aged to perfection?
"Keep my life, for I am devoted to You; save Your servant who trusts in You.” —Psalm 86:2
David was probably in his forties when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged for her husband to be murdered. You could call this a mid-life crisis of sin. When David was in his fifties or sixties, his son Absalom tried to take over the kingdom and kill his father. When Absalom was killed in battle, David lamented: “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!” (2 Sm 19:1)
This is the same son with whom David wouldn’t talk for five years (see 2 Sm 13:38 and 14:28). Yet, David truly forgave and kept forgiving Absalom. He loved him unconditionally. David grew from a lustful, murderous middle-age to a loving, forgiving, holy old age. David still needed much more purification and growth in holiness, but he allowed the Lord to change him significantly.
Jesus “progressed steadily in wisdom and age and grace before God and men” (Lk 2:52). How about you? We’re all growing in age, but what about in wisdom and grace? Have you repented and forgiven? Have you left behind the sins of the past? Are you growing to “the full maturity of Christ”? (Eph 4:15) Grow; don’t just grow old.
Prayer: Father, may my entire attention be on Jesus, as “I give no thought to what lies behind but push on to what is ahead” (Phil 3:13).
Promise: “Taking her hand, He said to her, ‘Talitha, koum,’ which means, ‘Little girl, get up.’ The girl, a child of twelve, stood up immediately and began to walk around.” —Mk 5:41-42
Praise: Albert has been a daily communicant for forty years.
Reference: (For a related teaching on Spiritual Blindness, listen to, download or order our CD 65-1 or DVD 65 on our website.)
Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from December 1, 2023, through January 31, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio March 17, 2023"
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.