3 Sep 2009
A Love that Changes Us for the Better
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How many times have you tried to change?
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Hundreds of times, you have tried to stop smoking… but you just couldn’t.
Thousands of times, you have tried to stop getting drunk… but you just couldn’t.
Millions of times, you have tried to change your bad habits… but you just couldn’t.
Why is change so difficult?
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Saint Paul must have felt the same way. He writes:
“For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want.” Romans 7: 19
But Saint Paul was able to change. From a persecutor of Christians, he became one of the most ardent lovers of Christ.
Saint Ignatius was also able to change. From a life devoted only to wine, women, and song, he became a follower of Christ.
Many other men have followed Ignatius and shunned a life of riches and honor for a life of poverty and humble service. I know them. I live with them here in our seminary.
They were changed…
What made them change?
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LOVE…
Truly, love can change us. Love can soften the hardest of hearts. Love can conquer the most dreadful of fears. Love can make the impossible possible.
Love changes everything.
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We desire to change for the good, for the better, or even for the best. But being human, we are burdened by weaknesses and frailties. We have our pride, our self-centeredness, our fears, our attachments… These are the unfreedoms that hinder us from changing.
Put yourself in the presence of the Lord.
Present to God whatever change you desire in life. Yes, we are weak, but God is our strength.
However, we also need to remember that God’s love can make us go beyond ourselves. We may be proud, but God can love us into being humble. We may be self-centered, but God can love us into being generous. We may be frail, but God can love us into being faithful.
Fall in love with God. And when you begin to fall in love with Him, you will see how this love can change everything in you.
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- Jun-G Bargayo, SJ -
Change… beautiful. Thanks for the share.
jun-g: you’re welcome darbs… yup… change for the better is always beautiful.
darbs
September 4th, 2009 at 12:28 ampermalink
It is hard to change but if your are willing to change just knock at door and God will open door and he will help you to change.
jun-g: totoo po ito.
Rizaldy P. Buensuceso
September 4th, 2009 at 1:41 ampermalink
One of the best examples of love that can change for the better is the love of St. Monica for her son, St. Augustine. It’s a favorite story that I love to tell over and over again to my friends.
A blessed day to you, Kapatid.
jun-g: tama po kayo. ako din hangang-hanga sa pagmamahal ni St. Monica kay St. Augustine
Nortehanon
September 4th, 2009 at 5:06 ampermalink
i love this! i really do!
jun-g:
Jorge
September 4th, 2009 at 7:14 ampermalink
ang ganda nito kuya..
mahirap na madaling magbago..
The Lady in Green Ruffles
September 4th, 2009 at 10:40 ampermalink
may kaibigan akong teacher sa ateneo grade school…
sa loyola ka ba naka-base?
jun-g: opo, nasa ateneo po ako nakabase. sino po kaibigan nyo sa grade school?
Fr. Felmar Castrodes Fiel, SVD
September 4th, 2009 at 12:49 pmpermalink
we cannot change the world, we can only change ourselves…
and thru that the world will change
thanks kuya jun-g for this inspirational post,
God bless us always =)
jun-g: walang ano man po. it’s true when you said, “we cannot change the world, we can only change ourselves.” hinay hinay lang basta kanunay… ***mukhang di mo naintindihan….*** hehehe
jez
September 4th, 2009 at 12:57 pmpermalink
soxal si kuya..atenista..
jun-g: hindi po. jologs po ako.
The Lady in Green Ruffles
September 5th, 2009 at 4:04 ampermalink
Fall in love with God…and yet even this is grace from God. The only thing I can do to cooperate with grace is to open myself up to God, to allow myself to be loved by him, in ways only he knows — without limiting him, without measuring how far he can love me, without feeling unworthy of his unconditional love; and instead, believing his every word: “Let me love you this way”
jun-g: aus!
renee
September 5th, 2009 at 3:12 pmpermalink
4th base ka sa aking post. you have 40 points!
ang magic five for the first round of base awards ay andito sa baba ng webpage…
http://fielsvd.wordpress.com/base-contest/
congrats!!!
jun-g: 4th baser ba? hehehe… okie tong gimik mo padre. kewl!
Fr. Felmar Castrodes Fiel, SVD
September 6th, 2009 at 3:11 ampermalink