the choice
"When you were slaves of sin, you had freedom from justice. What benefit did you then enjoy?" —Romans 6:20-21
Every human being is both enslaved and free. We can choose to be "slaves of sin" (Rm 6:20) and thus free from justice, or we can be "freed from sin" and "slaves of God" (Rm 6:22). If we choose slavery to sin, we will reap "a harvest of corruption" (Gal 6:8), things that we will be "ashamed of, all of them tending toward death" (Rm 6:21). If we choose to be freed from sin and slaves of God, we will be sanctified (Rm 6:19, 22). "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rm 6:23).
Throughout this day and every day, each of us by our actions, words, thoughts, activities, and silences choose life or death, light or darkness, sin or holiness, Jesus or selfishness. Choose life! (Dt 30:19) Choose Jesus! Repent! Go to Confession. Choose to take up daily the cross of Jesus, and invite everyone else to do the same. Jesus is standing and knocking at the door of the third millennium. He promises: "If anyone hears Me calling and opens the door, I will enter his house and have supper with him, and he with Me. I will give the victor the right to sit with Me on My throne" (Rv 3:20-21). Choose to open the door to Jesus!
Prayer: Father, may the love of Christ impel me (2 Cor 5:14).
Promise: "I have come to light a fire on the earth." —Lk 12:49
Praise: Louise led her kidnapper to give his life to Jesus. He felt Jesus take away the hatred from his life.
Reference: (Advent is approaching. Consider ordering our leaflet, An Isaiah Advent, and our Simple Reading Guide to the Prophetic Books of the Old Testament.)
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