Daily reflection _ you are not of the world


YOU ARE NOT OF THE WORLD
Every kind of addiction comes under the category of "world:" alcoholism, drugs, pornography, gluttony, etc. These addictions weaken us, take away God's light, and lead us on a detour of darkness!
Deacon John Ruscheinsky
A little more than halfway through the Acts of the Apostles, St. Luke mentions the original twelve Apostles for the last time. From then on, the book is pretty much the story of the acts of others who are called to spread the Good News of God. Acts tells of the great responsibility for bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ out of the Jerusalem center, spreading the good news around the Mediterranean area, and eventually to the whole world as Jesus intended. This was the responsibility of the first Christians, and it still is ours today.
St. John often uses the term "world" in his Gospel and letters. Obviously, John does not mean by this word, "the planet earth of the human family that inhabits the globe," since he always uses the term in a disparaging, or negative, sense. The world in Scripture refers to that society of people who turn away from God or oppose His will. The world challenges us, and at times, takes us down the wrong path. Every kind of addiction comes under the category of "world:" alcoholism, drugs, pornography, gluttony, etc. These addictions weaken us, take away God's light, and lead us on a detour of darkness!
If you and I want to live in the light of our heavenly Father's truth, we must distinguish what is good and what is bad for us. True love of God and His way draws us to all that is lovely, truthful and good. If we truly love God, then we will submit to His truth and goodness.
Our prayer today is found in the responsorial psalm: "Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. For we know the Lord is our God; we are His people, the flock He tends" (Ps 100).