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Continence is an ignoring of the body in accordance with the confession of faith in God. For continence is not merely a matter of sexual abstinence, but applies also to the other things for which the soul has an evil desire because it is not satisfied with the necessities of life. There is also a continence of the tongue, of money, of use, and of desire. It does not only teach us to exercise self-control; it is
rather that self-control is granted to us, since it is a divine power and grace.
- Clement of Alexandria, Miscellanies
(What desires do you need to discipline? How might you do so? Ask the Spirit to help you come to greater self-control.)
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Rom 15:14-21; Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
Lk 16:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward
who was reported to him for squandering his property.
He summoned him and said,
‘What is this I hear about you?
Prepare a full account of your stewardship,
because you can no longer be my steward.’
The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do,
now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me?
I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg.
I know what I shall do so that,
when I am removed from the stewardship,
they may welcome me into their homes.’
He called in his master’s debtors one by one.
To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’
He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note.
Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’
Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’
He replied, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’
He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note;
write one for eighty.’
And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.
For the children of this world
are more prudent in dealing with their own generation
than the children of light.”
USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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“The owner then gave his devious employee credit for being enterprising! Why? Because the worldly take more initiative than the other-worldly when it comes to dealing with their own kind.” —Luke 16:8
The people of the world are usually charged up. They are in overdrive to make money and satisfy their carnal desires. It is nothing to work fifty, sixty, or more hours a week. They’ll stay up all night just to get a buzz. Almost no sacrifice seems too great to get ahead or feel high.
Jesus says that we Christians should have that kind of initiative and drive — not motivated by carnal desires but by God’s love. If we spread the Good News with the fervor in which the world markets the bad news, what an evangelism-explosion would result! If we stayed up all night praying while the world was preying, what victory we would see! The Good News doesn’t look so good if not proclaimed with abandon.
Jesus said: “I have come to light a fire on the earth. How I wish the blaze were ignited! I have a baptism to receive. What anguish I feel till it is over!” (Lk 12:49-50) Let’s run out of the upper room. May our walk match our talk. We need a new Pentecost to conquer the world (1 Jn 5:5).
Prayer: Jesus, I’m sorry for not running down the street telling of You, Your crucified love, and Resurrection-power.
Promise: “I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has done through me to win the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed, with mighty signs and marvels, by the power of God’s Spirit.” —Rm 15:18-19
Presentation Ministries
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Growing in Inner Freedom: A Guide for Today
- by Philip St. Romain. Liguori Publ., 1986.
14. Accept the Certainty of Your Own Death
“Do not fear those who deprive the body of life but cannot destroy the soul. Rather, fear him who can destroy both body and soul in Gehenna” (Matthew 10:28).
Most of us probably think that the worst thing that can happen to us is death. Isn’t that, after all, the reason why we fear accidents or sickness or getting old? But one of the main certainties in life is that we shall all die. What a shame that we waste so much energy trying to deny this truth.
In the above Scripture quotation, Jesus tells us that there are two kinds of death. The first results in the death of the body, after which the soul passes on to live with God in eternity, awaiting the general resurrection. Furthermore, Jesus’ Resurrection is a promise that we who live in Christ shall one day receive a glorified body. We know little about life in this wondrous state save that it shall surpass all our deepest yearnings (see 1 Corinthians 2:9,15).
The second death results in the loss of both body and soul. It is life without God in eternity, a possibility that should sober all of us. Those who die the second death share fellowship with Satan and all those who have chosen to reject God with their lives. Spending eternity with these wicked beings has rightly been called Hell.
The author of the Book of Hebrews (9:27) wrote that “it is appointed for all to die once, and then to be judged by God.” If we live a life of love, death and judgment shall be for us a beautiful birthing into the fullness of life with God.
Is this really the worst thing that can ever happen to us?
Suggested Practices
- Are you afraid of death? Will you admit to yourself the truth that you, too, shall one day die?
- Pray for the grace to want to live with Christ in eternity.
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