Thank you, Benedict XVI

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the gift of Pope Benedict XVI. His life and his message always remind us what you said that the only way to true meaning in life is the way you have taught us, the way of littleness and service. In today's Gospel you tell us "Among you this is not to happen", that is, your followers shouldn't just follow the prevailing mentality. We shouldn't blindly follow the crowd or the noise or people's expectations. Instead, we need to go deep in our heart, in the sanctuary of our soul, and make our decisions accountable to no one else but God.
Thank you, Pope Benedict for this wonderful example. God bless you!

Prayer

You never take away from action what you put in on prayer.

My God

My God is not jealous of my happiness; nay, He offered His life so that I may truly have it.

Christian fasting

When Christians fast, we do not end up with sad faces. We fast because we want to leave more space in our lives for the greatest treasure of all: God. And where God is present there can only be joy.

Jesus, source of our joy

 Lent is a time of fasting. For many people fasting evokes deprivation and a serious, almost somber, demeanor. But Jesus himself has warned us against such a behavior. When we fast we shouldn't let others know about it. In other words, we shouldn't make others feel the burden of whatever sacrifices we make. If you want to work yourself to death, for whatever reason, don't make others feel guilty with your long  face!
Besides, Christian fasting should be done with the correct perspective. Self-deprivation is not the end itself. We deprive ourselves of something so as to make room for something with a greater value, nay, Someone of greater value: God.
Fasting should help us to focus our attention on Someone other than ourselves.
I don't think I have ever heard of anybody dying because of the Lenten fasting. But I hope that, little by little, the Lenten fasting will help me die in my desire for a superficial and easy life.

Simplify

What we need is definitely less than what we desire.
If half the energy we spend in desiring more were used in appreciating what we have and what we receive every day, there will be less people lacking in self-esteem and more running off to do some good for others.

Introspection

A healthy dose of introspection keeps your feet on the ground; too much of it turns you into a narcissist.

Words

What I say reflects the status of my soul.

Choosing what is right

What is right is not always popular. When we choose to do what is right we are slowly growing roots that give a firm foundation to our lives, until it doesn't anymore matter to us whether we are popular.

Today

Dear Lord, help me to make each today the best day of my life. Amen.