what's a three-letter word for death?
"The man who sins belongs to the devil." —1 John 3:8
Sin is:
- rebellion against God,
- rejecting Jesus, Who loves us so much that He died for us,
- being deceived, and therefore being manipulated and degraded,
- slavery and an abuse of freedom,
- often enjoyable for a while,
- deadly,
- pride,
- denying reality,
- belonging "to the devil, because the devil is a sinner from the beginning" (1 Jn 3:8),
- breaking our baptismal covenant,
- hurting ourselves and others,
- acting as the devil's child (see 1 Jn 3:10),
- refusing to love,
- the cause of all the evils in the world,
- the way to damnation in hell forever,
- to be avoided at all costs (see Heb 12:4), and
- so bad that God became a man and shed His blood to save us from our sins (see 1 Tm 1:15).
Therefore, for God's sake and for love, let us repent of our sins and make frequent use of the privilege of going to Confession. Our Christmas Confessions are a great start to the year. Jesus has died to save us from our sins. May His death not be in vain for us (see 1 Cor 1:17; Gal 2:21). Repent now!
Prayer: Father, send the Holy Spirit to make holy my life, family, Christmas, and year.
Promise: "Look! There is the Lamb of God!" —Jn 1:36
Praise: St. Elizabeth encouraged: "Be above the vain fears of nature and efforts of your enemy. You are children of eternity."
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 3, 2017
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