settle out of court
"The Lord has a plea against His people, and He enters into trial with Israel." —Micah 6:2
The Lord decided to take His people to court. He charged us with criminal neglect of Him, and we were judged to be guilty as charged. However, the Father sent His Son Jesus to take our punishment on Himself and to be executed in our place (see Mi 6:7). If we repent of our sins and totally give our lives to Jesus, we won't have to pay the punishment of everlasting damnation for our sins. We can "settle out of court" by giving our lives to Jesus so as to accept His giving of His death to us.
If we decide not to settle out of court, we will face another trial in which our sentence will be finalized. At this trial of trials, on Judgment Day, the Ninevites, the queen of the South, and probably others will take the stand to testify to our criminal neglect of Jesus (see Mt 12:41ff). The sentence of everlasting damnation which has already been pronounced will then be executed.
Jesus' execution makes our final execution unnecessary. In this time between trials, before Judgment Day, right now, let's repent, go to Confession, and settle out of court (see Mt 5:25).
Prayer: Father, I accept my baptismal immersion into Jesus' death and resurrection (see Rm 6:3ff).
Promise: "You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God." —Mi 6:8
Praise: St. Lawrence of Brindisi accepted God's call as he received his religious vocation at age sixteen.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet The Secret of Confession or our tape on audio AV 44-3 or video V-44.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, January 4, 2008
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