Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus just took a survey. He says you have a chance to win the crown of salvation!
We just finished our Parish mission at Church. There were 3 wonderful speakers and of course the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We had adoration and healing. What I thought about most was that it was a Parish community and not individuals who completed the mission. It was a movement of a portion of the Body of Christ towards the deeper virtue message that our Gospel suggests we pursue. The words of the speakers were amazing, but the people together made the mission.
I think we can all agree that our world is suffering from the lack of Jesus in our lives and seems to be confused and lost as to which direction to take. 1 John 4:1-3 Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh belongs to God, and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus does not belong to God. This is the spirit of the antichrist that, as you heard, is to come, but in fact is already in the world. The Holy Season of Lent is a wonderful opportunity to eliminate that confusion and clear our eyes to the path that Jesus wants us to follow.
We have a wonderful creator who despite the sin of Adam we are given a path into fullness of God’s grace because he gives us the tools of repentance and scripture to clear our eyes. What surprises me is how many opportunities we have to turn away from sin and into God’s grace. We can turn away all we want but God is opening another door down the road to allos to return to Him.
Sometimes, I don’t think I need that door, but it is there and God wants me to open it. We will always need that open door. The Pharisee in my life thinks I don’t need it but God knows I need it. Clarity demands that we choose the correct door.
We in the online community of A Catholic Moment are going through this together. We have readers and contributors from all over the world, and we are journeying together during this exciting Holy Season.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please Pray for Pope Leo XIV. Please Pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of the Ukrainian and Russian people and their soldiers. Pray for the Holy Land. Pray for peace! The impossible could and can happen. (Saint Rita) Never deny God! Pray for justice for immigrants! Pray for justice for our President and all government officials! Pray for Immigrants!
