A Pharisee at whose home Jesus was dining was surprised Jesus didn't wash His hands as part of His before-meal prayer. Jesus changed the subject from hand-washing to soul-washing, saying: "You Pharisees! You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but within you are filled with rapaciousness and evil" (Lk 11:39).
One day some people talked to Jesus about the front-page news. Pilate had killed several Galileans and eighteen people were killed by a falling tower in Siloam (Lk 13:4). Jesus again changed the conversation to His favorite subject: repentance from sin. He warned us that we will all come to a tragic end unless we repent (Lk 13:5).
On another occasion, Jesus was in a crowded room. Someone decided to take the roof apart and lower down a paralyzed man on a stretcher (Lk 5:19). Even in these circumstances, Jesus was preoccupied with the forgiveness of sins and said to the paralyzed man: "My friend, your sins are forgiven you" (Lk 5:20).
Jesus seems hardly able to speak without calling us to repent. However, if you died on the cross and shed your blood for the forgiveness of all sins, you'd be the same way. Christians should also be preoccupied with the forgiveness of sin, because we are followers of Jesus.
| PRAYER: | Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us! |
| PROMISE: | "I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God leading everyone who believes in it to salvation." –Rm 1:16 |
| PRAISE: | Just before he was martyred, St. Ignatius of Antioch wrote, "He Who rose for our sakes is my one Desire." |
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