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Thursday, November 6, 2008
Philippians 3:3-8, Psalm 105:2-7, Luke 15:1-10
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/110608.shtml
SIN-SATIONAL
"Sinners were all gathering around to hear [Jesus]." —Luke 15:1
Sinners were attracted to Jesus. They wanted to be around Him and hear His
words. They wanted Jesus to eat in their homes (see Lk 19:7). They even
gathered other fellow sinners and brought them along to hear Jesus (see Mt
9:9-10). Sinners must have been attuned to the obvious love Jesus had for
them. Jesus proved that love is a powerful magnet to draw sinners.
Jesus is not soft on sin; He endured the agony of crucifixion in order to
destroy sin. However, Jesus is softhearted for sinners. Jesus wants to
avoid sin (see Jn 8:11), but He definitely does not avoid sinners. He came
to save sinners (1 Tm 1:15; Jn 3:16-17). He came to seek out sinners (Lk
15:4, 8; 19:10). Jesus loved sinners so much that He, in a sense, became
sin so that we sinners "might become the very holiness of God" (2 Cor
5:21).
Most people who read this book are not identified as sinners but as
Christians, that is, followers of Jesus. We can't imitate Jesus without
having His heart for sinners. Jesus will lose everything, even His life,
for them. To follow Him, we must deal with sinners as Jesus does. We must
plunge recklessly into "the wasteland" of desolation (Lk 15:4) and leave
ninety-nine good Christian friends behind to rescue a sinner (Lk 15:4). We
must be willing to risk our good reputation, as Jesus did, to bring God's
love and word to a sinner (Lk 15:2; 19:7). Jesus' heart of love impelled
Him to lovingly "search out" sinners and lead them to conversion (Lk
19:10). We must "go and do the same" (Lk 10:37).
Prayer: Father, by my wholehearted repentance, may I bring joy to Your
heart (Lk 15:7). May I lead many others to You.
Promise: "I have come to rate all as loss in the light of the surpassing
knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ." —Phil 3:8
Praise: Stephan has served as a volunteer for a prison ministry for
several decades.
(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my
permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from
October 1, 2008 through November 30, 2008
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, May 1, 2008
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be
free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have
granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or
statements expressed.
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