Matthew 21:28-32
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: "What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' The son said in reply, 'I will not,' but afterwards he changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, 'Yes, sir,' but did not go. Which of the two did his father's will?" They answered, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him."
Dawg's thought:
Today's prayer intention is for a friend of mine who is getting her gall bladder removed.
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Be merciful, spare us, O Infant Jesus.
Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Infant Jesus.
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We will be judged by our actions. I can talk (or write) about virtues and obedience all I want, but unless I actually do it, the words are meaningless. Those words will be a resounding gong and a clashing cymbal because those words lack love. Those words lack love of God's ways and lack of the love of God.
I can talk about patience all I want, but unless I can exercise mercy with my brothers and sisters who cut me off, the words are mere noise. I can talk about loving the truth, but if I continue to love sinful ways, I am a hypocrite for loving sinful ways.
In today's quote from the litany, we ask Our Lord to "Be merciful... Spare us... Graciously hear us..." In our own moments of weakness when we have failed to act in The Lord's ways, we must seek His mercy and ask God for His forgiveness through the sacrament of reconciliation. We must also pray for the grace to abhor all sin and to turn and love Him above sin. We must all acknowledge that we are all inclined to sin, and that it is through Him that we will live in freedom. Take care and God Bless.
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