impossible christianity
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you." — Matthew 11:28
The Lord has made living the Christian life humanly impossible. We must be made perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect (Mt 5:48). We must become holy in every aspect of our conduct (1 Pt 1:15) or we will not see God (Heb 12:14), that is, we will not see Jesus face to face in heaven (see 1 Cor 13:12). Furthermore, we must be compassionate as our Father is compassionate (Lk 6:36) and pure as Jesus is pure (1 Jn 3:3). If we fall into sin on one point of God's law, we become guilty on all counts (Jas 2:10).
Because living the Christian life is humanly impossible, most people don't even try. Some are honest enough to admit that they don't try. Others try to water down Christianity to make it more humanly possible and then rationalize their lukewarmness (see Rv 3:16). Some even try to live Christianity by their own power. They eventually get frustrated and burnt-out. At this point, they are tempted to dismiss Christianity. Instead, they should come to Jesus and learn from Him (Mt 11:29). Jesus will teach us that Christianity is not a do-it-yourself religion, but one in which we let it be done to us (see Lk 1:38). Then the burden of Christianity, while still humanly impossible, is easy and light (Mt 11:30).
Prayer: Father, may I give up trying to do the impossible and let you do it.
Promise: "You are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you." —Rm 8:9
Praise: Jesus is risen! Jesus is victorious! Praise You, Lamb of God, for taking the sins of the world, nailing them to the cross, and rising to new life.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, November 29, 1995
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 4, 1995