After their deaths, the souls of some people "are in the hand of God" (Wis 3:1). These people are "the just" (Wis 3:1), "those who trust" in the Lord (Wis 3:9), "the faithful" (Wis 3:9), the "holy ones" (Wis 3:9), and the "elect" (Wis 3:9).
To be just is to avoid sin and to repair the devastating effects of sin. This is, of course, impossible except in Jesus, our Justice (see Jer 23:6; 1 Cor 1:30).
To trust in the Lord means to trust the Lord completely, to love Him with all our hearts and souls (see Mk 12:30), and to live for Him alone.
To be faithful means to do what we have promised, especially our baptismal promises. In effect, it means to not sin.
To be holy means to be like God in every aspect of our conduct (1 Pt 1:15). We need Jesus to baptize us in the Spirit of holiness in order to be holy (see Mk 1:8).
Jesus is also the One to elect us, that is, choose us. He said: "It was not you who chose Me, it was I Who chose you" (Jn 15:16).
Jesus is the only Way to heaven (see Jn 14:6). Only if we live and die in Jesus will we live forever. Give your life and death totally to Jesus.
| PRAYER: | Our Father in heaven, in Jesus I will be with You forever. |
| PROMISE: | "Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of Himself." –Wis 3:5 |
| PRAISE: | St. Josaphat and his parents reunited with the Catholic Church when he was fifteen. He then spent his life trying to achieve unity in the Church. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College