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Tuesday, August 2, 2005

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St. Eusebius of Vercelli
St. Peter Julian Eymard


Numbers 12:1-13
Psalm 51
Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14

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loveless forever

"Have mercy on me, O God, in Your goodness; in the greatness of Your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me." —Psalm 51:3-4

The Lord "wants all men to be saved and come to know the truth" (1 Tm 2:4). "It is no part of your heavenly Father's plan that a single one of these little ones shall ever come to grief" (Mt 18:14). God wants us to be with Him forever in heaven so much that "He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him may not die but may have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him" (Jn 3:16-17).

However, God, Who is Love (1 Jn 4:16), will not force His love on us. We must freely accept or reject Him. If we choose to reject Him, in His mercy He will give us the wages of our sins (Rm 6:23) so that we may see the consequences of our actions and realize we must repent. For example, when Miriam sinned by being jealous of Moses, the Lord let her become a leper and thereby called her to repentance (Nm 12:10).

If we persist in sinning and in refusing to repent, we choose not to love God Who is Love. We choose a loveless life forever, that is, we put ourselves in hell. Then Jesus will be forced to say again: "Let them go their way; they are blind leaders of the blind" (Mt 15:14).

Don't choose the selfishness of everlasting hell. Choose to love.

Prayer:  "O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine."

Promise:  "Every planting not put down by My heavenly Father will be uprooted." —Mt 15:13

Praise:  St. Eusebius stood up for the truths of the faith. He persevered in his stand even though his opponents threatened his life, dragged him through city streets, and held him in prison.

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 8, 2005

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