GIVE YOUR TRASH TO JESUS

“Now that our enemies have been crushed, let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it.” —1 Maccabees 4:36

Don’t you think you’d better clean house? There are some closets in your heart that haven’t been cleaned out for years. The film of sin has given your life a dingy appearance. And there’s the trash you’ve been thinking of taking out, but never got around to it.

I have good news for you. Jesus will handle your trash. He will cleanse the temple of your body and make it a house of prayer (Lk 19:45-46). Jesus will wash you in His blood. Accept Him as Lord and Healer. Confess your sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus will wash you in the bath of His Word (Eph 5:26) and purify the gold of your life in His fire (1 Pt 1:7). You don’t even have to take out the trash. He’ll come in and carry it out Himself. How’s that for service?

However, you do have to give Him the keys to your life — the whole key ring. When He takes out your trash, He won’t leave, but stay. Jesus with the Father and the Spirit will dwell within you (Jn 14:23). You will not only be clean but pure as He is pure (1 Jn 3:3) and holy as He is holy (Mt 5:48). Come, Lord Jesus, come (Rv 22:20).

PRAYER: Jesus, here are all my keys. Do anything You want, any time You want.
PROMISE: “It was reconsecrated with songs, harps, flutes, and cymbals. All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven, who had given them success.” –1 Mc 4:54-55
PRAISE: As a virgin and martyr, St. Cecilia epitomizes the profound piety of women who consecrate their lives to Jesus the Bridegroom.