If Then Else: Conditional Blessings

There are some conditional blessings that God wants to give us that are like computer programing languages that have code that states: If–then (–else) which means “IF” YOU DO THIS “THEN” THIS WILL FOLLOW OR ELSE THIS HAPPENS.

This helps us not to put everything on God and make him responsible for everything that happens to us.

e.g. [Regarding the promise of peace in our Gospel Reading]

The recurring mistake for the Israelite was to assume that shalom was his irrespective of his behavior. Deuteronomy 29:19 says, “When such a person hears the words of this oath and they invoke a blessing on themselves, thinking, ‘I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way,’ they will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry.”

Shalom is not an indiscriminate gift of Yahweh. It is conditional.

God consciously withholds peace if the people are disobedient or rebellious (Isaiah 48:18), and, conversely, when righteousness is present, shalom will follow (Isaiah 32: 16.; Psalm 72: 7).

Cardinal John Henry Newman made this point in one of his sermons: “Can’t you recall, at some time or other, having done something wrong? Don’t you remember what piercing bitter feelings came on you afterwards? Isn’t the feeling of a bad conscience more distressing than any other? Why is it so distressing? Because God created us to be happy by abiding in him.”

An ancient rabbi taught: all the benedictions end with shalom, because benedictions are worthless unless they are attended by shalom.”

“Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” What is troubling me? What things calm my heart?

2). Another conditional blessing comes from not being jealous, envious or possessive.

e.g. Jesus says in our Gospel today, “If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father.”

This does not mean that the disciples did not love Jesus but rather to indicate that their love was possessive instead of generous.

If you love something, let it go....

.....If it comes back to you, you may be in love with a boomerang!

If you love a friend, let them go....

If they come back with coffee, it was meant to be.

Jesus said that by his going, the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, will teach you everything and remind you of all that he told you.

E.g. During the French Revolution, when prisoners were crammed into dungeons, it is said that one man managed to sneak in a Bible. The cell was so dim it was impossible to read clearly with the small print, but once every day, for a few brief moments, a tiny shaft of light would come through a small window near the ceiling and, since his fellow prisoners longed to hear the Scriptures, at the same time every day, they would lift the man with the Bible on their shoulders and into the light where he could read from the Scriptures. When the light was gone, they would carefully lower the man to the ground and always ask the same question, "Tell us, friend, what did you read while you were in the light?"

The Advocate or Holy Spirit is the “interior teacher” who does not just say what should be done, but also gives the capacity to do what he commands. Growing edges can be opportunities for new insights and methods for improving.

The smallest degree of sanctifying grace is worth more than anything that the world can offer.

The mission of the Divine Persons terminates in their habitation in the just souls (common teaching). This habitation is nothing else than the presence of the Divine Persons as efficient and exemplary cause of sanctifying grace. The principle is where a spirit is present, it produces an effect.

The algorithm or procedure to increase the priority of Sanctifying Graces is to receive Holy Communion worthily!