Thursday - 3rd Week of Advent.

Each catholic is Emmanuel, Sanctifying grace should reign and seed has to grow. 
Jeremiah 23:8  As the LORD lives, who brought the descendants of the house of Israel
up from the land of the north”– and from all the lands to which I banished them;
they shall again live on their own land. 

Covenant unfaithfulness can cause exile.  God always included promises of future restoration, a new covenant, a remnant returning, and a new heart for His people. It is our choice to continue in exile or return.

Covenant unfaithfulness (breaking the agreement with God through idolatry, injustice, and disobedience) is  the primary reason for Israel's exile from the Promised Land. This  Exile, forced Israel to shift their religious focus from land/Temple sacrifices to scripture study, prayer (synagogue worship), and communal identity.

Matthew 1:23  Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”

"God is with us" is fulfilled in a Catholic's life through the sacrament of Baptism,  is a  solemn agreement (covenant) where God promises Adoption as Children of God, and the baptized  promise to renounce sin, profess faith in the Trinity, and follow Christ, becoming incorporated into the Body of Christ.  "God is with us" (Emmanuel) is tied to the Incarnation of Jesus, but its promise is made real and personal for each believer through their own Baptism. 

While Baptism initiates this presence, sanctifying grace can be "bound" or inactive if the person does not respond in faith; it is often described as a "seed" that must grow.

Kingdom of god is like a mustard seed. Covenant faithfulness,  nourished by grace through active catholic life , results in  "fruits" like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—demonstrating spiritual growth and transforming one's actions and character to build God's Kingdom.

A "bound" with sanctifying grace will initiate the process of purgation , to union with Christ. It's a journey from being made righteous (justified) to being made holy (sanctified).

God's divine life (sanctifying grace) within us needs to rule (reign) and develop (grow) through faith, prayer, sacraments, rosary, and good works, just like a seed planted in fertile ground . It's about becoming more like Jesus, a process of continual renewal, not instant perfection, where we allow the Holy Spirit to cultivate Christ's character in our hearts, enabling us to live a holy, fruitful life in response to God's love. 






Popular posts from this blog

Monday: 10th Week: Ordinary Time

Christusway : Catholic Daily Mass Reflections Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church Genesis 3:9 I will put enmity between you and the woman. John 19:25-27  Standing by the cross of Jesus ,when Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “ Woman, behold, your son .Then he said to the disciple, “ Behold, your mother .” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. To start Chritus Way, Jesus has to entrust his mother to us. ChritusWay -Way towards Christ -Spiritual Journey Ways to Bring Mary into Our Life 
Read more

Wednesday 18thWeek -Ordinary Time - Transfiguration of the Lord

The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth. Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 14 He received dominion, splendor, and kingship; all nations, peoples and tongues will serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, his kingship, one that shall not be destroyed. 2 Peter 1:16-19 17: “This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” 18: We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain.  19: Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 
Read more

Thursday -18th Week - Ordinary Time Peter's states, Heavenly, Demonic and Selfish.

Numbers 20:1-13 11 Then, raising his hand, Moses struck the rock twice with his staff, and water came out in abundance, and the community and their livestock drank.  Psalm 18:3 LORD, my rock , my fortress, my deliverer, My God, my rock of refuge, my shield, my saving horn, my stronghold. Deuteronomy 32:4:   The Rock —how faultless are his deeds, how right all his ways. A faithful God, without deceit, just and upright is he., 2 Samuel 22:3: my God, my rock of refuge. 1 Corinthians 10:4:   the rock was the Christ. The rock is Jesus Christ. Same God in old testament, water to people from rock, in Peter rock as foundation of the Church.    Matthew 16:13-23 15  “Who do you say that I am?”  16 Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  After after witnessing transfiguration Peter got ability to read celestial realm. Peter, aligned with God the Father and Truth is aligned with Jesus, the Rock. 17 Jesus said ...
Read more