The Murray Clan: January 2012

Yes, I know that it is hard to imagine, but fear is a gift. Of course, it is a gift of the Holy Spirit - Fear of the Lord. I read this meditation the other day which so accurately explained the gift of the fear of God that I wanted to share it. Fear is a fundamental gift because it roots us in the truth about God and divine things.
"Without special help from God what would we have done on a certain day, at a certain hour? What choice would we have made? Without His continuing help, what would we do tomorrow?
When we stand before these two abysses - the abyss of the infinite purity of God, the only good, inaccessible to the sinner, and the abyss of our own wretchedness and weakness - we are seized with an impulse of retreat, to dread. This is not a matter of distrust, nor of discouragement or despair. It is a piercing, poignant and purifying view of what we are in very truth before the eyes of God. As long as we have not been purified by this sentiment, we cannot say that we have tasted the Lord. It is fear that first makes us know and experience what God is and what we are."
I thought fear was not of God. But, how can Fear of the Lord be a gift be a gift of the Holy Spirit? Fear causes people to move, to change to grow. If we are too afraid to see ourselves as God sees us than we have unhealthy fear. Holy, healthy fear make our faculties for knowing and loving receptive to God's grace.

Our Lady of Lourdes

We are called to believe, above all, in the mystery of God's will for us and for our loved ones. Bernadette Soubirous responded in faith to God's will for her, even though her commitment brought with it much suffering. The story of Bernadette, and the Lesson of Lourdes is that we must always seek, and then accept, the will of God in our lives. Our greatest and most profound experience of the healing comes, not in the receiving the cure which we seek, but in submitting ourselves to the will of God - "Lord not my will, but thine be done." - Taken from the Florentine Patron Saints Collection

Prayer of the Order of Malta

Lord Jesus, Thou has seen fit to enlist me for Thy service among the Knights and Dames of St. John of Jerusalem. I humbly entreat Thee through the intercession of the Holy Virgin of Philermo, of St. John the Baptist and all the Saints to keep me faithful to the traditions of our Order. Be it mine to practice and defend the Catholic, the Apostolic, the Roman faith against the enemies of religion: be it mine to practice charity toward my neighbors, especially the poor and sick. Give me the strength I need to carry out this my resolve, forgetful of myself, learning ever from Thy Holy Gospel a spirit of deep and generous devotion, striving ever to promote God's glory, the world's peace and all that may benefit the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.

Amen

Psalm 116

How shall I make a return to the Lord
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will pay
in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the eyes of the Lord
is the death of his faithfull ones.
O Lord I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your handmade;
you have loosed my bonds.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving
and I will call upon the name of the Lord.
My vows to the Lord I will pay
in the presence of all his people.
In the courts of the house of the Lord,
in your midst, O Jerusalem

The Murray Clan

Murray Clan 13!!

Messy Mondays: Seven Lies about Homeschoolers (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Fear is a fundamental gift of God

Bateman/Murray Cousins

About Us

Blog Archive