Weeks ago, I was finally able to picked up the pace
and finished reading the book by the late Joseph Cardinal Bernardin called “The
Gift of Peace.” The book is basically about his reflections and insights of the
events and happenings in the final 2 months of his life when he was diagnosed
with pancreatic cancer. He began in his book by recounting 3 years back of how
he forgave the person face to face who wrongfully accused him of sexual
misconduct that went public in the media. But for the most part, the book was
about discovering his new personal ministry of how, as a man of God, he can continue
to strive to courageously and consistently be a living witness and example to
others in living out his faith even in the face of death, and even in the midst
of all his fears, anxieties and exhaustion, so that whether in good times or
bad, God’s power still manifest, and eventually him finding God’s gift of Peace
in the process in embracing death.
One of the things that struck me in the book, as
it also resonated with some of my friends when I shared this with them, was
when he said: “Pray while you’re well, because if you wait until you are sick
you might not be able to do it.” This piques my sense of gratitude because I
tend to do the opposite sometimes, prioritizing other things first and only
pray to God more intently when in need or sick and praying doesn’t go too well
sometimes in those circumstances. His saying also serves as a good reminder of
how blessed we still are to be able to have the opportunity to pray and worship
the Lord everyday with this gift of life and this gift of faith God has
continue to give us, to be able to pray together with our families, with our
kids, teaching them about faith and as examples to others in our prayer life. Though
we are not as healthy as we wanted ourselves to be like we were 20 years ago or
so, and despite coming here in the gathering limping, either spiritually or
literally. We are still here, we made it and that’s what matters. Because we’ll
never know, tomorrow may never come. We may never get the chance for God to
work in our lives, in reparation and atonement for our sins and mistakes to the
Lord and to our loved ones whom we have hurt.
Cardinal Bernardin ended his book by saying:
"What I would like to leave behind is a simple prayer that each of you may find what I have found -- God's
special gift to us all: the Gift of Peace. When we are at peace, we find the
freedom to be most fully who we are, even in the worst of times. We let go of
what is nonessential and embrace what is essential. We empty ourselves so that
God may more fully work within us. And we become instruments in the hands of
the Lord." Thirteen days after finishing his book, Cardinal Bernardin
passed away in 1996.
As we
worship this afternoon, let us ask the Lord for the gift of perseverance so
that we may have the strength to pray as often as we can, and the joy to praise
Him as long as we can until we may finally be able to say to Him: "Now, Lord, you
have kept your promise, let your servant go in peace.” (Luke 2:29-31)
Exhortation 2019-11-3
***If the book sounds interesting to you or you think someone might need it, you can purchase one at Amazon by clicking the image below or above.
DISCLAIMER: LettersToLukewarmers.blogspot.com is 100%
"YOU"-supported. Links included in
this blog might be affiliate links. When you purchase a product
through one of the links, LettersToLukewarmers.blogspot.com may receive a
very tiny
commission at no extra cost to you.
Thank you for supporting
LettersToLukewarmers.blogspot.com and for spreading the good, true and
beautiful through the One, Holy, Apostolic & Catholic Faith!
