Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Jonah 3:1-10, Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19, Luke 11:29-32
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/022515.cfm
CONNECT THE DOTS
"Every man shall turn from his evil way." -Jonah 3:8
The people of Nineveh, wicked as they were, made the connection between their sins and the destruction to come. These people frequently brutalized and butchered large numbers of people. They were pagans, spiritually dead, the least likely to repent. Yet the prophetic word pierced their hearts, and they repented. Jesus commended them for this (Lk 11:32).
We fancy ourselves more sophisticated than the ancient Ninevites. We specialize in knowing connections, such as the connection between cholesterol and heart disease, drinking alcohol and liver disease, sanitation and the prevention of infection, physical health and mental health, etc. Yet we, in our "advanced" culture, miss the all-important connection between sin and damnation.
Our culture misses the connections between sexual sin and spiritual guilt, consumerism and lack of concern for the poor, contraception and the breakdown of marriage and family, relativism and the shortage of vocations, etc. Our culture specializes in missing the connection between Jesus and forgiveness of sin. So many act like the Pharisee, thinking they are OK with God while failing to know what acts are sinful, or even failing to know that they are sinners (Lk 18:11-12). If we were making these connections, the Confession lines in our churches would be full every week.
Jesus came to save sinners like us. All we need to do is make the connection that we are sinners and He is our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer. Repent!
Prayer: "O God, be merciful to me, a sinner" (Lk 18:13).
Promise: "A heart contrite and humbled, O God, You will not spurn." -Ps 51:19
Praise: Realizing an unforgiveness in her life was stifling the Holy Spirit, Nancy went to Confession and was set free.
(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 February 1, 2015 through March 31, 2015
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 25, 2014
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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