A Jesuit Catholic University
in Omaha, Nebraska, since 1878

[308] Heb 3:7-14 Ps 95:6-7, 8-9, 10-11 Mark 1:40-45

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

Before I say anything else, let me say this: if you haven’t read the readings for today yet, please go do that now. It will take you approximately 2.5 minutes, and every word in them resonated very loudly for me, and I’m guessing they will for you too.

One line that especially speaks to me is from the first reading from the book of Hebrews, which says this: “Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil and unfaithful heart, so as to forsake the living God. Encourage yourselves daily while it is still “today,” so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin.” Hebrews 3:7-13. Here’s the thing: it is so easy for us to delay becoming holier people by just saying that we will get better tomorrow. Think about the last time you tried to start a new diet or exercise program. I’m guessing you probably had a couple days when you said, “Well, today’s my last day of eating unhealthy food. I promise I will start the diet tomorrow.” This same continuous self-gratification philosophy is often applied to our spiritual lives. However, if we don’t start actually living holy lives today, we are turning our backs on God and his love for us. God wants nothing more than to have you turn to him and ask for help in your spiritual lives, so I encourage you to do that today. We can pray for each other to have the grace, strength, and determination necessary to start living holy lives now.

I will leave you with this quote to reflect on throughout the day. Fr. Michael Keating is an associate professor of Catholic Studies at St. Thomas University in Minnesota. I recently had the opportunity to hear him speak, and this quote from him struck me to my core. The reality of this statement is stunning. He said, (referring to eternity) “You will either be a creature of eternal light and rule with Christ in His Kingdom, or you will be an eternal horror full of darkness in the depths of hell. You are not called to be a 'nice' person.” Whoa. How absolutely amazing and terrifying at the same time. Let us pray today for the grace to live a holy life, so that we can live forever as creatures of eternal light.