Friday, August 18, 2006

Return and Live August 19

“For all lives are mine; the life of the father is like the life of the son, both are mine; only the one who sins shall die.” Ezekiel 18:4

“Let the children come to me.” Matthew 19:14

Piety

Jesus, we are yours. But sometimes, we don’t act that way. Help us live lives that consistently support and respect the ethic of life in all of your creation. Jesus, if you judge each one of us according to our ways, help us to turn away from those actions that keep us from you. Give to us a new heart and a new spirit so that we may return to your Word and Works and Live! Deliver us from evil and grant us peace today. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/081906.shtml

Have you ever been to a Mass where there was a children’s Liturgy of the Word? The young children are dismissed and many practically run, others hold the hand of younger siblings to guide them. Yet how eager are they to be able to hear the Word of God in words that have meaning in their young lives. The prayers that they offer from their heart for sick or dying relatives, pets, neighbors and friends show how quickly they develop a moral compass thanks to their parents, teachers and the Church.

Can you imagine a God who doesn’t welcome the most innocent into his presence?

Adults like us need to have explicit codes of conduct so we will live justly, do right and walk humbly with our God. Ezekiel gives us one today. But our children are not responsible for our sins…except perhaps the Federal deficit that they inherit that will have to be paid off by untold generations to come.

Jesus and the prophets can’t be more explicit…the one who sins pays the price and those who turn a blind eye and refuse to offer help to save the sinner. However, innocent children are washed clean in baptism. They belong to the Lord and are attracted to him.

Action

Is Christ Counting on You? That question was posed/posted on “Your Daily Tripod” this week by one reader of the internet column (web log/blog).

“I don't think Christ is counting on me. After all, he's GOD. There's nothing I can do that he can't take care of if I don't get to it. That would be like you counting on a ant to bring you dinner. You are far better equipped to meet your own expectations than the ant. I think Christ LOVES me and that he HELPS me, but COUNTS on me? Nah. --Posted by Edna Mae Twink to Your Daily Tripod at 8/17/2006 12:07:16 AM

According to Ezekiel, “If we are virtuous and do what is right, we shall surely live.” Christ and our neighbors will benefit from these actions of ours. Are they counting on us? Or is it that Christ is only our helper, more of a one-way street? What do you think? Post your comments on the web and that will share them for all to see. At the end of each reflection is a link to add comments.

www.yourdailytripod.blogspot.com

No comments: