"You can depend on this as worthy of full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Tm 1:15). Therefore, as followers of Jesus, we must be very concerned about sin. First, we must remove the plank of sin from our eyes so that we will see clearly to remove the specks of sin from the eyes of our brothers and sisters (Mt 7:5). Then we should correct and warn the person who is sinning (Ez 33:8), "but keep it between the two of" us (Mt 18:15). If privately correcting a person who sins against us is not well received (Mt 18:16), we should bring other Christians into this "ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor 5:18). Moreover, "anyone who sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, should petition God, and thus life will be given to the sinner" (1 Jn 5:16). "Remember this: the person who brings a sinner back from his way will save his soul from death and cancel a multitude of sins" (Jas 5:20). Finally, we must rejoice with the Lord, the saints, and the angels "over one repentant sinner" (Lk 15:7, 10).
| PRAYER: | Father, use me to lead many to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. |
| PROMISE: | "Owe no debt to anyone except the debt that binds us to love one another. He who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law." –Rm 13:8 |
| PRAISE: | Praise Jesus, risen, glorified, and seated at the right hand of the Father! |
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