416 N 2nd St, Albemarle, NC, 28001 | (704) 982-2910
“Do not look for the faults of your friend. Do not repeat the shortcomings of your neighbors in your talk. You are not the judge of creation. You do not have dominion over the earth. If you love righteousness, admonish your soul and yourself. Be the judge of your own sins, and chastise your own transgressions.”— St. Ephrem the Syrian
//The Catholic Company//
Every Christian knows that Jesus took away our sins by dying on the cross. We were saved, redeemed, cleansed. This is obvious. What is less obvious is trying to describe how atonement actually works. When we look to the history of the Church, we see that there are three main approaches to this question.
//The Catholic Company//
“This is the great work of man: always to take the blame for his own sins before God and to expect temptation to his last breath.”
— St. Anthony of the Desert
//The Catholic Company//
Saturday, February 27, 2021
“Christ’s entire ministry is a struggle against the evil one in its many manifestations: healing from illnesses, exorcisms of the possessed, forgiveness of sins. It is a struggle. After the first phase in which Jesus demonstrates that he speaks and acts with the power of God, it seems that the devil has the upper hand, when the Son of God is rejected, abandoned and finally captured and condemned to death. The devil appears to be the winner. In reality, death itself was the last “desert” to cross in order to definitively defeat Satan and free us all from his power. And in this way Jesus won in the desert of death, so as to win in the Resurrection.”Pope Francis
| “Do we listen to Jesus’ words, which are authoritative? Always, do not forget, carry a small copy of the Gospel in your pocket or in your bag, to read throughout the day, to listen to that authoritative word of Jesus. And then, we all have problems, we all have our sins, we all have spiritual afflictions; let us ask Jesus: “Jesus, you are the prophet, the Son of God, the one who was promised to us to heal us. Heal me!” Asking Jesus to heal our sins, our ills.“ Pope Francis |
Fr. Mike touches on the sins of David, and how we can see ourselves in these fallen characters in scripture. God desires a relationship with us free from sin, and although it may be painful, he brings these things into the light not out of anger, but out of love. Today’s readings are 2 Samuel 12, 1 Chronicles 16, and Psalm 51.
Click on the link:
https://bibleinayear.fireside.fm/day-130
Day 161: The Crucifixion of Christ -The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz. Fr. Mike finishes the gospel of Mark by reflecting on the death and resurrection of Christ. He also encourages us to reflect on the redemption of our own sins every time we see a crucifix and to return that same sacrificial love to God every day. Today’s readings are Mark 15-16 and Psalm 22. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children – parental discretion is advised.
