what's on the mind of love?
"When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, 'My son, your sins are forgiven.' " —Mark 2:5
The purpose of living is to develop a deep relationship with Jesus so that we will totally give our lives to Him.
To love Jesus, we must know Him. For example, it is good to know what is foremost on Jesus' mind. When He saw a paralyzed man being lowered on a stretcher through a hole in the roof, Jesus said: "My son, your sins are forgiven" (Mk 2:5). Jesus is preoccupied with the forgiveness of our sins. He even died on the cross to take away our sins (see 1 Pt 2:24).
Moreover, when Jesus saw the four men lowering the paralytic on a stretcher, Jesus saw their faith (Mk 2:5). He is on the lookout for faith, because, by faith, we can accept the grace to be forgiven from our sins and by the forgiveness of sin we can grow in faith.
Jesus' name means "Yahweh saves." Thus, we should expect that He would be preoccupied with the main aspects of our salvation, such as grace, faith, the forgiveness of sins, and eternal life. To relate to Jesus rightly, we must "have the mind of Christ" (1 Cor 2:16) and have His priorities. As we try to think and be more like Jesus, we will love Him more deeply and even come to worship Him as we love Him with all our hearts and all our minds (see Lk 10:27). Get to know Jesus. Accept Him on His terms. Love Him and give yourself totally to Him.
Prayer: Father, change my mind so I will love You in greater ways.
Promise: "You are the Splendor of their strength, and by Your favor our horn is exalted. For to the Lord belongs our shield." —Ps 89:18-19
Praise: St. Anthony embraced Gospel poverty as a hermit in the Egyptian desert. Ironically, his lifestyle attracted many followers. He is often called the father of monasticism.
Reference: (On Feb. 21-22, we offer a Community Life in the Spirit retreat. Learn more about joining with others to live a Christ-centered life. This retreat is in the Greater Cincinnati area. Call 513-373-2397 or e-mail us at retreats@presentationministries.com.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 2, 2019
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