We should never think we deserve to wake up, live another day, breathe, walk, sing, smile, or pray. These and millions of other things are all gifts from God as He constantly pours out His love on us. We've done nothing to merit these blessings and ought not to take them as merited. When something bad happens to us and our families, we say: "Who am I, Lord God, and who are the members of my house, that You have brought me to this point?" (2 Sm 7:18) We are quick to say that we don't deserve our sufferings, although we give the impression we do deserve our blessings.
For the most part it's the other way around. We are responsible for many of our sufferings. We have caused them by our sins. However, our blessings have not been caused by our meritorious conduct but by the Lord's crucified, unconditional love for us.
Therefore, we should live in gratitude for millions of unmerited blessings and in repentance for our sins and consequent sufferings. In the midst of God's love, we should ask: "Who am I ...?" And we answer: "I am a sinner, forgiven, saved, and loved by God in His mercy." Alleluia!
| PRAYER: | Father, give me an attitude of gratitude even under the most difficult circumstances. |
| PROMISE: | "In the measure you give you shall receive, and more besides." –Mk 4:24 |
| PRAISE: | St. Thomas was humbled by the vision of the glories of God before he died. He then ceased his prolific theological writing, and prepared his soul for the hour of death, saying, "All I have written seems to me like so much straw compared with what I have seen and what has been revealed to me." |
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