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Friday, March 27, 2009

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Wisdom 2:1, 12-22
Psalm 34
John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

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how to become anti-christ

"Let us beset the Just One, because He is obnoxious to us." —Wisdom 2:12

Jesus is the Just One; He is Justice Itself (1 Cor 1:30). Therefore, He seems obnoxious to the unjust. They say of Jesus: "To us He is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see Him is a hardship for us" (Wis 2:14). Thus Jesus is not only considered obnoxious but merely seeing Him becomes a hardship for the unjust.

Furthermore, "everyone who practices evil hates the light" (Jn 3:20). If we don't repent of our injustices, of our sins, we eventually don't want Jesus Christ even mentioned, and finally, we hate Him. We have become an anti-Christ (see 1 Jn 2:18).

Although they may pride themselves on being tolerant of almost anything, the unrepentant are intolerant of Christianity and militantly anti-Christian. They say: "With revilement and torture let us put Him to the test that we may have proof of His gentleness and try His patience. Let us condemn Him to a shameful death" (Wis 2:19-20).

Traditionally, preachers and teachers have proclaimed that each of us had a part in Jesus' crucifixion because He died to atone for our sins (see Catechism, 598). Yet how many of us see a direct connection between our sins and Jesus' sufferings on Calvary? However, if we don't repent of sin, we are re-crucifying Christ (Heb 6:6), and will be as anti-Christ as those screaming for Jesus' blood at the foot of the cross.

Prayer:  Father, this Lent help me to repent of sin and let You change my hardened, even hateful, heart.

Promise:  "When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress He rescues them." —Ps 34:18

Praise:  Mel, a company vice-president, receives the Eucharist each morning before starting his workday.

Reference:  (For a related teaching, order our tape Effects of Sin on audio AV 81-3 or video V-81.)

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 11, 2008

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