Vol. 12, No. 3, July, 2007

Before You Are Life and Death: Choose! Part 2
by Sr. Brigid Meierotto, S.N.C.

In this teaching, we will accept the word of God, the Scriptures into our hearts and minds, letting them be light to us. The Scriptures are the inspired word of God which has the power to accomplish what it says, for us. Yes, for us, right here. Right now!

The Scripture we are reflecting upon is: Sirach 15:15-20; Psalm 98; 1 Corinthians 2:9-16; Matthew 5. Read these passages slowly, prayerfully.

As you read the Scripture, in your heart ask the Holy Spirit to explain to you the message that the Lord has for you personally. Do not doubt that the Lord Jesus will do this for you, because that is why he came, so that you can get to know and to love Jesus. "These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you" (John 14:25f). Ask the Holy Spirit what you desire from him...something like this: "O Holy Spirit, Jesus said that you would teach me all things and I believe him. Teach me the meaning of the Beatitudes so that I can understand Jesus' way of life! Teach me what I must do in order to live out the Beatitudes! Teach me to choose life at every moment in order that I be saved from sin and death ! Teach me how to love Jesus with my whole heart, trusting him, giving him praise and adoration with every breath! Thank you, O Holy Spirit."

In Part 1 of this teaching, Before You are Life and Death: Choose! we considered Jesus' choice of us, enabling us to make the choice for Jesus, to obey his commandment to love one another; to make the choice for life in the power and the love of the Holy Spirit!

"If you will, you can keep the commandments, and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice" (Sirach 15:15).

Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, also expresses his awe and wonder at the working of the Holy Spirit. He tells us at the beginning of chapter 2, that he decided -- in other words -- Paul made a choice:

"...to know nothing among you (the Corinthians) except Jesus Christ and him crucified."

Paul continues: "And I was with you in weakness and in much fear and trembling; and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

As we reflect on commiting our selves to living the Beatitudes, it is not difficult to understand why Paul approached the Corinthians in weakness and in much fear and trembling, not trusting in his own words of wisdom but in the strength of the Spirit and of the power of the Lord.

Encountering the Beatitudes puts us in the position of making a choice for life or for death. It is necessary to make this decision before hand, rather than on the run.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

In the name of Jesus Christ, I choose a life style of being poor in spirit in order that I may have eternal life in the kingdom of heaven!

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

In the name of Jesus Christ, I choose to mourn as I suffer loss in order that I might be comforted.

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

In the name of Jesus Christ, I choose the character of meekness that I may inherit the goodness of the earth!

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."

In the name of Jesus Christ, I choose to hunger and thirst for righteousness that I may be satisfied and enable others to be satisfied!

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

In the name of Jesus Christ, I choose to be merciful to others so that I may obtain mercy!

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

In the name of Jesus Christ, I choose to be pure in heart, in order that I may see God!

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."

In the name of Jesus Christ, I choose to be a peacemaker, in order that I might be called a son of God!

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

In the name of Jesus Christ, I choose to be persecuted for righteousness' sake when such a situation arises so that I may live forever in the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account."

In the name of Jesus Christ, I choose to be reviled and persecuted falsely to make up what is lacking in the sufferings of Jesus.

Closing prayer: "Thank you, Spirit of love, Thank you for teaching me that if I want to, I can keep the commandments, especially the new commandment that Jesus has strengthened us with -- the commandment of love! Thank you for teaching me what Jesus has done in order to save me from sin and death! Thank you for teaching me to love Jesus with my whole heart, trusting him, giving him praise and adoration with every breath! Thank you for teaching me to live out the Beatitudes! Thank you for teaching me to love every person the Lord has made! Thank you, O Holy Spirit." Now the prayer to Mary:

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus! Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen!"