Key Points:
21:1-4 (The Widow’s Offering) We should give out of our first earnings,(The IRS isn’t stupid!), not just out of our abundance. (That includes teaching your kids to give out of their allowance.) 22:35-38 The swords Jesus told the apostles to get were a metaphor: we are to “arm” ourselves for “battle.” (Knowing our faith, prayer, sacraments, etc.) 23:32-43 The one on the cross who “went to confession” was granted forgiveness and did his Purgatory on THIS earth. (On a cross!)God’s mercy is always available to us if we seek it, even at the end of our life. 24:13-35 (on the walk to Emmaus) The men didn’t recognize Jesus until Jesus “took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them” (v30). We must recognize Jesus in the Eucharist!! 24:36-50 The Apostles didn’t understand Him until they had an encounter with the RESURRECTED Christ, which emboldened them. We encounter the resurrected Christ, just as the 2 followers on the walk to Emmaus and the Apostles, at Mass!
Key Points: Though our invitation to eternal life is a free gift, and we are provided with the “garment” of grace to do good works, we must still prepare ourselves for heaven by cooperating with God’s grace, and doing what God wants. Loving God, and loving your neighbor as yourself sums up the 10 Commandments. (If you love God and everyone, you won’t want to lie, cheat, steal, covet, murder, etc. That’s why Augustine said “Love, and then do as you will.”) We’re not just a social service agency: We have a duty to love God. We’re not just an adoration group: hence the teaching about loving our neighbor. The two “loves” go together: You can’t love God properly WITHOUT loving your neighbor (everybody), since we are all a family and are all brothers and sisters.
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