Message of 3-1-2023

Published: Wed, 03/01/23

A Daily Spiritual Seed
Wednesday: March 1, 2023

Message of the Day

God is Spirit, so we must worship God in spirit and truth, that is, by a humble and true adoration of spirit in the depth and center of our souls. God alone can see this worship; we can repeat it so often that in the end it becomes as if it were natural to us, and as if God were one with our souls, and our souls one with God.
- Brother Lawrence

(Pray that the Spirit will connect you to God in the depth of your being. Take time this day to deeply open to God's loving presence.)

Readings of the Day

Jon 3:1-10; Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19

Lk 11:29-32

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,
"This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah.
Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
At the judgment
the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation
and she will condemn them,
because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here.
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation
and condemn it,
because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,
and there is something greater than Jonah here."

USCCB lectionary

Reflection on the Scripture

The people of Nineveh, wicked as they were, made the connection between their sins and the destruction to come (Jon 3:8-9). These people frequently brutalized and killed large numbers of people. They were pagans, spiritually dead, the least likely to repent. Yet the prophetic word pierced their hearts, and they repented (Jon 3:5). Jesus commended them for this (Lk 11:32).

We fancy ourselves more sophisticated than the ancient Ninevites. We specialize in knowing connections, such as the connection between cholesterol and heart disease, drinking alcohol and liver disease, sanitation and the prevention of infection, physical health and mental health, etc. Yet we, in our advanced culture, miss the all-important connection between sin and damnation (Jn 8:24).

. . . Our culture specializes in missing the connection between Jesus and forgiveness of sin. So many act like the Pharisee, thinking they are OK with God while failing to know what acts are sinful, or even failing to know that they are sinners (Lk 18:11-12).

Jesus came to save sinners like us (1 Tm 1:15). All we need to do is make the connection that we are sinners and He is our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer. Repent!

Prayer: “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Lk 18:13).

Promise: “A heart contrite and humbled, O God, You will not spurn.” —Ps 51:19

Presentation Ministries

Amazon Gift Cards: Good for any occasion.

Spiritual Reading

CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY AND SPIRITUALITY

www.innerexplorations.com

Theology and Faith

How we do theology depends on how we understand the nature of faith. Christian faith is not the outcome of reason alone, but of an interior ascent to God that comes about through love. Therefore, theology is not the work of reason alone, but takes place within the context of this loving relationship with God. Theology is meant to explore and understand something of the Christian mysteries which we are trying to live out.

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