A CHEAT DAY
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| Photo: R. Massaro (C) 2017 Spirit Singing |
Anyone who has tried to lose weight is probably familiar with our three words for today. Many weight loss programs advise a person to have a "cheat day" once a week, so one does not feel deprived.
I think you know where I am going with this...do you have a cheat day in your spiritual life? Do you take short cuts in the spiritual life? Do you want your reward now? As St. Pio used to say.
How many ways can our human nature try to cheat?
Cheating on a Diet
This cheating seems to be sanctioned and approved by various health professionals and nutritionists.
Cheating on taxes
According to federal statistics, over one and a half million people
cheat when filing their income taxes.
Cheating in school
Schools are facing a modern-day dilemma: students are using technology to cheat on tests and exams.
Cheating in sports (using enhancement drugs)
Major league sports continually report on athletes who cheat and use illegal drugs to excel in sports.
Cheating at Cards
Casinos have severe penalties for those who are caught cheating through "counting cards" and other various means to beat the "House."
Cheating on Your Spouse
Infidelity and cheating on one's spouse causes marriages to shatter and families to break apart. Many times, healing and forgiveness never takes place.
We can also ask ourselves who are trying to lead a life of virtue, if we have fallen prey to the ways of the world in which there is no sense of sin. No fear of God! No fear of offending the Almighty!
Have we been faithful to our baptismal promises, our vows that we renew each year at the Easter season? Have we been faithful to the spouse of our soul: Christ the Lord?
One only has to read the daily news to see that we are living in a post Christian era. This drastic situation calls for drastic measures. This world needs saints. This world needs living witnesses of holiness. This world needs a holy multitude of counterculture spiritual activists: people who will take up a life of prayer and proclaim the Living God and encourage others to do the same.
We are living in dark times. Now is the time to stop cheating and taking short cuts in the spiritual life. We have only one life to live and it is short. Let's make a decision each morning to give Jesus permission to control our life. Let's make a decision to be faithful to prayer today.
Let us pray for each other.
Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS
How many ways can our human nature try to cheat?
Cheating on a Diet
This cheating seems to be sanctioned and approved by various health professionals and nutritionists.
Cheating on taxes
According to federal statistics, over one and a half million people
cheat when filing their income taxes.
Cheating in school
Schools are facing a modern-day dilemma: students are using technology to cheat on tests and exams.
Cheating in sports (using enhancement drugs)
Major league sports continually report on athletes who cheat and use illegal drugs to excel in sports.
Cheating at Cards
Casinos have severe penalties for those who are caught cheating through "counting cards" and other various means to beat the "House."
Cheating on Your Spouse
Infidelity and cheating on one's spouse causes marriages to shatter and families to break apart. Many times, healing and forgiveness never takes place.
We can also ask ourselves who are trying to lead a life of virtue, if we have fallen prey to the ways of the world in which there is no sense of sin. No fear of God! No fear of offending the Almighty!
Have we been faithful to our baptismal promises, our vows that we renew each year at the Easter season? Have we been faithful to the spouse of our soul: Christ the Lord?
One only has to read the daily news to see that we are living in a post Christian era. This drastic situation calls for drastic measures. This world needs saints. This world needs living witnesses of holiness. This world needs a holy multitude of counterculture spiritual activists: people who will take up a life of prayer and proclaim the Living God and encourage others to do the same.
We are living in dark times. Now is the time to stop cheating and taking short cuts in the spiritual life. We have only one life to live and it is short. Let's make a decision each morning to give Jesus permission to control our life. Let's make a decision to be faithful to prayer today.
Let us pray for each other.
Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS
