"Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?" (Romans 6: 3)
Consequence of our Baptism: "You too must think of yourselves as dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus."
Am I dead to sin? I believe so even though I do not feel so. Have I rejected Satan with all his promises and gifts? Absolutely!
"The promises of the Lord I will sing forever, through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness." (Psalm 89: 2)
I want to be an apostle of God's faithfulness. I will proclaim God's faithfulness at every opportunity I have.
"Father in heaven, the light of Jesus has scattered the darkness of hatred and sin. Called to the light we ask for your guidance. Form our lives in your truth, our hearts in your love….." (Mass Prayer)
The light of Jesus has scattered the darkness of hatred and sin in our hearts. We are now people of the light. We ask the Father to form our lives in the truth of the Gospel and our hearts in His love.
"Father, you call your children to walk in the light of Christ. Free us from darkness and keep us in the radiance of your truth…." (Mass Prayer on 13th Sunday or Ordinary Time)
God our Father wants us to walk in the light of Christ, that is, in the light of the Gospel. God wants us to imitate Christ and obey His teaching.
We ask the Father to free us from darkness, that is, darkness with regard to God's will and plan. Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. He who believes in me shall never walk in darkness." Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ, says St. Jerome.
"Go back, then; let this be done for you, as your faith demands.' And the servant was cured at that moment." (Matthew 8: 13)
The centurion's faith demanded certain precise action. He believed in Jesus and that Jesus could make the object of his faith a reality. His faith produced a miracle.
What does my faith demand here and now? What should my faith demand?
My faith should demand the one thing that is necessary for me. That one thing is the filling of the Holy Spirit. This is the only thing that I need. If I have this, everything else will fall into place.
Lord strengthen my faith so that it becomes strong enough to demand the filling of the Holy Spirit here and now.
"My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my savior." (Luke 1: 46 – 47)
When the Lord visited Abraham and Sarah, their spirit was filled with joy and they proclaimed the greatness of the Lord. Mary's spirit was also filled with joy in God her savior. She expressed her gratitude with the magnificent Magnificat.
The Lord remembered His mercy to Hannah and to David. David after singing his Magnificat, backslided and the Lord lifted him up. The Lord has also remembered His mercy to me. Like David, I backslided. The Lord will lift me up.
"I shall come back to you next year, and then your wife Sarah will have a son." (Genesis 10)
Abraham and the wife prayed for a son for many years. And when it appears that they had given up on this hope, God visited them and promised: "I shall come back to you next year, and then your wife Sarah will have a son." (Genesis 10)
What have I stopped praying for and why? God remembers His covenant forever. Even if I forget the prayer and the promise, God remembers.
"Nothing is impossible for Yahweh." (Genesis 18: 14)
Thank you Father for being so faithful. Behold I am your child. Let your plan for my life be fully accomplished.