Bible
Study: Jeremiah 31, 31 to 34 and Matthew 16, 13 to 23.
Our first reading today can be considered
to be the marker that divides the Bible into Old and New Testaments. When God
speaks to us through the prophet Jeremiah about making a new covenant different
from the one of old, God was implicitly telling us how we had failed him yet at
the same time, God is saying he wants to give us a second chance.
… Sing… “Create in me a new heart Oh
Lord, and renew my spirit within me, cast me not away from your presence O Lord
and renew your Spirit within me.” x2
Our God is a God of the second
chance. “I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I
will be their God, and they shall be my people…. I will forgive their evildoing
and remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31, 31 to 34.
The second chance God has given us is
concretely expressed in our conscience. Deep within us, God has written his
laws. We don’t need to study catechism to be good persons, at the very core of
our being, we know what is good and what is wrong.
That God is a God of the second
chance is again revealed in his willingness to entrust great responsibilities
to us despite his full knowledge of our human weaknesses. Jesus knew how
fragile Peter’s faith was and how rash he could be in thinking, yet made him
the first pope. “You are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my Church.”
Matthew 16, 18.
No sooner had Jesus crowned Peter the
head of the Apostles, we hear him say to this same Peter, “Get behind me
Satan…” Matthew 16, 23. This means that even God’s ministers are not above
temptations and that ordination by itself does not make anyone immune to
weakness. Yet, Jesus did not dethrone Peter. He continued to give him second
chances. Later on, this same Pope Peter would deny Jesus three times but Jesus
still would not give up on him.
Today, we celebrate the life of the
priest Saint John Vianney. In his story, we see once again that God is a God of
second chances. We may be weak, but God never gives up on us. John Vianney
struggled with his seminary studies, he lagged behind when others were far
ahead but God gave him second chances. Eventually, we remember him today not because
of his academic degrees, but because of his simplicity, devotion and love for
souls. He is the patron of Parish Priests.
Let us Pray: Prayer of St.
John Vianney.
I love You, O my God, and my only desire is to love You until
the last breath of my life. I love You, O my infinitely lovable God, and I
would rather die loving You, than live without loving You. I love You, Lord and
the only grace I ask is to love You eternally. My God, if my tongue cannot say
in every moment that I love You, I want my heart to repeat it to You as often
as I draw breath.
Good
morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless
you.
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