Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent - March 26

Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9 Matthew 5:17-19

The Catholic Church urges all of the faithful to strive toward sainthood; to live a life dedicated to Christ and to living out the principles of the Christian faith. This call to a life of striving towards the Beatific Vision is what led me through the doors of the Church as an adult convert. The Catholic Church offered me something that no other religious group could: purpose. The Church called me forth to a great adventure and provided me with the necessary equipment to sustain me on the perilous journey of life. First and foremost, she gives us the Sacraments, anchors of the faith that bestow grace upon each of us who participate within these sacred mysteries. The Church also places expectations upon each of us to follow the commandments of Christ, to live in a manner worthy of him who was tortured and murdered for our sake. Choosing to live in this manner leads us to wisdom, to peace, to an understanding of super-natural things, and ultimately to the glories of Heaven.

Today’s readings remind us that adhering to the law of Christ will set us apart. It will place us as beacons of light, as the very salt of the earth. The lives we lead should inspire others to say, “What Church is there that has a God so near to those who call upon him? What Church is there that has statutes and ordinances so righteous and just?” The law of Christ, inscribed upon the hearts of the faithful, and carried out by the mission of his bride the Church, will never pass away. Not one dot or iota will fall until Christ returns to bring the fullness of justice to this fallen world. Each of us are moving towards this final end. All of us should live our lives under the free law of Christ in such a way that others desire to enter the safe harbor of the Church. We must never forget all that Christ has done and all that the Church offers each of us. May we, with the help of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church never waver from this goal. May we all become saints of Christ and his Church.

Q: In what ways is the church a “safe harbor” for me?

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