His melanoma had been diagnosed in 2004; surgery on his upper back left a gaping hole, as if he had been blasted in the back with a cannon ball. My father was pretty upset after the surgery, mad he let us talk him into having the melanoma removed. So you can imagine when a new lesion was found and diagnosed as malignant metastatic melanoma on his leg early 2005, he was in complete denial. The results of the PET scan came on my birthday. My father's cancer had metastasized to his brain, lungs and bones. Having forced my father to have this scan done, he blew off the results. "Doctors are only out to make money," he would say. This was in April 2005. By September, he was living in my home. A few weeks before his death in January 2006, he asked me if he would be in his own apartment again. Finally, at the end, he was ready to accept the truth. I told him no, he would be spending the rest of his days with me. He quietly said "OK" and we continued to discuss the Super Bowl. There comes a time, hopefully sooner rather than later, we all need to accept the truth. Truth in what Sacred Scripture tells us. Truth in what the Volumes reveal.
In todays Gospel (John 5:31-47), Jesus asks us to believe:
Jesus said to the Jews: “If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true. But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true. You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life.
“I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
In Volume Seven, St. Ignatius gives us a dose of reality:
In todays Gospel (John 5:31-47), Jesus asks us to believe:
Jesus said to the Jews: “If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true. But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true. You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life.
“I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
In Volume Seven, St. Ignatius gives us a dose of reality:
"The achievement which we are trying to inspire you to work for is to serve Him completely before you know Him completely. This, your challenge, is done through your faith, your love, your knowledge of Him obtained in contemplation. This knowledge of Him is His gift to you, but He cannot gift you with these graces if you do not want them and if you choose not to accept Him. You must be available to Him in order for Him to work in your soul. Many reject Him now. That is simply the unpleasant truth. We would not hide the truth from you because it is for the truth we have come to you. You will need to use the truth as a weapon. When someone speaks the truth, people listen. They may become angry, they may deny the truth, and they may then try to hide the truth, but they will hear you. And then they must make a choice. You see, my brothers and sisters, there are souls to whom the truth has not been adequately represented. You will change that. We will show you how. One way is to spread these words and to assist those who have accepted the mission of spreading these words. These words are Truth. They will spread. But if you can help, you should help. Your reward will be great and you will be part of Our team."
Lay apostles, have you accepted the Truth? Do you believe what you read in Sacred Scripture or do you look at it as the ramblings of a distant past? Read the Volumes to help you make sense of it all. The Gospel will begin to resonate deep within instead of in one ear and out the other.
Thank you, Lord, for Your Words in the Volumes. They have made the Bible come alive for me.
God bless,
Bonnie
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