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Monday, June 14, 2021

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2 Corinthians 6:1-10
Psalm 98:1-4
Matthew 5:38-42

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“complete absurdity”

“You have heard the commandment, ‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.’ But what I say to you is: offer no resistance to injury.” —Matthew 5:38-39

Most of us grew up in a Christian environment. We’re accustomed to Christian terminology and activities. Because of this, it’s difficult for people to see Christianity objectively. From the point of view of many outsiders, Christianity is “complete absurdity” (1 Cor 1:18). For example, Jesus commanded us to love our enemies (Mt 5:44), “offer no resistance to injury,” even turn the other cheek, give a bonus to anyone who has defrauded us in court, and volunteer to go an extra mile after having been forced to go the first one (Mt 5:39-41).

This sounds absurd, but Jesus followed this literally, even to death on the cross (Phil 2:8). The early Church did so as well, “acting with patient endurance amid trials, difficulties, distresses, beatings, imprisonments, and riots” (2 Cor 6:4-5). Paul describes how outsiders look at Christians: “We are called impostors, yet we are truthful; nobodies who in fact are well known; dead, yet here we are, alive; punished, but not put to death; sorrowful, though we are always rejoicing; poor, yet we enrich many. We seem to have nothing, yet everything is ours!” (2 Cor 6:8-10)

Does this describe you as a Christian? Or have you merely subscribed to a cultural Christianity that is a far cry from the real thing? Is your Christianity “complete absurdity”? Or is it the contemporary lukewarm counterfeit?

Prayer:  Lord, I want to be a Christian by Your standards.

Promise:  “Now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!” —2 Cor 6:2

Praise:  Joan visits Jesus weekly at adoration. She feels His pressence the rest of the week.

Reference:  (For a related teaching on A Prophetic Life Style, order, listen to or download our CD 75-3 or DVD 75 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 period from June 1, 2021 through July 31, 2021. Reverend Steve J Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 20, 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.