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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“Those of you who do not give up everything you have

cannot be my disciples.”

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– Luke 14:33 (NIV)

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REFLECTION…

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Our Lord emphatically requires us

to be completely detached from possessions.

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We are foolish if we think we can can follow our Lord

without renouncing all our possessions.

This renunciation should really bite:

our heart has to be unencumbered by anything material

if we are able to follow in our Lord’s footsteps.

The reason is that it is impossible to "serve God and Mammon." (Lk 16:13).

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Our Lord asks everyone

to practice genuine detachment and generosity in the use of material things.

If we Christians have to be ready to give up even life itself,

then, with all the more reason should we renounce possessions.

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Besides, for a soul to become filled with God

it must first be emptied of everything

that could be an obstacle to God’s indwelling.

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PRAYER…

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Lord, increase my faith.

I want to place You above everything

and everyone,

and be ready to renounce all for Your sake.

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Lord, protect me from anyone and anything

that comes in the way of my personal relationship with You.

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Lord, protect me from my greed,

from my selfishness

and from my short-sighted ego.

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Lord, protect me from myself,

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Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, for Your sake, I am ready to renounce all.

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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Jesus directs His disciples

to prefer Him to everything and everyone,

and bids them renounce all that they have

for His sake and that of the Gospel.

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[…] The precept of detachment from riches

is obligatory for entrance into the Kingdom of heaven.

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[CCC 2544]

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