Christian article - Love One Another Christian articles - Love One Another
You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery;'                but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.                If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.                If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna.                'It was also said, 'Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,'                but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.                'Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,'                but I tell you, don't swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;                nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.                Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black.                But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.                'You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'*                But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.                If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also.                Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.                Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you.                'You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor,* and hate your enemy.*'                But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,                that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven.               
English versionChristian Portal

Christian Resources

Vote!

 
On Drawing Our Last Breath
   

Author: Testimony,
Love One Another! 16/2010 → Divine mercy

Love One Another!



My grandmother landed in hospital. Tests revealed a malignant tumor. The doctors foresaw long months of suffering. Although my grandmother knew nothing of the diagnosis, she prepared herself for the imminent prospect of crossing to the “other shore.” She was always ready for death; in fact, she prepared us with a good number of “dry runs.” Several times, while lying ill in hospital, and then later at home, she would stand us on our feet, believing she was on the point of dying. But when Jesus came to her in the sacrament of the sick, everything would return to normal in a marvelous and astonishing way. And so it went on for three to four years.

On the day she finally went to the Lord there was nothing to indicate her time had come. That day I had a routine appointment with my doctor. As usual, I prayed while driving to the hospital. I recited the rosary, interceding for others, including my grandmother. I reached the hospital without any premonitions. While sitting in the waiting room, I reached for a book in my purse and began reading, so as not to waste time. After reading a page or so, I suddenly felt disinclined to read any more, as if reading were not called for at that moment. The words, “Jesus, I trust in You!” began to force themselves to my lips. “Someone may be dying,” I thought to myself. I recited the chaplet of Divine Mercy and followed it up with a decade of the rosary. The thought of someone experiencing an agony of mortal fear flashed through my mind. I muttered an “Eternal Rest” for the soul, and just at that moment they called me into the doctor’s office. It was not until I was leaving the hospital that I received a telephone call informing me that Grandmother had passed away just a short while ago–at 3:00 p.m. She had departed quietly, without saying a word. (But then, did she really say nothing? I am convinced she had been with me in that hospital waiting room and there begged me to join with her in prayer at that most difficult moment for all of us–that moment of great desolation, but also of great happiness when we finally meet what has hitherto been invisible to us.) She died at home in my mother’s arms.

I am absolutely convinced Grandmother’s soul had accompanied me in prayer both in the car and in the hospital waiting room. Is God not marvelous and full of mercy for having taken her to His bosom at precisely this time? Death is a great mystery to us all, although Jesus has lifted the veil slightly through the revelations of mystics. Consequently, it is easier for us to be in sympathy with the state of a soul as it crosses into eternity. We can understand the importance of the moment.

Everybody’s departure from this world prompts us to reflect on the moment of our own death. Who knows when it will be? That it will come one day is certain; and it is better to be well prepared for it, by living every day as if it were our last. Jesus Himself told us what to do, how to live, in order that eternity might be ours to enjoy: “Stay awake and pray, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (cf. Matthew 25:13).

G.A. 

Please e-subscribe

If you are interested to download entire issue in PDF format





The above article was published with permission from "Love One Another!" in June 2016.



Read more Christian articles (English)


Top



Recommend this page to your friend!

Read also: