THE DREAM

I always used to ask God to show me how to live faith .....
It's already a few years since I had a very significant dream, which is vividly imprinted in my mind and in my heart forevermore. 
No doubt it was an answer to my prayers and it made me feel so deeply cared for and loved!
The dream:
"I climb up a rather high mountain together with many other people. 
We walk in silence on a narrow path, in a row.
I understand that we are pilgrims, when I see a church far away high up on the mountain, beautifully “set” on the horizon. 
I am full of expectancy. I love the mountains and I enjoy the view and the peaceful climbing. When we reach the church and when everybody is inside, I immediately notice a man who shuts all the doors in what seems to me a definitive manner.  
He blocks the doors nailing pieces of wood on them. Instantly I feel claustrophobic and ask the man to please open the doors again.
I don’t like to be closed in, I feel uneasy, I want to go outside again, but there is no reply.
I look around and there I see a staircase. 
I run up the stairs and indeed I find a little door which opens to a balcony and I step out: What I see in that moment is so immensely moving! I see a beautiful green valley stretched before my eyes (it does not seem the same valley we have come from).  
At the end of this valley there is a golden city.
Everything is so extremely brilliant and beautiful that my heart fills with a longing so strong that I can hardly bear it.
I'm overwhelmed and stand there in utter awe for quite a while. Then I do not resist anymore. 
I cry out, I want to go there, I feel within my heart that the Place is like Paradise. 
It's as if from the shining town a voice called me, “come, come, here is beauty, here is love, here is peace “. ..... Then I hurry downstairs shouting “How can I reach the place I've seen from the balcony? There is a golden city! Please open the doors ...” Nobody answers and I feel deeply frustrated for being closed in. 
Then I find myself standing right in front of the Altar with a little golden Tabernacle. The Tabernacle is beautifully decorated.
While gazing at the Tabernacle I suddenly become silent and I feel at peace. In that moment I hear a beautiful voice saying "You know the way, I am the way, there is no other way to reach the place you've seen ..... come through the Tabernacle, this is the only way".
The Voice vibrated softly in my heart. My reaction to the “invitation” was strange. I thought “the Tabernacle is too small to get through, I'll never manage ........”.
The dream ended and I woke up just in that moment when I was doubting to make it “through” the Tabernacle.
I remembered vividly everything and finally, my heart strongly pounding, I understood.
JESUS had told me that HE WAS THE WAY! HE IS THE WAY to perfect joy “perfecta laetitia”! And I remembered the words He said to His disciples during the Last Supper “Do this in memory of Me…..”.
The Holy Eucharisty! …. The Tabernacle! Since I had this wonderful dream I approach the Holy Eucharisty in the Tabernacle.....

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

A Little Rain

I asked this question, of my Father above, "Why do bad things happen to the people I love?" 
The answer has long been misunderstood,
Why tragedy occurs to the just and the good.
The Lord whispered softly, in a voice sweet and low, "You'll find the answer in the Book I left you, centuries ago."  
He allows the rain to fall on His sheep, To keep us humble, forgiving, and meek.
A little rain must fall on every life. 
This world is full of sorrow and strife. 
He makes the rain fall on the lost and unjust, In order to gain their repentance and trust.
He hopes to increase our virtues And to get our priorities straight, So, when the death angel comes, to carry us home, He'll be waiting for us at the gate.
Author Unknown

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/

THE GIFT

Here is a true story about a nine year old boy who lived in a rural town in Tennessee.
His house was in a poor area of the community. 
A church had a bus ministry that came knocking on his door one Saturday afternoon. The kid came to answer the door and greeted the bus pastor. 
The bus pastor asked if his parents were home, and the small boy told him that his parents take off every weekend and leave him at home to take care of his little brother. 
The bus pastor couldn't believe what the kid said and asked him to repeat it. 
The youngster gave the same answer, and the bus pastor asked to come in and talk with him. They went into the living room and sat down on an old couch with the foam and springs exposed.
The bus pastor asked the kid, "Where do you go to church?"  
The young boy surprised the visitor by replying, "I've never been to church in my whole life."
The bus pastor thought to himself about the fact that his church was less than three miles from the child's house.
"Are you sure you have never been to church?" he asked again.
"I sure haven't," came his answer. 
Then the bus pastor said, "Well, son, more important than going to church, have you ever heard the greatest love story ever told?", and then proceeded to share the Gospel with this little nine year old boy. 
The young lad's heart began to be tenderized, and at the end of the bus pastor's story, the bus pastor asked if the boy wanted to receive this free gift from God. 
The youngster exclaimed, "You bet!" The kid and the bus pastor got on their knees and the lad invited Jesus into his little heart and received the free gift of salvation. 
They both stood up and the bus pastor asked if he could pick the kid up for church the next morning. "Sure," the nine year old replied.
The bus pastor got to the house early the next morning and found the lights off. 
He let himself in, snaked his way through the house, and found the little boy asleep in his bed. 
He woke up the little boy and his brother and helped get them dressed. 
They got on the bus and ate a donut for breakfast on their way to church.
Keep in mind that this boy had never been to church before.
The church was a real big one. 
The little kid just sat there, clueless of what was going on.
A few minutes into the service, these tall unhappy guys walked down to the front and picked up some wooden plates.
One of the men prayed and the kid, with utter fascination, watched them walk up and down the aisles. He still didn't know what was going on. 
All of a sudden, like a bolt of lightning, it hit the kid what was taking place. 
These people must be giving money to Jesus.
He then reflected on the free gift of life he had received just twenty-four hours earlier. 
He immediately searched his pockets, front and back, and couldn't find a thing to give Jesus.
By this time the offering plate was being passed down his aisle and, with a broken heart, he just grabbed the plate and held on to it. 
He finally let go and watched it pass on down the aisle. 
He turned around to see it passed down the aisle behind him.
And then his eyes remained glued on the plate as it was passed back and forth, all the way to the rear of the sanctuary.
Then he had an idea. This little nine year old boy, in front of God and everybody, got up out of his seat. He walked about eight rows back, grabbed the usher by the coat and asked to hold the plate one more time. 
Then he did the most astounding thing I have ever heard of. 
He took the plate, sat it on the carpeted church floor and stepped into the center of it. 
As he stood there, he lifted his little head up and said, "Jesus, I don't have anything to give you today, but just me. I give you me!"-
AUTHOR UNKNOWN -

Descubriendo el Siglo 21

Discovering 21century

Fr Tomás Del Valle-Reyes

P. O. BOX 1170

New York, NY 10018

(212) 244 4778

www.descubriendoelsiglo21.com/