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

Beloved:
We have this confidence in him
that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 
And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask,
we know that what we have asked him for is ours. 
If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly,
he should pray to God and he will give him life. 
This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. 
There is such a thing as deadly sin,
about which I do not say that you should pray. 
All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.

We know that anyone begotten by God does not sin;
but the one begotten by God he protects,
and the Evil One cannot touch him. 
We know that we belong to God,
and the whole world is under the power of the Evil One. 
We also know that the Son of God has come
and has given us discernment to know the one who is true. 
And we are in the one who is true,
in his Son Jesus Christ. 
He is the true God and eternal life. 
Children, be on your guard against idols. 1 JN 5:14-21

John shares with us today the doctrine of the Catholic Church on serious sin (mortal) and venial sin.  We are the only religion that rates sins.  Since all sin is forgivable, some religions do not believe their is a reason to rate sins.  But, with this Scripture quote from John and with human reason we know that one sin can be serious than another.  Serious sins takes away our sanctifying grace and disconnects us from God’s grace.  If we fall to serious sin, we must go to confession immediately to regain sanctifying grace.  We are not to receive the Eucharist and defy Jesus when we are in the state of serious sin.  Paul tells us, “For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.” 1 Cor 11:29  We commit another serious sin if we receive the Eucharist in the state of serious sin.  The Eucharist takes away our venial sin each time we receive it.  Remaining in the state of grace is difficult as we grow older and are faced with more temptation and sin.  Devoting ourselves to the sacraments helps us to stay in the state of grace and helps us to fight serious sin and the near occasion of sin.  A great reason to go to daily Mass and go to confession more than once or twice a year.  If we die in the state of serious sin, we risk heaven.  This is a salvation issue.  Sin is serious and we will be judged.  The book of Revelation tells us, “and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Rev. 21:27  God’s grace will be necessary in the fight.  ”Be not afraid”.  Battle and persevere.  John then speaks to us, “Children, be on your guard against idols”.  We must not allow the time we spend to be lost.  Electronics are great time vampires and a great temptation.  Use if for good and spend time in prayer which transcends time because you are talking to God who is outside of time.  Padre Pio says, “Prayer is the key to God’s heart”.  In prayer, time and eternity are one.  The saints sanctified time by always praying, going to daily Mass, having a great love for the Eucharist, in daily Adoration, praying the rosary, and offering up all other time to God.  Any struggles they had in time they offered up as a sacrifice.  Any good in time they offered praise and thanksgiving to God.  What are you doing with your time?  Your soul’s destiny depends on it.  Understanding true love, the Love of God is the greatest gift we have to fight sin.  We will desire in our heart’s Jesus over sin if we accept His love and love other’s.

Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea,
where he spent some time with them baptizing. 
John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim,
because there was an abundance of water there,
and people came to be baptized,
for John had not yet been imprisoned. 
Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew
about ceremonial washings. 
So they came to John and said to him,
“Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan,
to whom you testified,
here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him.”
John answered and said,
“No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. 
You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ,
but that I was sent before him. 
The one who has the bride is the bridegroom;
the best man, who stands and listens for him,
rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. 
So this joy of mine has been made complete. 
He must increase; I must decrease.” Jn 3:22-30

John the Baptist know his purpose, “You yourselves can testify that I said that I am not the Christ,
but that I was sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him,
rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete. He must increase; I must decrease.”

Today’s challenge: Do whatever it takes to avoid sin, especially serious sin.  Use the avenues of God’s grace to fight sin and reconcile ourselves when we fall in the Sacraments.  Allow Jesus to increase and while we decrease each day.
Start St. Louis de Montfort’s Total Consecration, Day 1. http://www.fisheaters.com/totalconsecrationmontfort.html

Become a saint!
Christian YOLO