Daily Bible Reflections - January 4,2013

The Grace of OOPS!

 

In this way, the children of God and the children of the Devil are made plain; no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God, nor anyone who does not love his brother. – 1 John 3:10

 

Driving to work one morning, a brother from my community was so uplifted by a praise song, he sang along in worship. Suddenly another car cut into his lane. Jolted by the near accident, he stuck his head out the window and shouted at the careless driver, “Idiot!” Oops!

Another member is a mother with grown-up children. Like any mother, she is pained when her children are wronged. One incident drove her to scream and curse at a person who had caused her son grief. Her son asked, “Shouldn’t you be able to forgive this person since you belong to a religious community? If I can forgive the one who hurt me, why can’t you?” Oops!

Both these people shared that they immediately realized that what they did was wrong.

Belonging to a Charismatic community doesn’t mean we’ve become fault-proof. It only means that we are a work in progress, walking on the path to righteousness with God’s grace.

Because we are His children, God helps us up, dusts us off and points us in the right direction when we say, “Oops!” Lella M. Santiago (mirellasantiago@yahoo.com)

 

Reflection: Have you slipped up? Did you realize your mistake? Remember, it’s never too late to correct it.

 

Merciful Father, forgive us our sins and lead us onto the path of righteousness.

 

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious, pray for us.