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Homily of the Day

To sin is to fail to live up to be the person we are meant to be by God. If we consider becoming what God wants us to be as the target in a firing range, then not to hit it is to sin. Because of our brokenness, we may think our near misses or venial sins are of little importance. However if the target is as immense as God is infinite goodness, then to miss the target is really unthinkable. In the light of this we would then be able to understand the reason for the seemingly cruel imagery used by our Lord to emphasize the true reality of sin and its effect on us and the world around us. It is only because of God’s infinite love and mercy that our sins whether great or small are forgiven. For some of us who are seen to be serving in church, the scandalous effect of even our minor indiscretions may be much greater and will last longer than the sin itself. We may already have repented of the sin and be forgiven but its harmful effects may last a very long time.


With this understanding of what it means each time we fall into sin, let us ask ourselves why we still sin over and over again and reflect more deeply on the immensity of our Father’s love and mercy for each one of us.


35 posted on 02/27/2014 8:15:23 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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One Bread One Body

One Bread, One Body

Language: English | Español

All Issues > Volume 30, Issue 2

<< Thursday, February 27, 2014 >>
 
James 5:1-6
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Psalm 49:14-20 Mark 9:41-50
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"If your foot is your undoing, cut it off!" —Mark 9:45
 

Jesus commands us to gouge out an eye or cut off a hand or foot under two circumstances. Jesus does not mean for us to literally maim ourselves, but He emphasizes that we should go to great extremes to resist temptations, especially temptations to sin sexually (Mt 5:28-29) or to oppose another's ministry (Mk 9:39-47).

Most of us are surprised by these emphases because we don't think an impure glance or a negative reaction to another's ministry the worst sins imaginable. However, we must lay aside our ideas and take on Jesus' priorities. We must not even mention or allude to sexual sin. Our "holiness forbids this" (Eph 5:3). In addition, we should never hinder, criticize, or gossip about the ministries of other Christians, even if they are from a different denomination or theological background. We must oppose heresies but always encourage those ministering in the name of Jesus, even if not of our company (Mk 9:38ff). We should be more willing to cut out our tongues and maim our physical bodies than to maim the body of Christ by saying a discouraging word about another Christian ministry.

 
Prayer: Father, may I maim my physical body before I would maim the body of Christ.
Promise: "God will redeem me from the power of the nether world by receiving me." —Ps 49:16
Praise: Theresa's quiet acceptance of her suffering transformed her nursing home.

36 posted on 02/27/2014 8:17:04 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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