Papouasie Nouvelle Guinée

 FRIENDS OF WISDOM-KIUNGA (PAPUA NEW GUINEA).

ARTICLE: “DANGER IN TRUSTING IN OUR OWN STRENGHT INSTEAD OF TRUSTING IN THE LORD.” 

As we are already into the season of Lent which is a gracious moment for reflection, renewal covenant and revival of the spirit. Its again a time for us to turn away from sins and turn towards Christ our Saviour who has redeemed us on the Cross of Calvary.

Most times we feel and think as if we would never fall into sin. The disciple of Christ, boasted “even though all these other disciples fall away, “I will never”, (Mk 14: 29). This can be no doubt that Peter meant what he said. He was very sure of himself, but he faced a danger that all disciples of Christ can face the danger of trusting in our own strength instead of trusting the Lord.

Self-confidence in our life can also bring some dangers. Dangers that:

Will cause us to dry up Spiritually. “I will condemn the person who turns away from me and put his trust in man”, says the Lord. “He is like a bush in the desert, which grows in the dry wilderness, on salty ground where nothing else grows. Nothing good ever happens to him” (Jer 17: 5-6), Jesus said something similar to His disciples. I am the Vine, you are the branches…If you abide in Me, you will bear much fruits… But if you don’t abide in Me you will dry up and wither away (Jn. 15: 5-6). Self-confidence brings spiritual dryness and weakness.

This makes us try to fight spiritual battles with worldly weapons. This is what Peter did in the garden of Gethsemane. Instead of harming himself for spiritual battle in prayer, (as Jesus did) Peter and other disciples slept (Lk 22: 38-46). Then, instead of seeing   the battle against Jesus as a spiritual one. Peter struck out with his sword. Self-confidence blinds us to the real spiritual issues behind the problems we face. It makes us react according to our old “fleshly” nature, rather than according to our spiritual nature. It makes use weapons of anger, criticism, gossip, revenge, hatred, lying or slander instead of weapon of prayer, forgiveness, kindness, patience, trust, respect, humility and faithfulness. The only way we can win over Satan is by using spiritual weapons, not worldly ones (2 Cor. 10: 3-4).

Will weaken our witness and make our work of little lasting value. The one who said he would die for Christ, soon denied Him. The one who just before was ready to fight any army is now afraid of maid. The one who was so full of courage in the warmth of the upper room, has become a coward in cold world of reality. Why? He was trusting in himself. We too will find in our witness, our work and our service for Christ of little lasting value if we are trusting in ourselves and not in Him.

Self-confidence will not strengthen our Christian life; it will weaken it. It will not help us push forward in discipleship or as followers of Christ, it will hold us back. 

It will not bring us successes in Christian service, it will bring us failure. “Blessed is the man who trust in the Lord (Jer 17:7).

 Failure can come to our lives in many ways, we might fail to get a job or show up on time for work. We might also fail to keep an appointment or a promise, or fail to respect or obey rules and policies. But what about our failure in our relationship with Christ? Or falling into sin or turning aside from right path? What happens if we fail in our marriage, fail in our family life, or fail in our ministry? Does that disqualify us from continuing to be Christ’s disciples? Is failure the end?

Every experience in the life of a follower of Christ failure forms a part of a learning process in His teachings for us as Christians or followers and Disciples of Christ. All of our lives come under His control. This means that every experience (weather good or bad) can be turned as a teaching experience to train and mould us into better disciples. Even the bitter experiences of life can be used to our benefit if we learn the lessons that God is trying to teach us through them (Heb 12: 11).  Constant success can be dangerous. It can lead us to pride and self-confidence. To fail sometimes can be good for us, but it has its dangers too. 

Failure can work in two opposite ways in our lives. It can either make us better or it can turn us bitter. It can either teach us to trust in Christ more fully, or it can turn us away from Him. It can strengthen us as disciples, or it can spoil us. The effect it has on our lives depends on how we react to it. Failure will only yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness in our lives if we let it train and teach us.

As Christians let us not have doubt.  The Church keeps on bringing us back and is reminding us each time where to give pause to our busy daily life, and come back to our baptismal covenant which we had with Christ in order to seek real peace and harmony in Him.

Seeking saviour found Peter and brought him back after he failed badly. Peter’s failure could have finished him as a disciple. But that was not the end. His failure was another hard lesson in the school of discipleship. We have also failed like Peter or may have more serious. But there is way back. The Lord may discipline us for a time because of our failure (Mic 7: 8). There may still be natural results of our failure that we will have to face (Gal 6:7-8). But there is a way back. We must repent and find forgiveness and get up again. The saviour is seeking to bring back with rejoicing His sheep that has strayed. 

Yes, as an example of Christ’s disciple, Peter failed badly. But it was the end. It was the beginning of a very fruitful ministry. It can be the same for us too. 

At this time of Lenten season, it is again reminding us to look back into our own lives to turn away from sins and turn towards Christ who is our savour and Redeemer. 

Jesus Christ the divine person that became man like us and tremendously showed us His great compassionate love and mercy, through His pain and suffering on the Cross of Cavalry. He is our, saviour and Redeemer. 

Let us build our trust and faith in Him more than having self-confidence in our own strength. 

 

 

Involvement in the liturgy for the Holy Chrisim Mass. It is moment to experience the presence of Jesus with the Bishop, Priests and the people of God to celebrate such occation. 

 

 

Presentation to the Legion Spiritual group on the work of Laity in the life and Mission of the Church today. Participating in different Spiritual groups with more reflection and meditation also gives us the strength and the nourishment from our good Lord. 

At this time of preparation towards the Easter celebration, it is also a time to think of our wrong doings and be sorry for what we have done and maintain good relationship with God and to come closer to him. Going through 40 days of Prayer Fasting and Arms giving is also a good experience of newness in life with God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit and Mary our Mother and Mother of God. 

As members of the Friends of Friends of Wisdom throughout the world, it is good and enriching to learn from each other of what we are doing in our entities with our spiritual life with St. Montfort and Blessed Marie Louise. 

Prepared by: David Sendok. 

Friend of Wisdom, Papua New Guinea (PNG).