Daily Bible: Carry Your Cross
If anyone is looking for Scriptural evidence for the Catholic understanding of grace and works, today’s first reading from Philippians 2:12-18 is one great place to look. Saint Paul exhorts us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, but he also says, “For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work.” Grace comes first. God is at work in our hearts and souls. Then we are called to work with grace toward salvation. The rest of Saint Paul’s message certainly applies to us today. He tells them as they work out their salvation they will shine like lights to the world in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. Today reflect on how you can work even more closely with grace in order to shine among this crooked and perverse generation.
Psalm 27:1-14 reflects on the desire of the heart to dwell with God in His house. It praises God for being our hope and our salvation. Pray this psalm with thanksgiving in your heart as you reflect on Heaven as the goal of your striving.
In Luke 14:25-33 we hear Jesus warning us of the cost of being His disciple. Striving for our salvation means giving everything to Jesus. It means picking up our cross – our sufferings and sacrifices of selfless love – to follow Him in His example of complete selfless love. There is no such thing as a faith that is “good enough.” We must constantly be striving to love Jesus, and to love like Jesus, at ever deeper levels. Grace makes it possible, and then calls us to conversion of heart to embrace it.
Reflection Questions
1. What cross are you currently carrying?
2. Why do you want to be a disciple of Christ?
Brought to you by Jeffrey S. Arrowood at From the Abbey, dedicated to helping you rediscover the JOY of learning and living your faith so you can grow in intimacy with God.