the demon of unfaithfulness
"We have become partners of Christ only if we maintain to the end that confidence with which we began." —Hebrews 3:14
Some people, priests, and ministers we thought were the pillars of the Church have fallen away "from the living God" (Heb 3:12). If we take an honest look at our own weakness, we will "take care" lest any of us "have an evil and unfaithful spirit" (Heb 3:12).
We open the door to the spirit of unfaithfulness through sin, as we harden our hearts against the voice of God (Heb 3:7-8; Ps 95:8). At this point, we desperately need encouragement to repent "so that" we won't grow "hardened by the deceit of sin" (Heb 3:13).
This is why all believers have been given the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18). If we remain in sin, we get harder and harder until the evil spirit of unfaithfulness dominates our whole lives. At this point, we are beyond encouragement. However, encouragement could have prevented us from reaching this point. When did you last invite someone to go with you to the Sacrament of Reconciliation? If you don't invite them to Confession now, you may have to take them to deliverance later. We must strongly encourage one another to repent and close the door of sin before demons come in and take over. Pause for a moment...... Is the Lord calling you to encourage someone to repent? Go now, speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15).
Prayer: Father, I repent and remove the plank from my own eye, so I can take the specks out of the eyes of others (Mt 7:5).
Promise: "Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out His hand, touched him, and said: 'I do will it. Be cured.' " —Mk 1:41
Praise: Carol encouraged her son to go to Eucharistic adoration. By doing so, he was able to hear and heed the Lord's call to the seminary.
Rescript: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 13, 2006
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