purity
Jesus "entered the temple and began ejecting the traders." —Luke 19:45
Jesus has made it clear that He wants His temple purified (see also 1 Mc 4:36). Jesus commands us to be pure, even "as He is pure" (1 Jn 3:3). Jesus is purifying His Church "in the bath of water by the power of the word, to present to Himself a glorious church, holy and immaculate, without stain or wrinkle or anything of that sort" (Eph 5:26-27). "By obedience to the truth," we can purify ourselves "for a genuine love" of our brothers and sisters (1 Pt 1:22). The Lord has promised us "a fountain to purify from sin and uncleanness" (Zec 13:1).
This fountain of purification is our Baptism into Jesus (Rm 6:3) in which we have stripped "off the carnal body completely" (Col 2:11). If we live our Baptism by being holy in every aspect of our conduct (1 Pt 1:15), we are pure. Even if we have defiled ourselves through sin after our Baptism, we can be purified by repentance, especially by accepting God's mercy through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Therefore, "since we have these promises, beloved, let us purify ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, and in the fear of God strive to fulfill our consecration perfectly" (2 Cor 7:1).
Prayer: Father, may I want to be pure more than a person with cancer wants to be free of all cancerous cells.
Promise: "All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven, who had given them success." —1 Mc 4:55
Praise: Paul Le-Bao-Tinh, one of the Vietnamese martyrs, wrote that he was joyful in the midst of his prolonged torments and sufferings because he knew that he was not alone, that "Christ is with me" (see Mt 28:20).
Reference: (For related teaching, order our leaflet, Be Holy, For I Am Holy.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 12, 2017
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