the truth about your love for god
“Empty is the reverence they do Me.” —Mark 7:7
The Lord made Solomon the wisest man in the world (1 Kgs 3:12). Solomon used his wisdom to build the temple of the Lord. Solomon was awed by God’s work in his life (see 1 Kgs 8:27). Sadly, Solomon’s heart did not remain with the Lord (1 Kgs 11:9). He died trapped in idolatrous abominations, alienated from the Lord.
David, Solomon’s father, also received exceptional graces from the Lord. His heart was with the Lord (see Acts 13:22). To express his love for the Lord, David composed and sang many of the psalms. However, David committed adultery and murder (2 Sm 11:1ff). Obviously, despite David’s devotion to the Lord, he had something very wrong in his relationship with the Lord. Yet David did repent and died in the Lord’s love.
The lives of Solomon and David show that we can deceive ourselves about the quality and depth of our relationship with the Lord. While we honor the Lord externally, our hearts may be far from Him (Mk 7:6). We need the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, to guide us to all truth about the authenticity and purity of our relationship with the Lord (see Jn 16:13). We need the Holy Spirit to prove us wrong about any compromises we have made with the ways of the world (Jn 16:8). Come, Holy Spirit of truth and love!
Prayer: Father, may I never be unfaithful to You.
Promise: “You keep Your covenant of kindness with Your servants who are faithful to You with their whole heart.” —1 Kgs 8:23
Praise: When her first marriage failed, Gloria dedicated herself to Jesus, the Bridegroom, as a lay single woman.
Reference: (For a related teaching on Don’t Stifle the Spirit, listen to, download or order our CD 56-3 or DVD 56 on our website.)
Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from February 01/2022 through March 31, 2022 Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio June 16, 2021"
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.