Daily Retreat 08/28/09
2009 Aug 28 Fri:Augustine, bp, dr M
1 Thes 4:1-8/ Ps 96(97):1 and 2b. 5-6. 10. 11-12/ Mt 25:1-13
From today’s readings: “ For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.... Rejoice in the Lord, you just!... Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
The Next Step
As mentioned yesterday, the Christians in Thessalonika were evidently on the right track in many regards, inspiring Paul to give thanks to God for their inspirational conduct. But Paul doesn’t say the Thessalonians are “good enough” now, and there’s no longer any room for improvement! Instead, Paul writes, “We earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God– and as you are conducting yourselves– you do so even more!”
In striving to become saints, you and I need to humbly (and constantly!) admit that we each have room for improvement. When we figure that we’re basically living an overall “good” life, it’s easy to slip into a degree of spiritual smugness, but that’s the very poison that will kill spiritual progress.
Instead, we need to constantly turn to Christ to show us the next step towards Him that we can make. And coming closer to Christ always means shunning all sin, “for God did not call us to impurity, but to holiness.”
1 Thes 4:1-8/ Ps 96(97):1 and 2b. 5-6. 10. 11-12/ Mt 25:1-13
From today’s readings: “ For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.... Rejoice in the Lord, you just!... Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
The Next Step
As mentioned yesterday, the Christians in Thessalonika were evidently on the right track in many regards, inspiring Paul to give thanks to God for their inspirational conduct. But Paul doesn’t say the Thessalonians are “good enough” now, and there’s no longer any room for improvement! Instead, Paul writes, “We earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God– and as you are conducting yourselves– you do so even more!”
In striving to become saints, you and I need to humbly (and constantly!) admit that we each have room for improvement. When we figure that we’re basically living an overall “good” life, it’s easy to slip into a degree of spiritual smugness, but that’s the very poison that will kill spiritual progress.
Instead, we need to constantly turn to Christ to show us the next step towards Him that we can make. And coming closer to Christ always means shunning all sin, “for God did not call us to impurity, but to holiness.”
posted by FrPitstick | 8/26/2009
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