Humbly submit your will to God (Thy Will be done) and consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary and Joseph.

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans
whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices.
He said to them in reply,
“Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!
Or those eighteen people who were killed
when the tower at Siloam fell on them–
do you think they were more guilty
than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem?
By no means!
But I tell you, if you do not repent,
you will all perish as they did!”

And he told them this parable:
“There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener,
‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none.
So cut it down.
Why should it exhaust the soil?’
He said to him in reply,
‘Sir, leave it for this year also,
and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;
it may bear fruit in the future.
If not you can cut it down.’” Lk 13:1-9

Jesus teaches us two things today.  First, stop judging someone by their sin.  All sin hurts our relationship with God, but often we get caught up in the whoppers and forget about all of the little sins that may be hurting our relationships (Thanks, Fr. Josh).  God forgives all sins, but we must repent (metanoia).  Repentance is changing the way we think, doing whatever is necessary to fight the devil and our fallen human nature with God’s grace and therefore growing in holiness.  It is giving up our life so Christ can transform it.  At Baptism, our life is no longer our own.  Christ claims us.  No more sitting on the fence (Jesus teaches us there is no fence, “we are either with Him or against Him”  “We either gather with Him or scatter”).  

When we decide to actually repent (Let Jesus into our boat; submit our will to Him) we will find ourselves being tested by God to see how faithful we really are (He will command us). We will find ourselves fighting harder against sin through a stronger prayer life, a greater desire for the Eucharist and Mass, daily rosary, and looking in our daily life for ways to put others before ourselves, a servant.

Another lesson Jesus teaches us today that God is patient with us.  He continues to love and forgive us waiting for us to return to Him with open arms.  This is why Jesus’ arms are open on the cross, He thirsts for our souls and died to have a personal relationship with us.  We, too, must be patient with ourselves and others as God is for us.  He knows the intention of our hearts.  Open up and allow Him to love you.

Today’s challenge: Repent (change your thinking to heavenly things) and be patient.

Be a servant, become a saint!
​#Christian YOLO