The Flesh

THE FLESH

it's not just me

I'm not the only one

there's something wrong...

inside...something deep down

that wars against me...that

pulls me towards what I

know is evil...what is

against my better judgment...

difficult to control at times

and seems to come out of

nowhere like a flash-flood

making me feel like I'm

going to be swept away

down into dark pleasures

and out of the Light where

my heart desires to rest

but it is a battle to resist

the pull like metal to 

magnet...the attraction to

sensual passions is real

and can lead to habits -

even addictions - if allowed

to fester unless precautions

are taken - conscious safeguards

that protect my weakened 

condition - the result of the

humanity's falling out of 

Grace at the beginning of 

time - a choice based on 

pride and craving for the

pleasures both seen and 

imagined...self-love vs

love of the Father...passion

vs reason...vice vs virtue...

fear of man vs fear of the 

Lord of Heaven and Earth...

it is all around us...Hollywood's

gaudy enterprises trumpet 

its allurements...idolotry's slavery

to fame and fortune...beauty's

price at any cost...children

no longer protected from

the curious fantasies of adults...

it is all the lust of flesh...the 

battleground that the evil one

uses as a playground to entice

us to choose the lesser but

more enticing than the greater

but more arduous goal of 

chastity...humility...poverty of

spirit...selfless serving...worship

of the Holy One...holiness...

Grace...we all need Grace...

instead of just 'trying harder'

to remain faithful...to continue

on the 'narrow way'...to fight 

the 'good fight'...Ask the Holy

Spirit for Grace to overcome...

put aside...turn away from the

temptation - whatever it is...

we are not meant to 'go it alone'...

the Battle of the Flesh will not

cease until we pass from this life...

the evil one knows our weakness

he knows each of us...our habits...

proclivities...and takes advantage

of them to draw us into his web...

his dark cave of sin leading to 

eternal fire - its only light . but

victory is ours in the Lord...He

has conquered sin...death...the

devil...and even if we fall into

that bleak cave there is still

hope because we can turn back

with our hands held out for 

Mercy and He will hear our 

plea for forgiveness because 

He is madly in love with each

of us...so...live one day at a time

conscious of the battle within 

and our eyes on the Lord and

staying close to Him in prayer

asking for the Power of the Holy 

Spirit to follow His leading today...

to fight the good fight...run the

race...walk the Narrow Way...

confident in His Love and 

Obedient to His Word...

Resisting the pull of temptation...

and avoiding the near occasion

of sin - a battle plan for Victory...

Reflection / Discussion:

-Why is the 'flesh' an enemy?

-How did it become our enemy?

-Explain what the 'flesh' is.

-How do you experience its pull in your life?

-What is your 'battle plan'?

-What are 'near occasions of sin' in your life?

-How can you remember to ask for Grace and

 not just 'try harder'?

-Find a support group of fellow believers to share your battles.

The Gazes

I remember every encounter...each

one a stepping stone leading to His 

final resting place in my heart...each

memory highlighted by unfamiliar 

feelings like when.. I couldn't believe

my eyes...in the midst of all He was

suffering...all that pain...every

miniscule movement a torture...

every breath brought no relief but 

simply a prophetic sign of more to 

come...even His eyesight was obscured

half-blinded by blood's steady stream 

from its thorny creche - a mocking 

symbol of His True Identity and still...

with all that...He found me imbedded 

in the jeering sometimes simply curious 

crowd fascinated by the death-spectacle 

of the King of the Jews..it was as if He 

had searched me out like I was a long

lost sheep hiding amongst a pack of 

howling wolves...it brought to mind the 

first time our eyes met months before...

it was in another crowd but this time a 

friendly one...everyone was hungry not 

only for food to fill our stomachs but for

His words which mysteriously fed our

empty hearts way out in the empty 

countryside...He was teaching things 

we never heard before when suddenly 

He stopped to break for food though 

there were merely scraps which somehow 

He miraculously multiplied and had

baskets and baskets left over...amazed 

yet confused I got up to leave but His 

gaze moved me to stay to find some 

kind of answer to even one of the many 

questions swirling in my mesmerized 

mind....who is this man? how can He 

do that? His words are touching places 

in my heart that I didn't know existed...

