It is obviously Good News that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" in that He continues to save, heal, free, and love us. He will always "save those who approach God through Him, since He forever lives to make intercession for them" (Heb 7:25). He "will never desert" us or forsake us (Heb 13:5). Jesus is the same.
It is not as obvious that it is Good News that Jesus Christ is the same in expecting us to be holy, judging us, and letting us suffer for Him. For example, Jesus did not prevent Herod from cutting off St. John the Baptizer's head (Mk 6:16). Jesus, Who is the same today and forever as He was yesterday, will let us be persecuted and martyred for love of Him. Nonetheless, it is still Good News that Jesus is the same.
For us to receive the good news of Jesus being the same, we ourselves must not be the same today as when we were conceived with our fallen human nature. We must not live the same as we did before we gave our lives to Christ and decided to live our Baptisms. Even after giving our lives to Christ, we must not remain the same but must grow to the full maturity of Christ (Eph 4:15). Because Jesus is the same, we must convert, repent, and grow. We must not be the same.
| PRAYER: | Father, may I never be the same. May I "grow rather in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pt 3:18). |
| PROMISE: | "Let marriage be honored in every way and the marriage bed be kept undefiled, for God will judge fornicators and adulterers." –Heb 13:4 |
| PRAISE: | Jesus healed Elaine of crippling hip pain when she was prayed for at a healing service following Mass. |
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