Did you know Presentation Ministries has a Bible College called Our Lady of Guadalupe Bible College (GBC)? Home study is available. For more information visit:
http://www.presentationministries.com/gbc/InfoStart.asp
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, March 28, 2014
Hosea 14:2-10, Psalm 81:6-11, 14, 17, Mark 12:28-34
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032814.cfm
THE COMMANDMENT FOR THE HYPOCRITE
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." -Mark 12:31
One of the scribes asked Jesus: "Which is the first commandment?" Jesus answered by stating the first and second commandments (Mk 12:31). Jesus not only gave the scribe more than he asked for, but also picked a most obscure commandment buried in the many detailed commands of Leviticus (Lv 19:18). What was Jesus doing?
The first commandment seems to be something people say more than do. How many times have we said we love the Lord? How many times have we gone to Communion? Yet our repeated sins and lives of selfishness make it questionable whether or not we truly love the Lord with all our hearts.
Many Jewish and Christian believers have deceived themselves about their living out of the first commandment. The second commandment, therefore, has a way of exposing hypocrisy in us. "If anyone says, 'My love is fixed on God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. One who has no love for the brother he has seen cannot love the God he has not seen" (1 Jn 4:20). It's so easy to say we love God, but to express that love by forgiving, serving, and suffering for very unlovable people seems impossible. When we try to love ourselves and our neighbors, we discover how authentic our love for God is. The second commandment is intended to keep us from playing religious games with the first commandment. Jesus gave us the second commandment to keep us honest.
Prayer: Father, this Lent may I let You remove hypocrisy from my life.
Promise: "Return, O Israel, to the Lord, your God; you have collapsed through your guilt. Take with you words, and return to the Lord." -Hos 14:2-3
Praise: Michelle teaches Scripture to the elderly.
(For a related teaching, order our tape on Divine Love "on audio AV 52-3 or video V-52.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from February 1, 2014 through March 31, 2014
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 8, 2013
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
You can find One Bread, One Body archives, the letter to readers, OBOB eBook edition, and an online donation form at
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2014 Presentation Ministries
To add your e-mail address to this list go to
http://www.presentationministries.com/general/emailList.asp
To remove your e-mail address from this list go to
http://www.presentationministries.com/general/emailList.asp?mode=r
No comments:
Post a Comment