The Israelites demanded to be governed by a king. This was not God's will, but the people refused to listen. Many Christians today have also accepted social structures which are not God's will. For example, many Christian couples don't accept God's order for the family. The husband is not considered head of his wife (1 Cor 11:3). Parents are not regarded as the primary educators of their children (see Dt 6:7). Many parishes are either tyrannies or democracies, while God's will is that the Church be led by servant-leaders appointed by God's authority, who lovingly lay down their lives for the parishioners, and to whom the parishioners submit.
When we accept structures which are not God's will, we may at first think we're protecting ourselves from abuses in the exercise of authority. Actually we are harming ourselves and others by doing things our way instead of God's way.
Husbands, repent of not loving and leading your wives according to God's plan for marriage (Eph 5:25). Wives, repent of not being submissive to your husbands (Eph 5:22). Parents, repent of abandoning your children to the school systems, mass media, and TV. Parishioners, repent of rebellion and disobedience. When we live according to God's order, we will see God transform our world.
| PRAYER: | Father, may I do it Your way. |
| PROMISE: | "When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, 'My son, your sins are forgiven.' " –Mk 2:5 |
| PRAISE: | Apathy paralyzed Martha until reading the Scriptures and attending more weekday Masses rekindled her faith. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College