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His Everlasting Love
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life." (John 3:16) To love God—to reciprocate His everlasting love for us, we must love our brothers as we do ourselves.
The love God has for us is a Fatherly love, a filial or affectionate love, the type of love between mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, etc. When I grew up in Nijmegen (the Netherlands), in my pre-teen years, we, that is Mom, Dad, a friend, and I, used to walk every Sunday after Holy Mass, weather permitting, through the woods on the way to Berg en Dal (tr. Hill and Dale) and there we gathered at a restaurant to have lunch. These walks were family walks and since there was great unity and love in my family, they were moments of great intimacy for me.
We were really joyful and happy. It was there, on these walks, that I learned a lot about God's love for us. "With age-old love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you." (Jer. 31:3)
Jesus wishes that we have an intimate relationship with Him, with His Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and to strive to be Saints. He desires pure love. Not the love some adults have to which there are conditions attached, but rather, the love of children who love purely without conditions and codicils.
God loved the world so much that He died on the Cross for us, so that we may have Life. Life eternal! We are the redeemed. Our bonds have been broken. We are no longer slaves to sin but we have chosen Jesus because we're assured of His love and we, in turn, love Him.
Sin is an insult to Jesus because it tells Him that we do not fully love Him. We shuffle the guilt under the mat, so to speak, by thinking or saying "God is so good, he doesn't mind," or, "God and I understand one another." That's very dangerous thinking my friends. The road to Hell is paved with those who are misled by these false thoughts and principles.
We cannot allow even the smallest offense to happen. We are human.... and we suffer under or from the sin of Adam and Eve, original sin. Still, we can overcome sin, with His help. So open these fetters of iron that hold us prisoner. Tell Satan to take a leap off the nearest cliff, back into the abyss whence he came. He is counting on our weaknesses so don't give him any. Also, there's a wise saying: "Idleness is the devil's playground." Keep your mind occupied with Jesus and after a while, temptation fades into the background. If, somehow, your resolve proves not enough, here is a spiritual warfare prayer that is very effective: "In the Name of Jesus I bind Satan and all the evil forces, all powers and principalities. I bind this building, the walls, ceilings, floors and all that may admit evil around me. I bind all that is evil. It is done." Seal yourself in the Blood of the Lamb! Then Satan leaves because there is nothing more to gain. So don't invite him back. And, by the way, those who do not believe in the existence of Satan, are in grave danger. He does exist so beware of him; beware of his trickery and deceit. Keep Jesus in your heart and on your lips—He will help you fight evil and set you free.
All this is part of man's suffering. Suffering does not come from God. It comes from man (Ultimately as a result of Original sin.)
Be at peace,
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
Repub. 5/4/2023
A Complicated World
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
“As the Father sees in every person the features of his Son, the firstborn of many brothers and sisters, so the Secular Franciscans with a gentle and courteous spirit accept all people as a gift of the Lord and an image of Christ.” (OFS Rule #13)* That is a powerful statement and a tenet every Franciscan must keep in mind in his or her dealings with others. It also implies that we must see each other as equals. One person isn’t better than me nor am I better than anyone else no matter what. A sense of community will make them joyful and ready to place themselves on an equal basis with all people, especially with the lowly for whom they shall strive to create conditions of life worthy of people redeemed by Christ. And in Rule 14, Secular Franciscans, together with all people of good will, are called to build a more fraternal and evangelical world so that the kingdom of God may be brought about more effectively. Mindful that anyone “who follows Christ, the perfect man, becomes more of a man himself,” let them exercise their responsibilities competently in the Christian spirit of service.
Some people, particularly those who are not Secular Franciscans, might say, so what? All these rules! Well, rules have a purpose, to define a mission, an ideal, and St. Francis of Assisi wrote his Rules (one for the First Order (OFMs, Capuchins, Conventuals, TOR, etc.), Second Order (Poor Clares, and many other Franciscan sisters), and Third Order of which the Secular Franciscan Order is one) to set up a healthy framework defining the Spirituality of each Vocation.
Today, there are many who eschew the organizational church. I don’t know what they want but they do not want structure. They do not want to hear of monasteries, convents, etc. I often tell stories in my reflections and essays of my monastic experiences, and perhaps that turns people off, particularly the young. It is this structure, so looked down upon, that built up in me a solid Faith: A Faith that does not crumble every time it meets a challenge. I will continue to listen to the Word of God spoken from the pulpit of the Church and defined in the “Catechism of the Catholic Church,” issued by the Vatican, and not to interpretations uttered by government leaders who have no business redefining Catholic Doctrine through their proclamations and actions.
The Catholic Church, from time to time, makes available special programs in Bible study, or in Liturgy, and we are evangelized in the hope its members will evangelize others. "The term evangelization has a very rich meaning. In the broad sense, it sums up the Church’s entire mission: her whole life consists in accomplishing the traditio Evangelii, the proclamation and handing on of the Gospel, which is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Rom 1:16) and which, in the final essence, is identified with Jesus Christ himself (cf. 1 Cor 1:24). Understood in this way, evangelization is aimed at all of humanity. In any case, to evangelize does not mean simply to teach a doctrine, but to proclaim Jesus Christ by one’s words and actions, that is, to make oneself an instrument of his presence and action in the world. (Congr. for the Doctrine of the Faith "Some Aspects of Evangelization," 2007)
“Every person has the right to hear the ‘Good News’ of the God who reveals and gives himself in Christ, so that each one can live out in its fullness his or her proper calling.” It a right which the Lord himself confers on every person, so that every man and woman is able truly to say with Saint Paul: Jesus Christ “loved me and gave himself up for me” (Gal 2:20). This right implies the corresponding duty to evangelize: “If I preach the Gospel, this is no reason for me to boast; it is a duty for me. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!” (1 Cor 9:16; cf. Rom 10:14). Thus, it is evident how every activity of the Church has an essential evangelizing dimension and must never be separated from the commitment to help all persons to meet Christ in faith, which is the primary objective of evangelization: “Social issues and the Gospel are inseparable. When we bring people only knowledge, ability, technical competence, and tools, we bring them too little”. (Ibid)
Since then, and even earlier, there has been emphasis on evangelization by ordinary Catholics who are not associated with clergy or religious orders. We cannot, however, rely on evangelization by ordinary Catholics unless we practice discernment: prayer and the Holy Spirit.
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
September 24, 2021
Footnotes
* Rule 13 of the Secular Franciscan Rule, states in it's entirely: "As the Father sees in every person the features of his Son, the firstborn of many brothers and sisters, so the Secular Franciscans with a gentle and courteous spirit accept all people as a gift of the Lord and an image of Christ. A sense of community will make them joyful and ready to place themselves on an equal basis with all people, especially with the lowly for whom they shall strive to create conditions of life worthy of people redeemed by Christ." For those who have a copy of "The Franciscan Journey: Updated Version" by Lester Bach, OFM Cap., please read Chapter 21, page 226-234. Many Secular Franciscans use this book as a standard formation text for new Candidates but also as a source of ongoing formation. It is an excellent book.