everyone had an opinion - some said this..

others that...I only knew I had to keep 

searching for something more that I didn't 

have right now...then there was another

crowd this time near Passover...but this

one was cheering Him as He rode a colt 

into Jerusalem...waving palms thinking 

He was the Messiah even though He didn't 

claim to be a warrior king...again the gaze…

very strange...like He had expected that 

I would be there - a familiar face even 

though as yet we had never spoken to one 

another...now...this...horrific spectacle...

not what I ever expected for such a gentle 

miraculous person...totally innocent of 

their bogus charges and now planted 

between murderers and yet... even in all

His pain He found me...again that haunting 

gaze but this time as I took steps toward 

him He cried out as he Finished his

Sacrificial Offering amidst His Mother's

mournful goodbye as thunder rolled and 

lightning cracked and darkness covered 

the mount and apparently the Temple's 

Curtain was completely torn as death

hushed the staring crowd left wondering 

if there could possibly be any more drama 

to what they just witnessed.....now...days 

later... on the road to Emmaus...unrecognized…

He turned up as a fascinating stranger totally

transforming Sacred Texts into pearls of

Revelation about the Resurrected Christ 

till at fireside He gazed at me again and 

with a smile offered me the broken bread

with His nail-scarred hand and in a Final 

Encounter bade me to join Him in that 

Sacred Feast...now - even though He 

vanished - I know He is Alive...He un-

veiled the eyes of my heart...then I knew

who He was and who I am in Him...He 

is my Lord and Savior and I am His forever...

reborn by His Spirit...on mission to witness 

for His Kingdom to a world broken by sin.... 

hungry for healing and the Bread of Life...

so...what about you?...because…listen well…

His Gaze now rests upon you…

Reflection / Discussion:

-What does ‘The Gazes’ tell you about Jesus?

-Ask Jesus to show you times in the past when

  He has sought you out. What was happening then?

  What was your response?

-Do you want More in your life? Why / not?

-How do you get More?

The Conqueror

Remember My Words to you when

you are in the midst of the battle

when the worst of the worst of the 

world...flesh...devil seek to slay

you...body and soul...within and

without...seeking and finding the

weaknesses in your battle armor

to pierce your heart with vain 

dreads and anxious imaginations

of anger...hatred...rejection...false

accusations...persecutions...even

death...anything and everything...

will be thrown at you when you 

seek to do My Will...put My 

Kingdom first...Stand and Speak

the Truth in Love...But Remember

this Reality...I Am the Conqueror...

Lord of Heaven and Earth...I 

have Conquered All that the 

world...flesh...devil can possibly

do to you...I took it all upon 

Myself for your sake and out 

of Love for you...all of it...sin...

temptation...Satan...pain...

suffering...mockery...rejection...

hatred and ultimately...death

itself...I Conquered ALL if it

so...Remember this Truth when

the battle rages within and 

without...there is nothing they 

can do to you that I have not 

overcome and that Victory shall

be yours as well for you share 

in My Very Life...My Risen Life...

My Very Nature...you are a 

Child of God...a Temple of the 

Holy Spirit filled with Power from 

on High...you too shall Conquer

even death itself when you are 

Raised into Glory...so Remember

when they hate you that they 

hated Me first and that I Live

in you and you in Me...I...the 

Victor and Conqueror bestow that

Reality upon you so do not fear

those who only can kill the body

and not the soul but rather 

Revere the One who can destroy

both the body and soul in 

everlasting fire...so...Stand and 

Fight for you too shall Conquer...

the Victory shall be yours...Forever...

Reflection / Discussion:

-What does The Conqueror mean practically?

-How does that Reality affect the way you live / witness?

-Take time to ponder this Reality for your life.

-Make a resolution and hold yourself to it everyday.

-Ask the Holy Spirit for the Grace to be a Conqueror.

