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Sunday, August 25, 2002

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21st Sunday Ordinary Time


Isaiah 22:19-23
Romans 11:33-36
Psalm 138
Matthew 16:13-20

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accepting jesus on his terms

"For from Him and through Him and for Him all things are. To Him be glory forever. Amen." —Romans 11:36

The most important question in life is: "Who do you say" Jesus is? (Mt 16:15) If we confess with our lips that Jesus is the Messiah, Lord, and Son of God (Mt 16:16; Rm 10:9) and if we live for Jesus and not for ourselves (2 Cor 5:15), we will be saved from death, self-deception, slavery, damnation, and hell, and we will be saved for freedom, purity, holiness, love, peace, joy, and eternal life.

Moreover, when we accept the grace to have faith in Jesus and to live for Him, Jesus reveals His Church to us (Mt 16:18). He likewise calls us to love the Church, even by laying down our lives for her (Eph 5:25).

Have you accepted Jesus on His terms? Have you been crucified with Christ? (Gal 2:19) Is the life that you're living no longer your own? (Gal 2:20) Have you lost your life for Jesus? (Lk 9:24) Do you merely go to Church, or are you "churched" by Jesus' standards?

"How deep are the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How inscrutable His judgments, how unsearchable His ways!" (Rm 11:33) Enter into the mystery of Trinitarian, eternal love. Give your life totally to Jesus and His Church now.

Prayer:  Father, reveal Jesus to me in ever deeper ways (see Mt 16:17).

Promise:  "When he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open." —Is 22:22

Praise:  Praise Jesus, risen Head of His body, the Church!

Reference:  (For a related teaching, order our leaflet Accepting Jesus as Lord, Savior, and God or on audio AV 43-3 or video V-43.)

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, February 7, 2002


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 12, 2002