know jesus — know purity
"John had told him, 'It is not right for you to live with her.' " —Matthew 14:4
John the Baptist was martyred for telling Herod: "It is not right for you to live with her." Because today many people are living together outside of marriage, we also have numerous opportunities to repeat John's words to today's Herods and be persecuted, even martyred, as John was.
However, John's last recorded words must be heard in the context of his earlier words in reference to Jesus: "Look! There is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!" (Jn 1:29) It is incomplete to tell people to repent of sin, including sexual sin, without telling them of the only One Who can forgive their sin and save them from being trapped in sin forever (Rm 7:24-25). In our promiscuous society, we need courageous crusaders for purity and against sexual sin. However, these crusaders will be successful only if they are above all evangelizers constantly pointing to Jesus, the Lamb of God.
At Holy Communion, we proclaim: "Behold, the Lamb of God." Let us do this frequently in our daily lives. Then we and those around us will be able to be pure and holy.
Prayer: Father, make my love for Jesus the source of my purity (see 1 Jn 3:3).
Promise: "This fiftieth year you shall make sacred by proclaiming liberty in the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you." —Lv 25:10
Praise: Ralph converted to the Catholic faith because he was repeatedly touched by the prophetic messages of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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, February 27, 2017
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.