6.3.2019
During the night I woke up when I got some white drink that I drank out. Jesus said: “Barlička you drank from chalice of grace. You will receive many of them. Which ones you will find out.”
Lord Jesus dictated contemplation stories for this years’ Lent and told him to send them to all members of The Society of Friends of the Eucharist whose contacts he has.
The first story.
“There were once two deeply believing brothers. They decided to dedicate their lives to the service of God. Therefore, in their community they began to develop activities in this direction. They served at the altar, prepared things for Holy Masses and adorations, read the word of God, gave Holy Communion, took an active part in all community events, and as well organized many of them. They were very helpful to the priests and therefore became their favorites. However, there was a difference between the two brothers in their understanding what service to God means. The first applied that only to the service of the temple. People didn’t interest him. He even despised them. He only liked those who flattered him and only talked to those. He hated when someone contradicted him. He thought it should be an honor for another person when he greets or responds to greeting. If he did something wrong, or if something went wrong, he immediately found the offender or excuse why it happened. It was never him. It was just good what he did. His conscience was numb, he saw the sins of others, not his own. On the other hand, his brother understood service to God not only as service to the temple, but service to people. He felt very sinful himself, so he looked in people only for the good that is in them. He was very kind to everyone, he tried to help if he saw that someone has problems. He did not condemn them when he saw that they were not doing well, on the contrary, he tried to lead them on the right path with kind words. He felt like one of them. He had in his heart deeply engraved the words of the Apostle Paul from 1 Corinthians: “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
He also tried to explain to his brother that his activity without love was nothing, but he did not listen to him. His heart was hardened, unable to accept any good advice.
What do you think which of the brothers are more? Where are you alone? Think! Wherever you are, you deeply engrave these words of Paul in your memory and heart. May those words be a compass and a warning to you at the same time, not to get lost on the way to Me!”
The second story
“There were two fruiterers. They were engaged in growing apples. The first of them used the latest knowledge in this area, the latest fertilizers and chemicals to make his apples as beautiful as possible. And the result came. His apples were beautiful, one more beautiful than the other. A joy to look at them. The second fruit grower went the other way. He used the experience and tradition of his fathers, he did not use any artificial fertilizers and chemicals or the latest knowledge, and he just took care of the trees and their fruits. The result was much worse on the outside than that of the first fruit grower. His apples could not be compared to the beautiful big ones. In the market, when both fruit growers sold their fruits, the beautiful ones sold very well, the others, just few. Only those who tasted apples bought them. The big ones were very beautiful, but they had no taste or smell of apples. It was just a tasteless substance, surrounded by a beautiful packaging. The latter were not so nice, but they were very tasty, juicy.
If we call your soul an apple, what kind of fruit maker are you? Do you let everything in what world offers to you? All those new trends and directions, just to be in? Do you accept and do everything, because you have to live life to the fullest, not to limit yourself in anything? Isn’t your soul just such a nice cover and the inside is soulless, empty? Or you are like the other fruit grower who builds on the Christian tradition and faith? Do you protect it from evil influences, no matter what you look like in front of the world, just to be pure and to please God? Do you make sure it is beautiful from the inside and not just from the outside?
The apple was at first sin when the devil abetted Eva to bite into it. Today he offers you a number of such beautiful apples, just to pull you to himself. These are, first and foremost, various addictions such as alcohol, drugs, sex, pornography, television, computers, computer games, mobile phones, money, etc.… Second, they are various temptations that strike you at every turn. Anyone who has bitten into such an apple has found how bitter it is. Therefore, pay close attention to the attractions in beautiful packaging, always see what is inside. Not the packaging is important, but what is in it. If you have bitten into such apples, quickly get away from becoming regular consumers because it is very difficult to get out of this condition.“
The third story.
“Ground squirrel decided to find a proper place to stay. When he came across a huge cornfield, his heart leapt with joy. I will live here. He searched for the lowest place in the field so it would not be difficult for him to gather the crop, and he carved a huge labyrinth of corridors. Then he began to work hard. From morning till evening, he carried the grain to his lair, he did not stop for a moment. His bags on mouth were so full that they almost went to burst. So, the burrow was gradually filled until it was so filled that he also had to block the escape exits with grain. When there were no more places in it, only a small slit through which he barely got to the bottom, he lay down and said. Now I have enough of everything. I don’t have to do anything anymore; I can rest contentedly. He rolled over and fell asleep peacefully. But at night, a storm with cloudburst came. The water rolled across the field, and since the burrow was at its lowest point, it completely flooded it. The water blocked the entrance with grain so the ground squirrel could not dig out of it and drowned.”
