realistic expectations
"When much has been given a man, much will be required of him." —Luke 12:48
Many of you reading this book have accepted Jesus as Lord of your lives and have been filled with the Holy Spirit. You are children of God. Many of you know, love, and live God's word. Many also celebrate Mass and receive Holy Communion daily, or as often as possible. You are greatly blessed (Mt 13:16). God became a human being to die for you. You share in His resurrection. The Trinity lives within you. You are a member of Christ's body. You have authority over every demon and disease (Mt 10:1). Because of your faith, you can do greater by far than even Jesus did (Jn 14:12).
We are not only privileged but also responsible. "More will be asked of a man to whom more has been entrusted" (Lk 12:48). Because of what the Lord has revealed to us and done in our lives, we deserve a severe beating if we fail to give as a gift what He has given to us (Lk 12:47-48; Mt 10:8). We are rightly held to a stricter account (see Jas 3:1).
The Lord must demand much more from us than others because we are His mouth, hands and feet — members of His body. Because He wants all to be saved (1 Tm 2:4), He must insist on our spreading the good news of His death and resurrection. The Lord must make strict demands on the saved because He greatly desires to save the lost.
Prayer: Father, by Your grace may I meet Your expectations.
Promise: "Thanks be to God, though once you were slaves of sin, you sincerely obeyed that rule of teaching which was imparted to you; freed from your sin, you became slaves of justice." —Rm 6:17-18
Praise: St. Anthony Mary Claret founded the Teaching Sisters of Mary Immaculate in Cuba, and a museum, library, schools, and laboratory back in Spain.
Rescript: †Most Reverend Daniel E. Pilarczyk, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 3, 2007
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