Prayer Prompt before reading JN 3:13-17 Come, Holy Spirit, teach me how to pray well, 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.
“FOR GOD DID NOT SEND HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD, BUT THAT THE WORLD MIGHT BE SAVED THROUGH HIM”. JN 3:17
Humbly submit your will to God (Thy Will be done) and consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary and Joseph.
Today is not the feast of the Exaltation of Greg Goertz. It is not the feast of the Exaltation of our cell phone, the Internet, or AI. It is not the Feast of the Exaltation of wealth and power, honor, and pleasure (4 things St. Thomas Aquinas said Jesus nailed to the cross that we try to fill the God-shaped hole in our hearts instead of doing the will of the Father). It is not the feast of the Exaltation of the best looks and popularity. It is not the Feast of the Exaltation of video games. It is not the feast of the Exaltation of work.
But why are we exalting the worst instrument of torture in human history for only the worst of criminals?Due to the Fall and Satan’s wicked ways, we have a veil over our eyes. Jesus came into the world and turned everything upside down. Jesus teaches us to think differently so we see clearly. God the Father requires sacrifices of blood for His covenants. Humanity needed a perfect unblemished sinless blood to be saved. God became Man to take on this mission and save us from our sin.
“Sin is not something we overcome, it is a condition we have to be saved from.” -Bishop Barron
We are continually redeemed and our sins forgiven after Baptism at Mass when we receive Jesus and we are restored in confession which requires true repentance after serious sin has been committed. God the Father’s love for His children is unmatched. His love for us is unfair. It is never ending for those who respond to it and return to it time and time again. This is the Good News! We have a way back to the Father through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross which we celebrate today!
My pride and stubbornness get in the way of allowing God to love me. He has done everything He can by giving us His only Son through death on a cross and continues to sacrifice by staying hidden in bread and wine until He returns.
He is with us in prayer, “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” MT 18:20
Christ died not to condemn us but save us. Save us from what? Our fallen human nature, the devil, pride, earthly possessions, envy, disordered passions so that we may have hope, peace, joy, love, grace and eternal life.
When we do not give ourselves totally and completely to the One who created us and has given us EVERYTHING we do not exalt the cross. When we do not offer our daily crosses and suffering up to Christ we do not exalt the cross. When we do not allow God to love us and forgive us, we do not exalt the cross. When we give into our human desires and do not fight the temptations of the Devil, we do not exalt the cross. When we worship something other than God, we do not exalt the cross. What do you value the most, has the greatest worth to you, or spend the most time with? This is what you worship.
When we get caught up in ourselves and fail to live our vocation (which is to die to self and be in service of the other), we fail to exalt the cross. When we do not love God, others, and ourselves, we fail to exalt the cross. When we fail to get down on our knees and look up at the crucifix each morning we rise and give thanks to God for what He has done for us, we fail to exalt the cross. When we fail to pray and visit Jesus who is waiting patiently for us in the tabernacles of our Churches and Adoration chapels, we fail to exalt the cross. This leads to misery and a lot of confusion. I know I’ve lived it. I have failed at each one of these.
I need a Savior because I don’t know what love is otherwise and I can’t be with the One who loves me the most. ”Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord.” Pray before a crucifix anywhere in silence and get to know your Savior.
Today’s challenge: Pray before a crucifix anywhere and get to know your Savior. Share the love He gives you with others.
Be a servant, become a saint!
#Christian YODO (You Only Die Once; we will live again!)
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