#stpaul

Wednesday’s Gospel contained one of what I consider the scariest verses in the Bible: 

Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,
and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more. (Luke 12:48)

It scares me for a simple reason: I have been given SO MUCH by God. So. much. And I have been/can be so stingy with the gifts I have received. Whenever I hear or read this passage, I’m cut to the core. Conviction hurts, my friends. 

But it hurts so good. SO good, in fact, that after Mass this morning, I decided to start a list of scary Bible verses. The kind that keep me from getting too comfortable and deluding myself that I’ve got this whole Christian Life thing down. The kind that keep me on my knees, begging for the grace that I always need, even when I think I don’t. Here’s what I’ve got so far. Please feel free to add yours to the mix in the comments! 

“If I have the gift of prophecy, and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” (1 Cor. 13:2)

"Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, love is not pompous, t is not inflated, it is not rude. It does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Cor. 13:4-7)

"If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar.” (1 John 4:20)

"For the measure with which you measure will in turn be measured out to you.” (Luke 7:38)

“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matt. 25:40)

"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done unto me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

"If anyone wishes to be my disciple, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” 

“Love your enemies, and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back.” (Luke 7:35)

"It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.” (Luke 17:2)

"When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.” (Luke 17:10)

“Do not nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking not for his own interests, but also everyone for those of others.” (Phil. 2:2-4)

“Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” (Phil. 2:12)

"Do everything without grumbling or complaining.” (Phil 2:14)

"Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does with the will of my Father in heaven.” (Matt 7:21)

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength…You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

"IF anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1:26-27)

“If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,’ but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?” (James 2:14)

“Not many of you should become teachers, for you realize that we shall be judged more strictly, for we all fall short in my respects.” (James 3:1-2)

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

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