going home from church
"Believe Me, this man went home from the temple justified but the other did not." —Luke 18:14
When you walk out of church today, will you be justified? Or will you walk away sad? (see Mk 10:22) We are justified, forgiven, and free when we serve God willingly (Sir 35:16). It is our Sunday obligation to attend church, but we must go beyond this and serve God willingly if our petition is to reach the heavens (Sir 35:16). Is your Sunday obligation also a Sunday privilege? If not, you will not leave church justified.
We will go home from church justified and our prayer will pierce the clouds if we are lowly (Sir 35:17). Jesus, God Himself, was lowly in emptying Himself and becoming a human being (see Phil 2:7). He was so lowly as to die on the cross for love of us. He is so lowly as to come to us in Holy Communion under the appearance of bread and wine. If we humble ourselves, admit we are sinners, and cry out for God's mercy (see Lk 18:13), we become lowly and justified.
The willing and the lowly go home from church and go home to heaven justified.
Prayer: Father, do whatever You must in me so that You may do whatever You will through me.
Promise: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on a merited crown awaits me." —2 Tm 4:7-8
Praise: Alleluia! Jesus has risen and will raise me from the dead! Alleluia!
Reference: (For related teaching, order our leaflet, How To Get Your Kids to Go to Church and Go To Heaven.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, May 22, 2013
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