correction fluid
"Jesus on entering the house asked, without giving him time to speak: 'What is your opinion, Simon?' " —Matthew 17:25
Eternal life is to know personally God the Father and Jesus Whom He sent (Jn 17:3). When we know others personally, we can elaborate on how they talk, think, work, pray, deal with problems, etc. When we know Jesus personally, we can wax eloquently on His ways, even on how He corrects us.
Jesus can come on strong in correcting us. For example, when Peter refused to accept the message of the cross, Jesus "turned on Peter and said, 'Get out of My sight, you satan! You are trying to make Me trip and fall. You are not judging by God's standards but by man's' " (Mt 16:23). But in the next chapter, Jesus, in a low-key, even humorous way, corrects Peter for implicitly denying His divinity (see Mt 17:25ff). Jesus even produced the money for the temple tax in the mouth of a fish (Mt 17:27). In His mercy, Jesus corrects the proud sternly with an iron rod (see Rv 12:5), and He corrects the humble gently (see 1 Pt 5:5). "The bruised reed He will not crush; the smoldering wick He will not quench" (Mt 12:20). Jesus is wondrous in all His ways, including His ways of correcting us. Marvel at our privilege of knowing His mercy and majesty.
Prayer: Jesus, may I so want to be holy that I want to be corrected by You.
Promise: "Your ancestors went down to Egypt seventy strong, and now the Lord, your God, has made you as numerous as the stars of the sky." —Dt 10:22
Praise: St. Clare's mother and sisters not only forgave her running away from home to become a follower of St. Francis, but also joined her new way of life.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our tape Accepting Correction on audio AV 77-1 or video V-77.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Richard L. Klug, February 27, 2003
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 3, 2003