Arise and Walk

“In our life sometimes we have to make painful choices. And it takes a bit of courage to make up our mind for it involves an element of renunciation, something hard to accept in a world steeped in pleasure and comfort.”

“If we were men and women of faith, we would be strong and serene even in the face of serious contradictions. When others begin to vacillate, we remain firm. When others fall into despair, we exude hope.”

“Since the fall of humanity, humility has been a very rare commodity. We admire people who are humble and yet we are reluctant to be humble ourselves. In a world saturated with pride, humility is seen as a weakness and defeat.”

“When it is our turn to endure a trial, we touch the depths of the human spirit. The pangs of life allow us to think, to reflect on the meaning of human existence. Suffering opens our eyes to our vocation to transcendence.”

“Living the demands of chastity may look strange in an environment awash in sensuality. What has happened is that in many sectors of our society there has been a reversal of values. Where corruption is endemic, integrity causes a stir. Where sensuality reigns, purity is scoffed at.”

“The drama of human life, with its joys and sorrows, triumphs and defeats, makes us long for eternal rest. The insufficiency and finitude of everything that surrounds us only bring to the fore our innate desire for total happiness.”

“Prayer often changes our perspective. We begin to realize that we had been blowing things up. We now see a flicker of hope where before we saw only total darkness.”

“When a person abandons God, he or she abandons oneself. It is the worst case of self-alienation, a spiritual suicide. The only way for that person to recover life is to turn back to God.”

“The comforts in life undercut the spirit of penance and self-denial that are essential in spiritual life. The human body needs to be put under control for it has a history of rebellions against the spirit.”

“When there is authentic love for God, many of our difficulties vanish for they are more imaginary than real. We begin to realize that we are very much capable to do things we find difficult in our tepid state.”