Mt 5:43-48Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy’. But I say to you, love your enemiesand pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same?And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
I have been thinking about this phrase most of the day. Not the whole Gospel, just the phrase. I was going to tie it in to another well-known phrase—“Practice makes perfect”—but the Spirit guided me to read the entire passage in context and I feel compelled to go in another direction first. I will get back to my original idea before I’m done, though.
People these days seem to spend a lot of energy spewing gossip and hatred around for no other reason than to create disagreements. There are some serious sins being committed by a lot of God’s children; abortion, homosexual unions, embryonic stem cell research, euthanasia, birth control, adultery. And it is a corporal act of mercy as Catholics and Christians to admonish the sinner.
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
I have been thinking about this phrase most of the day. Not the whole Gospel, just the phrase. I was going to tie it in to another well-known phrase—“Practice makes perfect”—but the Spirit guided me to read the entire passage in context and I feel compelled to go in another direction first. I will get back to my original idea before I’m done, though.
People these days seem to spend a lot of energy spewing gossip and hatred around for no other reason than to create disagreements. There are some serious sins being committed by a lot of God’s children; abortion, homosexual unions, embryonic stem cell research, euthanasia, birth control, adultery. And it is a corporal act of mercy as Catholics and Christians to admonish the sinner.
In other words “hate the sin, love the sinner.” But a lot of so-called Christians and prominent “Catholics” on television and radio do much more than just admonish against these non-negotiable activities—they take their hatred of the sin and use it to incite hate against the sinners. Of course, they do it in a “fair and balanced” manner by inviting people on the show from the other “side” of the issue to debate, but never let them finish a sentence! What kind of debate is that? If they would simply debate the sins instead of focusing on the sinners, I think it would be a heck of a lot more productive. Sin is sickness of the soul, but it is a thing.
If we attack the sickness and the cause of the sickness, we can win. The only persons responsible for sin are Satan and ourselves--or rather our own free wills. Satan invades our life by placing temptations in our way, making sinful choices seem desirable. Those weakest in faith are the easiest to dupe. A strong faith allows the Holy Spirit to guide our wills to make the right choices. Our plan of attack against sin should not be ridiculing or shunning the sinners, but embracing the sinners and showing them the Light of Christ.
Ah, but since the beginning of recorded Scripture, we are a “hard-hearted” people, aren’t we? God keeps leading us out of the bondage of sin, and we keep returning to it. He finally sent His only Son to suffer for our sins “once, for all” and how do we repay Him? By heaping more sins on His shoulders!
Now that I’ve totally depressed everyone, I’ll remind you all that there is an "International Health Plan” (take THAT, you left wing liberals!) to lessen the pain of sin in the world. As witnesses to Christ, we need to get the word out on this everlasting health plan.
Prayer
Since today is the 92nd anniversary of Our Lady’s appearance at Fatima, Portugal I’ll start with the Rosary. Our Blessed Mother said that the rosary is the most powerful prayer for the conversion of sinners. The chaplet of Divine Mercy was given to St. Faustina by Jesus, Himself! So simple to say, so powerful, so underused. Want to get more out of your prayer? Say it in front of the Blessed Sacrament. It sure helps me focus!
Penance
Then we have the Sacraments of Baptism and Reconciliation. Baptism has become (in most Protestant religions and sadly, to some Catholics) just something that’s done to give a baby a label, or religion “in name only”. A lot of us have forgotten that Baptism cleanses us of the original sin and gives us the grace to fight temptations. And for the times that we give in to Satan and his ways, Jesus gave our priests the supernatural power to forgive sins! Through our Confirmations, we get 7 more gifts from the Holy Spirit to help us fight off the Prince of Liars.
Sacrifice
The most powerful sacrifice ever made was Jesus dying for us. But not before He gave us a way to keep Him close to us through the Sacrament of the Eucharist! Going to Mass and receiving our Lord as often as we can helps us to abide in Him, and as long as Christ is in us, Evil will keep his distance!
As for our personal sacrifices, how about giving up an hour or two of an activity we really enjoy each week to visit and adore Him at our neighborhood church?
Practice makes perfect!
I told you I would tie it in! I have decided that from now on when someone asks me, “What is your religion?”, I’m going to reply, “I’m a PRACTICING Catholic!”
If we attack the sickness and the cause of the sickness, we can win. The only persons responsible for sin are Satan and ourselves--or rather our own free wills. Satan invades our life by placing temptations in our way, making sinful choices seem desirable. Those weakest in faith are the easiest to dupe. A strong faith allows the Holy Spirit to guide our wills to make the right choices. Our plan of attack against sin should not be ridiculing or shunning the sinners, but embracing the sinners and showing them the Light of Christ.
Ah, but since the beginning of recorded Scripture, we are a “hard-hearted” people, aren’t we? God keeps leading us out of the bondage of sin, and we keep returning to it. He finally sent His only Son to suffer for our sins “once, for all” and how do we repay Him? By heaping more sins on His shoulders!
Now that I’ve totally depressed everyone, I’ll remind you all that there is an "International Health Plan” (take THAT, you left wing liberals!) to lessen the pain of sin in the world. As witnesses to Christ, we need to get the word out on this everlasting health plan.
Prayer
Since today is the 92nd anniversary of Our Lady’s appearance at Fatima, Portugal I’ll start with the Rosary. Our Blessed Mother said that the rosary is the most powerful prayer for the conversion of sinners. The chaplet of Divine Mercy was given to St. Faustina by Jesus, Himself! So simple to say, so powerful, so underused. Want to get more out of your prayer? Say it in front of the Blessed Sacrament. It sure helps me focus!
Penance
Then we have the Sacraments of Baptism and Reconciliation. Baptism has become (in most Protestant religions and sadly, to some Catholics) just something that’s done to give a baby a label, or religion “in name only”. A lot of us have forgotten that Baptism cleanses us of the original sin and gives us the grace to fight temptations. And for the times that we give in to Satan and his ways, Jesus gave our priests the supernatural power to forgive sins! Through our Confirmations, we get 7 more gifts from the Holy Spirit to help us fight off the Prince of Liars.
Sacrifice
The most powerful sacrifice ever made was Jesus dying for us. But not before He gave us a way to keep Him close to us through the Sacrament of the Eucharist! Going to Mass and receiving our Lord as often as we can helps us to abide in Him, and as long as Christ is in us, Evil will keep his distance!
As for our personal sacrifices, how about giving up an hour or two of an activity we really enjoy each week to visit and adore Him at our neighborhood church?
Practice makes perfect!
I told you I would tie it in! I have decided that from now on when someone asks me, “What is your religion?”, I’m going to reply, “I’m a PRACTICING Catholic!”
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