Charity

the greatest and most challenging

of virtues...Charity stretches our 

our wills...minds...hearts...

pulling our emotions...memories

and imaginations this way and

that way making us run to the 

altar before the Throne crying 

out for Grace to 'Will the good

of the other' as the brokenness

from our fallen natures like s

weather vane churns our choices

of response to other sinners -

some repentant some not - 

and like other blustery conditions

makes choosing to love the 

other easier said than done -

while realizing that the Great 

Gift of Confession is an answer 

to the chains / slavery of  anger / 

revenge by Grace to forgivee the

wrongdoer and 'Love as Jesus

Loved' which is our Calling / Goal

for which He trains / forms our 

hearts by allowing temptations

and trials for His Perfect Purposes

putting our weaknesses front 

and center from wounds in the 

past lingering into the present 

making forgiveness and sacrifice

arduous yet possible to overcome

by Merciful Grace given by the

Spirit of Love to equip our hands

for Spiritual War as we Ask and 

Receive from the One who forgave

from the Cross when He resolutely

'bore our sins and carried our 

sorrows' now we look to Him to 

see others as He sees them -

even the ones that seek our 

demise - praying for their 

Good since He Sacrificed for

them as well Offering Eternal

Life to the Lost whose fate 

we once shared...we who may

be Gifted / Blessed to minister

in His Kingdom must remember 

that without Love we are merely 

noisy gongs / clanging symbols...

so let us seek to be Transformed 

by the Renewal of our minds

to Think...See...Hear...Speak

and Love as He does...day

by day... knowing that...at 

the End of this passing life 

we shall be Judged by how 

we Loved Him above all

and Loved our neighbor -

especially those most difficult 

to Love - remembering that

His Grace is sufficient for us so

by...with...in the Power of the 

Holy Spirit let us seek to Love

with His Love...Mercy and 

Compassion knowing that 

there is more where that 

came from...so...

Ask and you shall Receive...

Reflections / Discussion:

-What are your challenges to love?

-How do you deal with your limitations?

-Who in your life is most challenging to Love?

-What are you doing to change for the better?

-How can you use Confession in a better way to Love?

-How much do you pray for them?

-Ask...Seek...Knock for what you need to Love.

The Intentional Disciple

to all who are so-called 'Believers

in Name Only'  who superficially 

follow Me - picking and choosing 

what to believe and following their 

own way not My Way - the World's

word not My Word...the time 

has come to Change your mind / 

heart...Repent and Believe the

Gospel...decide to take the next step

in your walk with Me...for the

enemy has been moving in new 

ways to attack the Kingdom of God -

True is false and false is True...

marriage / family life redefined...

fake ideologies @ human nature 

which jeopardizes innocent children...

Godless theories which divide 

races...fostering the murder of 

children and the suicide of the

elderly and sick...and moe "I"

than "Thou"...there will be no 

end to the evil unless you take a 

stand to fight in My Name...first to 

Witness to to My Resurrection

by living the Gospel Message -

be intentional...deliberate...seeking 

to put Me first in your life...building

your life and families on the firm 

foundation of My Word and Church

Teaching thus bringing Order and 

Peace into your lives...it is My Spirit

that will lead and strengthen you 

with His Gifts and Fruits especially

to Love as I Love...it is under His

Guidance and Power that you ar

to serve in My Kingdom...be aggressive

in overcoming any complacency 

with the sin / habits / weaknesses

in your personal / family life which 

keep you back from becoming the 

disciple I call you to be...I am ready 

to help you to win the victory...so....

ask yourselves: are you seeking

Me daily...studying My Word...

receiving My Body / Blood / spending

time in My Presence...calling each

other on in fellowship...laying down

your life in service...leaning how to

defend the Truth / Faith by Speaking

My Word in Love...if you do not have

the time...Make the time...for soon

the enemy and his minions will be

coming for you / family so...you

need to be ready / prepared for the

battle...have you received the Anointing

of My Holy Spirit? / asked for His

Gifts?...are you using those Gifts

daily? if you do not understand then

seek and you will find...do you 

understand how the enemy is 

trying to attack you and your 

family?...how to fight with the 

the tactics of the evil one?.. learn

how to fight with the Authority I

have given you...the time is now

do not wait any longer...put on the

whole Armor of God for your 

Enemy is like a roaring lion seeking

someone to devour so...do not be 

his next meal....

