{"id":41139,"date":"2020-03-13T13:31:06","date_gmt":"2020-03-13T17:31:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/farmer-of-hearts-day17\/"},"modified":"2021-03-25T14:57:00","modified_gmt":"2021-03-25T18:57:00","slug":"farmer-of-hearts-day17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/farmer-of-hearts-day17\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 17 Persevering in Our Relationship with God"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Day 17 (Mar 16)
– Persevering in Our Relationship with God<\/h1>\n

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Day 17 (Mar 16)
Persevering in Our Relationship with God<\/h1>\n

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Are you staying or leaving?<\/h1>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_audio audio=”https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/farmer-of-hearts\/zh\/foh_day17_zh.mp3″ title=”Audio (in Cantonese)” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ background_color=”#73a642″ custom_margin=”10px||10px||false|false” custom_padding=”10px||10px||false|false” locked=”off”][\/et_pb_audio][et_pb_audio audio=”https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/farmer-of-hearts\/cn\/foh_day17_cn.mp3″ title=”Audio (in Mandarin)” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ background_color=”#73a642″ custom_margin=”10px||10px||false|false” custom_padding=”10px||10px||false|false” locked=”off”][\/et_pb_audio][et_pb_audio audio=”https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/farmer-of-hearts\/en\/foh_day17_en.mp3″ title=”English” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ background_color=”#73a642″ custom_margin=”10px||10px||false|false” custom_padding=”10px||10px||false|false” locked=”off”][\/et_pb_audio][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″ background_color=”#ed374e” custom_padding=”39px|||||” locked=”off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.3.2″ animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_testimonial author=”- Hebrews 10:26-27″ quote_icon_color=”#ffffff” use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”40px” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ body_font=”Yesteryear||on||||||” body_text_color=”#ffffff” body_font_size=”35px” author_font=”Arial||||||||” author_font_size=”23px” author_line_height=”1em” use_background_color=”off” text_orientation=”center” link_option_url=”http:\/\/www.vatican.va\/content\/benedict-xvi\/en\/encyclicals\/documents\/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est.html” link_option_url_new_window=”on”]<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we sin deliberately after receiving knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains sacrifice for sins but a fearful prospect of judgment and a flaming fire that is going to consume the adversaries\u201d<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_testimonial][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” locked=”off”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/farm.png” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ animation_style=”bounce” animation_duration=”1250ms”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Determination ” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ text_font_size=”24px” header_2_font_size=”24px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false”]<\/p>\n

What a stern and frightening warning for us Christians! Our decision to follow Christ is not a one-way ticket to heaven.<\/b> In fact, if we renege on our baptismal vow and deliberately turn away from God, what awaits us is \u201ca fearful prospect of judgment and a flaming fire\u201d!<\/h2>\n

Faith, after all, is an ongoing relationship between the believer and God, a relationship that needs to be sustained. If we choose to opt out, know that God's heart is pained to see us go. Yet, God will not force us to stay although He remains faithful to the relationship (see 2 Timothy 2:13).<\/h2>\n

Faith, in other words, takes effort and perseverance.<\/h2>\n

\u201cFor these are the beginning and end of life; faith is the beginning and love is the end\u201d (St. Ignatius of Antioch). Interestingly, perseverance is the crucial link connecting the two.<\/h2>\n

For us Christians, dying with Christ is past (since it had already happened in baptism), the resurrection is future, perseverance is present.<\/h2>\n

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To persevere or endure takes love because love endures all things <\/br>(see 1 Corinthians 13:7). <\/h1>\n

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REFLECTION:<\/h1>\n

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How well have I persevered in faith? How much love have I invested in keeping my faith and my relationship with God?<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/farmer-of-hearts-you-1.png” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ animation_style=”fold”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”\u8056\u7d93\u7ae0\u7bc0” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ custom_margin=”0px||15px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||15px||false|false” disabled=”on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|on” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_color=”#e02b20″ disabled=”on”]<\/p>\n

Matthew 13:3-23<\/h1>\n

3 And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: \u201cA sower went out to sow.
\n4 And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up.
\n5 Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep,
\n6 and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots.
\n7 Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it.
\n8 But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.
\n9 Whoever has ears ought to hear.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Purpose of Parables.<\/strong>
\n10 The disciples approached him and said, \u201cWhy do you speak to them in parables?\u201d
\n11 He said to them in reply, \u201cBecause knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.
\n12 To anyone who has, more will be given* and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
\n13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because \u2018they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.\u2019 14 Isaiah\u2019s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: \u2018You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see.
\n15 Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted, and I heal them.\u2019<\/p>\n

The Privilege of Discipleship.<\/strong>
\n16 \u201cBut blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear.
\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.3.2″]<\/p>\n

