Category: Message of the Day
” ‘Pay back what you owe,’ he demanded.” –Matthew 18:28 Jesus commands us to forgive people from our hearts (Mt 18:35). In the context of today’s parable, that means we must, in our hearts, consider the account paid off. The books have been balanced and the slate wiped clean. How can we determine if we’ve forgiven others from our hearts? If we continue to look for some kind of reward or return from those who hurt us, we have not truly forgiven from our hearts. If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, you have not closed the books...
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“He has deposed the mighty from their thrones and raised the lowly to high places.” –Luke 1:52 August 6 and 9 are the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. August 9 is the feast of St. Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross), who was martyred in a concentration camp. Yesterday we celebrated the feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe, who was starved almost to death in a concentration camp and eventually martyred by lethal injection. Our recollections during the last few days have been sobering. They could even be depressing when we admit...
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“Eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel.” –Ezekiel 3:1 Rebellion against the Lord entails not only doing evil but also refusing to totally consume and be consumed by His callings (Ez 2:8). We must eat the scroll of God’s plan for our lives. We must internalize it, digest it, and make it part of ourselves. As we consume God’s callings, we are consumed by God (see Heb 12:29). When we internalize God’s plan, God lives in us and we in Him (see Jn 17:23). We lose our lives (Lk 9:24), and it is no longer we...
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“Do nothing to sadden the Holy Spirit with Whom you were sealed against the day of redemption.” –Ephesians 4:30 We want to love God the Holy Spirit, for we are begotten of the Spirit (Jn 3:8), are filled with the Spirit (see Acts 2:4), and follow the lead of the Spirit (Gal 5:25). Nevertheless, we can sadden or grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30). We have been sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30). This means we have been marked or branded as owned by God. The Spirit’s work in our lives should be an exterior expression of this interior...
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“Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily.” –Habakkuk 2:2 The Lord has a great plan for all people, and each one of us has been given a glorious part in that plan (see Heb 11:40). When we recognize our part in God’s plan, we have “the vision” (Hab 2:2). We should write down this vision as accurately as possible and discern the various circumstances of our lives accordingly. Many Christians have difficulties in getting the vision. They are ignorant of God’s Word and therefore of God’s plan and their part in that...
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