the joy of salvation
"Through His blood, God made Him the Means of expiation for all who believe." —Romans 3:25
"All men have sinned" (Rm 3:23), and "the wages of sin is death" (Rm 6:23). Therefore, we all are doomed to be deprived of the glory of God (Rm 3:23) and to suffer death forever. However, "all men are now undeservedly justified by the gift of God, through the redemption wrought in Christ Jesus" (Rm 3:24). Jesus, through His bloody death on the cross, has freed us from sin, death, damnation, hell, slavery, self-hatred, perversion, and Satan.
Consequently, let us give our lives to Jesus and accept Him as our Savior, Lord, and God. Let us thank Him always and forever for having had mercy on us and baptizing us into His death and resurrection (see Rm 6:3ff). Let us tell everyone that Jesus is the only One Who has saved us from sin and its dire consequences. Let us worship Jesus and sing with Mary: "My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my Savior" (Lk 1:46-47). "God indeed is my Savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the Lord, and He has been my Savior" (Is 12:2).
Prayer: Father, on the threshold of the Great Jubilee and the third millennium, I decide to die to self and live for Jesus alone.
Promise: "I trust in the Lord; my soul trusts in His word." —Ps 130:5
Praise: Pope St. Callistus had been a slave, a fugitive, and a prisoner before he became a priest. As pope, he remembered his difficult early life, and showed unusual clemency and mercy in pardoning offenders. He obeyed the command of Jesus: "Treat others the way you would have them treat you" (Mt 7:12).
Reference: (For related teaching, order our leaflet, Accepting Jesus as Lord, Savior, and God.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, April 10, 1999
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 16, 1999