"The love of Christ impels us" (2 Cor 5:14) to share the Good News of Jesus. Some people accept Him while others reject Him. When Jesus is rejected by those with whom we share the Gospel, we tend to take it personally. We feel rejected, disrespected, and unjustly treated.
We must then shake off this grime and dirt of rejection, or we will become encrusted with bitterness. We shake off the dust by accepting the grace to forgive those who have sinned against us. If we don't "shake it off," we will probably stop sharing the Good News of Jesus, because His Good News becomes covered with our dust. If we try to continue sharing the Good News (although we are dirty and crusty), we will show people the dust of our bitterness rather than the face of Jesus. Therefore, we either "shake it off" or quit the Christian life. We either forgive our enemies or become enemies of God.
Don't let dust keep you from breathing the fresh air of the Holy Spirit. Forgive and be clean of the most encrusted bitterness.
| PRAYER: | Father, give me the grace to forgive, be healed, and evangelize. |
| PROMISE: | "They expelled many demons, anointed the sick with oil, and worked many cures." –Mk 6:13 |
| PRAISE: | When bitterness began turning Sarah's life sour, she turned her life over to the Lord and was filled with fresh joy. |
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