Repent or You Will Perish

Beads of Joy 03-07-10

Repent or You Will Perish
©2010 James Dacey, Jr. SFO

Lent 2010 - Day 19
Hello Everyone,

Today is the Third Sunday of Lent. A most exciting joyous time as we experience our walk with Jesus in this Lenten Journey. Today's gospel can be found in Luke 13:1-9 (The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree). Towards the end of today's gospel (v.6-9) Jesus teaches those present a parable that shows us how important it is to be ready; corruption and sin will only contaminate our minds and hearts and in the end we will perish. A failing fig tree represented our unrepentant sin. We must do all we can to stay as clean and as spotless as we can before God. We do not know the hour or how or the way we will leave this earth. Being prepared is so critical to our eternity. I pity the fool who thinks they can live a corrupt, sinful life and think, "Oh I am young I have time, when I grow old I will prepare for Heaven." We must not think like that. The fool who does not prepare for the unknown outcome of tomorrow; will only reap the rewards of those selfish choices today.

As our journey through Lent continues let us only use this time to keep ourselves pure and clean before our Lord. Frequent confession and a very open minded awareness of our actions will keep us closer in tune to always being ready. We are so fortunate that we have God's mercy and the time to get it right with Him; let us not be foolish and find ourselves left out of a most joyous wonderful eternity. Nothing in this world should ever be allowed to have such power over us, as to mislead and redirect our hearts to an abyss of death and to be led away from God. "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love." 1 Corinthians 16:13-14. We must allow the Holy Spirit to help direct us and keep us close to our Lord. "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:5.

We are so blessed to have one another, we are brothers and sisters in the Lord. We need to look out for one another, helping inspire and guide and protect one another as best as we can. Our first line of giving and loving goes directly to God first and foremost; that wonderful blessed love is immediately followed by loving others next. Let us show one another how much we really do care for one another's eternity, with encouraging words, scripture for comfort and a heart that really prayers sincerely and daily for each other. God has blessed everyone one of us with each other. Let's stand strong together as God's children so that we may reunite in our most blessed family reunion in Heaven. Let us never allow anything or anyone in this life to discourage us so much that we take our eyes and hearts off Jesus. I love all of you, those I am especially close to, those I have newly befriended, those I don't know and even more especially those who don't like me or may disagree with me when it comes to Jesus.

Let us hunger more for God in this life than we do for the very air we breath. I know that sounds extreme, and I do get extreme at times when it comes to my faith; but I feel we have to look at it as seriously as that. Archbishop Fulton Sheen said was once asked, "why pray?". His answer was not only insightful, but brilliant in it's eternal value over this life. He said, "Why breathe? Just as oxygen brings life to the body, pray gives life to your soul." In our prayers and repentance before a merciful loving God, we need to be open to having Him ever present in all we do; in all we think; in all we plan and everyone we meet. He really needs to be such a center in our lives that without Him, "why breathe?". I'm sorry if I sound harsh, but I only desire to help as many as I am blessed to know; to help them know and love and be with Jesus for all eternity. Throughout this process we need to keep our souls clean and pure before God.

Today's Challenge: Do we seriously hunger for a holy life before God? Do we seriously repent when we fall into our sins? I challenge everyone to prepare themselves for a good confession. And if possible and your schedule allows, try to make confession something you do every other week. At minimum at least once a month.

Your brother in Christ Jesus & His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr SFO