Daily Gospel Reflection for October 17, 2014

Today's Gospel: Luke 12:1-7

Sometimes spiritual growth can hurt. We might be asked to really stretch and take on a teaching we had not known, something that might change our lives. A lot of people can tell you what the Church teaches on many moral issues. But, unfortunately, few can explain why the Churches teaches what she does. Everyone knows the answers regarding so-called same sex marriage, cohabitation, pornography, contraception, sterilization, artificial insemination, and surrogate mothering, to name a few. But how many people actually know why these things damage our souls, our minds, and our relationships?

Today's Gospel warns us that everything done in secret will be revealed. Those we should fear are those who can send our souls to hell by encouraging us to proceed quietly in our sin rather than encouraging us to find out the beautiful, loving truth of Christ. Jesus left us an amazing instructional institution called The Catholic Church. We can always trust, even when we don't understand, all that the Church teaches. It is through Christ's Church on earth that we are given His guidance. When we resign ourselves to the Church, we resign ourselves to Him.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, whose feast day we celebrate today said, "Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mold them accordingly."

Ponder:

Do I accept, in faith, all that the Catholic Church teaches? Do I need to better learn why the Church teaches what she does?

Pray:

Lord, I do believe. Help my unbelief. (Mark 9:24)

Copyright 2014 Diane Schwind