Prayer Prompt before reading JN 13:21-33, 36-38: 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.
“WILL YOU LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR ME? JN 13:21-33, 36-38
Humbly submit your will to God (Thy Will be done) and consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary and Joseph.
Betrayal…is there anything worse than having your heart torn apart by the one’s you love most. The betrayal of Judas and denial by Peter three times may have caused Jesus more pain and suffering than all of the mental and physical pain in His Passion. The difference between Judas and Peter in their betrayal and denial is an important lesson to learn.
I learned it from one of my very own 8th graders who just reflected on a talk by a young man who struggled with an addiction to pornography. My student learned that through addiction and overcoming it, “we are not defined by our actions, but how we respond to our actions.” Profound.
We find the face of Christ in our suffering and in those suffering around us. We will all suffer, Christ never promises to take that away. Judas responded by killing himself, Peter responded by weeping, resentment, and later Jesus will give him a chance to be forgiven with his three fold, “You know that I love you” after the resurrection.
Each time we deny Jesus or betray Him with our selfishness and sin, He is ready to forgive. It doesn’t matter how many times or how big of a whopper the sin is, it depends on how you respond to it. It depends on how you love again to avoid it. Confession restores and with God’s grace we are called to fight by making resolutions.
Will we use Christ like a slot machine and do it again (sin of presumption) or will we give it to Him so His grace and suffering can do its work. God’s grace and love restore what sin has damaged. How open are you to this grace and love? God wants to give, receive, receive, receive, receive, receive, receive!
Christ wants us to embrace our suffering and sin so we can come to know how much He loves us and how badly He wants to forgive us to make things right with the Father. This is his mission and purpose. When we don’t respond to our brokenness and sin, we take away the power of the cross! Most people just get stuck or scared in life. Jesus has opened up an avenue back to the Father, but it requires many struggles and lessons learned to grow in holiness.
This Lent bust loose from the chains of sin and selfishness by allowing Christ and His grace to transform you. Give up your will so you can do His Will. There is no problem God’s grace cannot overcome. You may need counseling or medicine as well, God has put people in our lives to help transform us as well. Allow the light of Christ to bring out the ugliness in the darkness of your soul, so His healing power can begin!
Today’s challenge: React to your brokenness. React to your sin. React to your being chained down. React by allowing God’s love to free you from brokenness, sin, and being chained down.
Be a servant, be a saint today!
#Christian YODO (You Only Die Once; We will live again!)
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