 |
| "It is not I" By Danny A. Tariman |
| "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your family will be saved" (Acts 16:31) |
| DOWNLOADS |
| Evangelization Tools Invites Prayer of Salvation Rosary Guide Mass Reading Guide |
| LINKS |
| EWTN Family Life Library Prayer Library Library on Marriage Rights of the Family Holy Father Letter Prayer Index Index of Saints |
| The advertisements on the right panel does not necessarily reflect our beliefs. |
| While they were eating, he said, "Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me." Deeply distressed at this they begun to say to him, "Surely it is not I, Lord?" (Matthew 26:21-22) "It is not I." I have heard this response a thousand-and-one times already. Whenever there is a difficult or unfavorable situation, many of us would probably say the same. We would easily excuse ourselves, readily giving in to the tendency of pointing others. I remember during my childhood days in that idyllic town by the sea. I was never exempted from the rowdiness that went with growing up. One day in one of our classes, someone from the back would throw a crumpled, balled paper to the front while the teacher is not looking. Of course, it has caught everyone's attention including the teacher. And almost every suspect would say "It is not I." Today, we celebrate the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. The people welcomed with fronds and palm leaves to honor the entry of the King. They shouted their "alleluias" and "hosannas" as He enters the city, only to shout "Crucify him!" five days later. We are not totally different from those people, my dear reader. And you might say: "It is not I." "Not me." When we come to church with our fronds and palm leaves, we tell Jesus that He is welcome in our hearts. We tell Him "You are my King!". We call Him "You are my Lord!". But look inside of your heart. Is He really your King? Is He really your Lord? How many times have we obeyed our own self instead of submitting ourselves to the Lord? What is that sin in your heart that you have been keeping in secret, and say maybe "It is not me"? These are the sins that shout "Crucify him!!" In Romans 3:23 the Bible tells us "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". It says "all" -- meaning everyone, with no exemption. No one can say "it is not I" because the Bible clearly tells it: we all have sinned. This Holy Week, let us repent of our sins and come back to Jesus. Let us receive His saving grace and accept Him as our Saviour and Lord. Heavenly Father, I am truly sorry for having offended you. I have sinned against you and against my fellowmen. Please forgive me as I now open my heart to Jesus and accept Him as my Saviour and Lord. I pray that You will fill me with Your Holy Spirit, in Jesus' name. Amen. |
 |