Prayer Prompt before reading MT 5:17-19: Come, Holy Spirit, teach me how to pray, interpret the Scriptures for me so that I may know the Truth about who God the Father is and God the Son so that I may know who I am.
BUT WHOEVER OBEYS AND TEACHES THESE COMMANDMENTS WILL BE CALLED GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.” MT 5:17-19
Humbly submit your will to God (Thy Will be done) and consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary and Joseph.
Jesus reminds us today that the commandments carry some weight. When is the last time you did a good examination of conscience going through the 10 commandments? Each of us have our favorite sins. We know them well, but do these sins we commit habitually cause us to miss something else that might be leading us to those sins found in the other commandments. All of the commandments have something to do with relationships. What is suffering greatest in your relationships?
Jesus boldly states, “Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.” This comes right after the beatitudes, the way to true happiness (holiness) and gaining eternal life. He then gives us consequences if we don’t keep them.
Sin is its own consequence. There are serious consequences for sin and not following the commandments. Obedience is the first step to holiness and disobedience gave all humanity Original Sin. Basically, it boils down to selfishness and unselfishness. Sin is telling God we don’t care, period. So, here inside lies the interior battle of every human being on that has ever lived!
We’ve inherited this fallen nature that leans toward sin, laziness, and selfishness but we know sin hurts relationships. On top of that, we have our favorite sins! Life is difficult! The Good News, we don’t have to remain in our sin and we have a Father who loves us and is chasing after us faithfully. He gave us what we need to battle through His Son, Jesus Christ. Our hearts can be transformed and God’s grace makes the impossible possible for humanity!
If we keep the commandments, we will know Christ’s heart. Isn’t that the point of every Lent; get to know Christ’s heart better, more deeply. That should be the goal every day. When we get to know Jesus’s heart (which begins at the foot of the Cross), in His proclamation of the kingdom (Gospels), and especially the belief that He resurrected and all His Words are true, the absolute Truth, we will be ready to fight sin. We will not want to hurt Christ when we really get to know His heart.
His heart is full of sacrificial love. We were never worthy as sinners for a sinless Man to die for us. It would be one thing if we were just. St. Paul says, “He died for us as we were still sinners.” We have a God who is crazy in love with us. A radical love that even loves enemies and sinners who know they are sinning. Why? God is love straight through-Bishop Barron He cannot not love. This love is compassion (to suffer with), mercy (as many do overs as we need), and forgiveness (unlimited).
So, not out of fear but love will we start to turn from our selfish ways and follow these commandments that bring us joy. Obedience requires sacrifice and suffering. Suffering brings joy. We we born into a battlefield not a picnic field. We have to stop thinking things will get easier or God will take away the pain and suffering. When we give ourselves to God, the battle begins. God is the one who gives us what we need for the battle and the rewards for fighting are eternal!
The Devil puts in our minds that God is trying to take away our fun by following His commandments. These commands are to protect us from the Devil and misery. We need to stop holding on to the things that make us miserable. So, where do we start seeing the commandments for what they truly are?
Pray by just talking to Christ and asking Him for His grace to help you get to know His heart better. Ask Him to give you the grace to love more and the results will be sinning less and being selfless. Be a servant! Become a saint! “But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.” MT 5:17-19
Today’s challenge: Seek Christ’s heart! Be silent and listen instead of talking during prayer. Reflect on Jesus’s message and apply it in one way each day.
Be a servant, be a saint today!
#Christian YODO (You Only Die Once; we will live again!) #GetCaughtReadingtheBible #GetCaughtSayingtheRosary
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