Study: Consider a time when you had to confront evil.  How did your faith in Christ give you strength?

Pray: Is there a difficult situation in your life right now?  Ask the Lord for wisdom and guidance.

Serve:  Do you know someone who is struggling right now?  How can you offer support?

Mass Readings – 12th Sunday of the Year

The readings this Sunday all come with an edge to them, signifying that there’s a lot at stake in a life of faith.  Take a look:

• 1st Reading – Jeremiah praises the Lord even as he recognizes the evil of others.
• Psalm – “Lord, in your great love answer me.”
• 2nd Reading – Sin and death came through Adam; grace and peace come through Jesus Christ.
• Gospel – The Lord will acknowledge those who acknowledge Him, and he will deny those who deny him.

These readings address the reality of sin and evil in our world.  We know this reality through our experience, and whether through our own actions or the actions of others we recognize that the human heart has the capacity for sin.

Yet we also recognize that God’s grace is greater than the darkness.  This is why Christ came into the world!  Through the Lord’s cross and resurrection we have hope to call upon Heaven for the strength, courage and wisdom we need to face the challenges of life.

Have we sinned?  Then we seek reconciliation and forgiveness.  Have we been wounded by wickedness and evil?  Then we call upon the Lord’s grace.

The triumph of Jesus Christ inspires us to follow the example of Jeremiah and Paul – acknowledging the Lord in this world so that we can be with Him in the next!

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Note: This post was first published on June 19, 2017.