Monday, January 6, 2020

Discerning deceit vs Truth

The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you! The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!

There is a point in everyone’s life when—I think, I hope—they realize that no matter how successful or happy they think they are, there is still something (Someone?) missing. It explains why people see the Virgin Mary in toast, or the profile of Christ in a car’s window after washing. I know that God humbled Himself so lowly that He chose a stable-full of animals to be born of a virgin, but toast and glass are not humble; that’s just plain silly. There is, of course, the Truth of the Eucharist; that ordinary bread and wine become the actual Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ even though their appearance does not change.

Then there are seemingly credible apparitions that have either been recognized by the Church for their Truth and message, and others that haven’t.

In John’s Letter (1 John 3:22–4:6) we hear something very important: how to know the Spirit of Truth and differentiate it from the spirit of deceit.

So that we don't have to struggle, fret or worry whether we've got it right, the answer is given, simply.

The way we know a Spirit of Truth is by what it says. Does it acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary? Jesus, who was crucified, died, buried and raised up on the third day? Who ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father? If a spirit confesses this, it is The Spirit of Truth, The Holy Spirit. It is the same Spirit Who innervates the Catholic Church, gives Her life, preserves Her, protects Her, guides Her. I am reminded of the many apparitions of Our Lady, especially in Lourdes, Fatima, and Guadalupe. In each of these appearances, she was sent by her Son to guide us closer to Himself; because of this, we can be certain that her message is from the Spirit of Truth.

Do you want to hear the Spirit of Truth, know the Spirit of Truth? Then listen to the Spirit speaking through the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church; the Spirit that speaks through the Sacred Word, through Sacred Tradition, through the Magisterium. That's where you will hear the Spirit of Truth; where you will come to know the Spirit of Truth.

No comments:

"I demand from you deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse or absolve yourself from it.

I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor:
the first — by deed, the second — by word, the third — by prayer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me. By this means a soul glorifies and pays reverence to My mercy.

Many souls ... are often worried because they do not have the material means with which to carry out an act of mercy. Yet spiritual mercy, which requires neither permissions nor storehouses, is much more meritorious and is within the grasp of every soul.

If a soul does not exercise mercy somehow or other, it will not obtain My mercy on the day of judgment. Oh, if only souls knew how to gather eternal treasure for themselves, they would not be judged, for they would forestall My judgment with their mercy".