammon or for worldly gain.  What will they truly possess after the collapse or worse yet on their death beds.  Will they not regret a life wasted which was not rooted in our Final End Who is Christ?  Indeed, the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.

Victims of Love.  I have spent some time with a good number of you on the phone the past few weeks and I see you are carrying some heavy crosses.  Remember you are victims of His Love.  Did not the Blessed Virgin Mary say that Our Lord needed an army of victim souls in these endtimes?  God knows your state of duty so do not have anxiety over performing all the tasks necessary for the day.  Recall the duty to suffer.  Jesus asked St. Mary Alacoque to love and suffer blindly.  This is truly difficult but through grace it can be accomplished.  We must remember not to equate “health” with our overall friendship with God.  For when we are weakest we are strongest.  God can only abide in the broken and empty and yet, by our own wills, we seek to be filled due to self.  He gives you what you need and what is not appropriate for your soul’s benefit will not be given.

Nothing is yours.  If you go through life handing over all things to God (at heart) you will be at peace even when it is taken away from you.  Remember God is purifying many of you BEFORE the Great Storm even arises thus you should expect crosses and heavy ones at that.  Mine?  What is mine?  I truly don’t consider anything mine if the Source Himself is the Owner of it all.  The example of two kids fighting over a toy must be called into mind.  Have you have ever seen two little kids fighting over a toy?  It is mine….NO! it is mine!  Back and forth they go.  This is how we are with God when our wills do not align with His.  No God I want this and that but you wont give it to me thus I will wage war in my heart with You.  I assure you that you are not going to win that conversation… so let go.  All is His and we are mere stewards.  Be prepared to give up all things for Jesus Christ including your body itself.  I admit, at times, it is still difficult in my own body.  It is like an adventure every day with this neurological syndrome.  Some days I can hardly walk but it helps me to keep in tune with His Will.  He dictates then I walk.  If you are struggling carrying a “headache” for Jesus how can you possibly be ready to be put on a torture rack for Our Lord?  Care not for the Body….

Prepare a Place for Jesus.  It seems only fitting we ought prepare our whole home for Jesus rather than just the closet, no?  He came, suffered, for our sins and went to prepare a place for us.  Why cant we at least give Him what He truly deserves and that is our whole heart.  Have you ever been “stuck in a rut” trying to decide over two delicious foods.  Do I want this or that?  Or how about choosing a spouse?  Do I go with girl A or B?  It can be exhausting.  The same applies to the spiritual life.  The man who tries to have Jesus and the world/things is torn.  We cannot have Christ and have other things hence why the majority who die in a state of grace end in Purgatory.  Eagles fly freely in the skies detached.  We must be detached from all things yes even health.  Do not believe me?  Take a look at the examples of the Victim souls in the Church they truly gave it all and without reserve.  What type of place do you keep for Jesus?  Is it dusty, disorganized or even dirty within?  How long do you prepare your heart before Mass?  How long do you pray in thanksgiving for all He has already done for you.  These are all questions you ought be asking this Holy Week.  It is time we start all thinking about Jesus and not how “I” can benefit from any situation.  There are agonizing souls in Purgatory and souls who will fall into the Abyss of hell (today) and yet you are still worried about that dollar you lost on the way to work.  Suffering will draw you close to His Heart and this is why so few have His Heart.  Let us be resolved this Holy week to be more detached.  Spend your hour of silence and solitude meditating upon these quotes, Ave Maria!

 

Detachment Quotes

Detachment is a withdrawal from all evil desires. - St. John Climacus

If they be faithful and seek no satisfaction in creatures, they pass from pure suffering to the pure love of God. But the fortunate souls who succeed thus far are very few. - St. Paul of the Cross

Oh! happy is he who can say, "I have despised the kingdom of the world, and all the glory of the time, for the love of my Lord Jesus Christ. - St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

True love is found only in complete self-forgetfulness, and it is only after we have detached ourselves from every creature that we find Jesus. - St. Therese of Lisieux

Perfection consists in renouncing ourselves, in carrying our cross, and in following Jesus Christ. Now, he who renounces himself most perfectly carries his cross the best and follows nearest to Jesus Christ is he who never does his own will, but always that of God. - St. Vincent de Paul

There are three things which I am not able to do without: food, clothing and sleep; but I can restrict them to some extent. - St. Poemen

When self-will and ease become habitual, they overthrow a man. - St. Poemen

Our Lord would fain be your sole Support, Friend and Delight, provided you seek neither support nor delight in creatures. Nevertheless, you must not be ill at ease or constrained in your intercourse with your neighbor, but always humble, bright, kind and gracious in your manner. - St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Give me ten truly detached men. and I will convert the world with them. - St. Philip Neri

My daughters must believe that it is for their own good that the Lord has enabled me to realize in some small degree what blessings are to be found in holy poverty. Those of them who practice it will also realize this, though perhaps not as clearly as I do; for, although I had professed poverty, I was not only without poverty of spirit, but my spirit was devoid of all restraint. Poverty is good and contains within itself all the good things in the world. It is a great domain -- I mean that he who cares nothing for the good things of the world has dominion over them all. What do kings and lords matter to me if I have no desire to possess their money, or to please them, if by so doing I should cause the least displeasure to God? And what do their honours mean to me if I have realized that the chief honour of a poor man consists in his being truly poor? - St. Teresa of Jesus

And thus this blessed Soul, illuminated by the divine ray, said: "Would that I could utter so strong a cry that it would strike all men with terror, and say to them: O wretched beings! why are you so blinded by this world that you make, as you will find at the hour of death, no provision for the great necessity that will then come upon you?

You shelter yourselves beneath your hope in the mercy of God, which you unceasingly exalt, not seeing that it is your resistance to his great goodness which will be your condemnation. His goodness should constrain you to his will, not encourage you to persevere in your own. Since his justice is unfailing it must needs be in some way fully satisfied.

Have not the boldness to say: 'I will go to confession and gain a plenary indulgence and thus I shall be saved.' Remember that the full confession and entire contrition which are requisite to gain a plenary indulgence are not easily attained. Did you know how hardly they are come by, you would tremble with fear and be more sure of losing than of gaining them. - St. Catherine of Genoa

Give me ten truly detached men. and I will convert the world with them.
- St. Philip Neri

Love consists not in feeling great things but in having great detachment and in suffering for the Beloved.
- St. John of the Cross

If you purify your soul of attachment to and desire for things, you will understand them spiritually. If you deny your appetite for them, you will enjoy their truth, understanding what is certain in them.
- St. John of the Cross

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