Daily Devotional

Remove from you the “pointing of the finger and speaking of evil.” Refrain from behaving as the devil described in Revelation as “the accuser of our brethren” (Rev. 12:10). Unlike the Pharisees, who murmured, Levi knew he needed a physician. Later on, Jesus would say: “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” (Matthew 21:31-32). Rather than exerting your energy on pointing fingers at others, become the change you want to see in others.

If you choose to fast from food, do not let your hunger trigger anger or bitterness. In today’s first reading, we learn that quarrelling (fighting, revenge, acts of wickedness, etc.) nullifies our fasting. Other types of fasting (as mentioned by Isaiah in today’s first reading) which are pleasing to God, include: “To lose the bonds of wickedness, to let the oppressed go free, to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him” (Cf. Isaiah 58:6-7)

Jesus did not sugar-coat discipleship. He strips it bare: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me, for whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it.” (Luke 9:23). Jesus lays before us a choice to either follow him along the path of sacrifice which eventually leads to eternal life or to seek worldliness now and forfeit our souls eventually.