“HE MUST INCREASE; I MUST DECREASE.” JN 3:22-30
Humbly submit your will to God (thy Will be done) and consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary and Joseph.
Prayer Prompt before reading 1 JN 5:5-13: 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 and God the Son are so that I may know who I am.
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 more serious than another.
Serious sins take away our sanctifying grace and disconnects us from God’s grace. If we fall to serious sin, it is wise to say an act of contrition, then go to confession immediately to regain sanctifying grace (Catholic ER-Eucharist/Reconciliation to restore the soul).
We are not to receive the Eucharist and defy Jesus when we are in the state of serious sin. It is a sacrilege to do so. 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. A daily habit of prayer which includes reflecting on the Bible and saying a rosary aids us in our fight against sin.
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”. The time God has given to us on earth is a gift, so we need to make sure we use it wisely. Electronics are great time vampires and a great temptation. Use it to help you grow closer to God. 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. A relationship with Jesus, our Savior, in whom we find that we hurt when we sin and all He went through because of our sin, will lead us to a greater desire for holiness. In this relationship, which requires a testing of our faith and the deepest intentions of our heart, will see sin to melt away and peace to grow. Calm will replace anxiety. Joy will replace misery or being attached/chained to guilt. We will truly be set free.
Jn 3:22-30
John the Baptist knows his purpose and mission, “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: Use the gifts of the Holy Spirit and your love for Jesus to avoid the near occasion of sin, especially serious sin. Use the avenues of God’s grace to fight sin and reconcile yourself when you fall in the Sacraments. Allow Jesus to increase while we decrease each day.
Give your life and everything you own to Jesus through Mary in St. Louis de Montfort’s Total Consecration http://www.fisheaters.com/totalconsecrationmontfort.html
Consecrate yourself to St. Joseph, “Consecration to St. Joseph by Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC “Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph” by Gregory Bottaro and Jennifer Settle
Be a servant, be a saint today!
#Christian YODO (You Only Die Once; We will live again!)
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