If your mother came to visit you, would you leave her standing outside while you were talking with other people? That's what Jesus did. Was Jesus disobeying the fourth commandment by not honoring His mother? No, Jesus was not refusing to honor His mother. He was honoring her even more for her hearing God's word and acting on it, even to the point of the Word becoming flesh in her womb (Jn 1:14). Furthermore, Jesus extended His honor of Mary to include anyone willing to hear God's word and act on it. So Jesus was not dishonoring Mary but honoring her more, and even honoring those who choose to live honorably by hearing and obeying His Word.
Will you let the Lord honor you with Mary? Will you choose to be as close to Jesus as His mother, brothers, or sisters? Will you live a life of obedient faith (see Rm 1:5) in God's Word and thereby receive the intimacy, security (Mt 7:24), and happiness (Lk 11:28) that He died on the cross for you to possess? Get on God's honor roll.
| PRAYER: | Father, open my eyes and heart to obey You in areas where I have been traditionally disobedient. |
| PROMISE: | "To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice." –Prv 21:3 |
| PRAISE: | After ten days of waiting for work for his newly-formed business, John began a novena to Jesus under the title of the "Infant of Prague." The next day, calls came in for as much work as he could handle. |
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