Reflection / Discussion:

-Have you committed your life to Christ?

-Are you complacent about your Christian life...

  continuing problem areas in your personal...

  family.. spiritual life? If so, change...by Grace alone. 

-Do you have a consistent prayer life, Scripture 

 reading, Spiritual reading ie daily? 

 If not, start.

-If you do not have a support system, find one.

-Are you continually learning about your faith?

 If not, start.

-Do you have a short personal testimony ready?

 If not, get one. 

-Learn about Spiritual Warfare and use it. 

Introduction

     The title of this compendium - "Reflections on the Way" - has at least three meanings:

     First,  Jesus spoke of Himself as "The Way": "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me". John 14:6 

     Secondly, Christianity in the early Church was simply called "the Way" as in the Acts of the Apostles 9:2 describing Paul's - then called Saul - persecution of the Way and asking for letters to the synagogues in Damascus "so that if he found anyone belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem".

    Thirdly, my own journey to belief, discipleship, transformation on the Way to the Goal of Holiness and Eternal Life with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit...so many lessons learned and still more to come and a "ways" to go. "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who

find it." Matthew 7:14

    To these, my hope is that your journey-Way- is helped or even begun through these reflections. Be forewarned, though, Jesus has been described as the "Hound of Heaven" - the One who Loves you Passionately - and He will not stop seeking you...offering a new life...knocking on the door of your heart...so, if you do not know Him...His Love...I strongly suggest you open that door and let Him "make all things new". But, my sense is that if you are reading.. praying...this book, you are already "on the way" and, so, His Word to you is that "there is MORE"…so, "Ask and you shall receive; Seek and you

shall find; Knock and the door shall be opened"!

These reflections are organized into 5 aspects / topics of the Way: 

 

EVANGELISM - One's own search for a personal relationship with Jesus and Abba in the Power of the Holy Spirit and how to help others in their search. "Who do YOU say I am?" Mark 8:29

SPIRITUAL LIFE - Growing "in the Way of the Lord"...eg. learning to "hear" His Voice, discernment, holiness, discipleship, spiritual warfare, service and summarized in "Loving Him above all and loving one another as He loved us".

SUFFERING - Can't get around it...a mystery...how to understand its place in our lives...how to deal with it...and, how to do as Jesus said: "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up your cross, and follow me". Mark 8:34

MORALITY - Making difficult decisions as to living out our relationship with Jesus despite having a wounded nature in a fallen world ruled by our eternal enemy who knows our weakness and wants our destruction. "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." John 14:15

TRINITY AND MOTHER MARY - Relationships that transform us into saints.

 A few more points:

     There are some questions at the end of each reflection. The purpose is to help you gain the most out of each one and lead you into prayer ie. telling the Lord what's on your heart - the good and not so good - and listening for His response. Discussing with others can be very helpful for both learning and support on your Way. One benefit in the organization of this book is that you don't have to read the 

entire book - or even an entire chapter - to 'get something out of it'. All it takes is one 'reflection'!

     A few thoughts on Prophecy and 'private revelation' ie. my sense of what the Father... Abba / Jesus is saying to me and, by way of application, to you as well. As we grow in our Relationship with Jesus and Abba, we also grow in "hearing" His word to us in prayer. Discernment is the key with any Prophetic word. Does it comply with Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the Catechism of the Catholic Church? And, lastly, presenting what we "hear / sense" to someone mature in the Faith, eg. our Spiritual Director, so we have confirmation / discernment outside of ourselves as to what is or is not from the Lord. Then we can ask Abba / Jesus how this word may apply to us and the Grace to put it into practice. "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you" Matthew 7:7-8

    Lastly, "Revival" is at the heart of this book even if it is not explicitly mentioned. How great is the need for Revival in the Church today as well as in the nations of the world! I pray that the Father through Jesus by the Power of the Holy Spirit stir the hearts and minds of all who read / pray even

one of these reflections! Come Holy Spirit! Move among us! Bring Revival! Change our hearts / minds! Give us the Grace to "Repent and Believe the Good News". Jesus is coming soon! All Glory be to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit...Now and Forever!

And so, one more time: There is MORE...GO AFTER IT!