\n

Luke 15:4-7<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n

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What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, \u2018Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.\u2019 I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.<\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|on” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ disabled=”on”]\u6492\u7a2e\u6bd4\u55bb\u7684\u89e3\u91cb<\/strong>
\n18 \u300c\u90a3\u9ebc\uff0c\u4f60\u5011\u807d\u9019\u6492\u7a2e\u8005\u7684\u6bd4\u55bb\u7f77\uff01
\n19 \u51e1\u807d\u5929\u570b\u7684\u8a71\uff0c\u800c\u4e0d\u4e86\u89e3\u7684\uff0c\u90a3\u60e1\u8005\u5c31\u4f86\u628a\u6492\u5728\u4ed6\u5fc3\u88cf\u7684\u596a\u53bb\uff1a\u9019\u662f\u6307\u90a3\u6492\u5728\u8def\u65c1\u7684\u3002
\n20 \u90a3\u6492\u5728\u77f3\u982d\u5730\u88cf\u7684\uff0c\u5373\u662f\u6307\u4eba\u807d\u4e86\u8a71\uff0c\u7acb\u523b\u9ad8\u8208\u63a5\u53d7\uff1b
\n21 \u4f46\u5728\u5fc3\u88cf\u6c92\u6709\u6839\uff0c\u4e0d\u80fd\u6301\u4e45\uff0c\u4e00\u65e6\u70ba\u9019\u8a71\u767c\u751f\u4e86\u8271\u96e3\u548c\u8feb\u5bb3\uff0c\u5c31\u7acb\u523b\u8dcc\u5012\u4e86\u3002
\n22 \u90a3\u6492\u5728\u834a\u68d8\u4e2d\u7684\uff0c\u5373\u662f\u6307\u4eba\u807d\u4e86\u8a71\uff0c\u537b\u6709\u4e16\u4fd7\u7684\u7126\u616e\u548c\u8ca1\u5bcc\u7684\u8ff7\u60d1\uff0c\u628a\u8a71\u8499\u4f4f\u4e86\uff0c\u7d50\u4e0d\u51fa\u679c\u5be6\u3002
\n23 \u90a3\u6492\u5728\u597d\u5730\u88cf\u7684\uff0c\u5373\u662f\u6307\u90a3\u807d\u4e86\u8a71\u800c\u4e86\u89e3\u7684\u4eba\uff0c\u4ed6\u7576\u7136\u7d50\u5be6\uff0c\u6709\u7d50\u4e00\u767e\u500d\u7684\uff0c\u6709\u7d50\u516d\u5341\u500d\u7684\uff0c\u6709\u7d50\u4e09\u5341\u500d\u7684\u3002\u300d
\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”Determination ” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ text_font_size=”24px” header_2_font_size=”24px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” disabled=”on”]<\/p>\n

But here he sounds like he wants to reserve his words to a special group. The Catechism<\/i> explains, \u201cThrough his parables he invites people to the feast of the kingdom, but he also asks for a radical choice: to gain the kingdom, one must give everything. Words are not enough, deeds are required\u2026 One must enter the kingdom, that is, become a disciple of Christ, in order to ‘know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven’. For those who stay ‘outside’, everything remains enigmatic.\u201d (CCC 546)<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”\u4eca\u65e5\u79b1\u544a” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ background_color=”#ed374e” locked=”off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.3.2″ animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.3.2″ header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_3_text_align=”center”]<\/p>\n

TODAY'S PRAYER<\/h1>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”End of English section” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ custom_padding=”||0px|||” locked=”off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.3.2″ text_font_size=”30px” header_text_align=”center” header_line_height=”2em” header_2_font_size=”24px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” text_orientation=”center”]<\/p>\n

Heavenly Father, we praise You and glorify You! You are worthy of our praise and worship. Those who repent their sin of ever abandoning You, you forgive; those who persevere in faith, you grant them the imperishable inheritance in heaven. (see 1 Peter 1:4).<\/h2>\n

As my response to your call for perseverance in faith, O God, I will take time to reassess my personal relationship with You and to repent and confess my sin<\/br> for having ever abandoned You.\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.<\/i><\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Determination ” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ background_color=”#ed374e” locked=”off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.3.2″ animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.3.2″ header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_3_text_align=”center” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

If, unfortunately, you have already opted out, please know that, ever a merciful Father, God is waiting for you to return to Him.<\/h1>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” locked=”off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Determination ” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ text_font_size=”24px” header_2_font_size=”24px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

If, by the grace of God, you manage to persevere, how can you do better?<\/h2>\n

St. Peter offers 8 qualities of Christian life that make us worthy of sharing the divine nature as children of God (see 2 Peter 1:5-7). It's a crescendo of virtues that goes from individual (faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance) to communal (devotion, affection, love). Yes, faith is more than an individual endeavor. It always elevates us to the level of community. After all, heaven is a community – a communion of saints.<\/h2>\n

Would you take one extra step to make good use of St. Peter's 8 qualities of Christian life so that you will become a better Farmer of Heart?<\/h2>\n

May this Lenten retreat enable the seed of Christ in you to produce fruit \u201ca hundred or sixty or thirtyfold\u201d (Matthew 13:8)!<\/h2>\n

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Are you staying or leaving?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":37908,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-farmer-of-hearts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41139"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41139\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41269,"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41139\/revisions\/41269"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37908"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lent.fll.cc\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}