When it comes to falling in love with Jesus, we must remember that God has chosen us first. To love Jesus is to respond to that a call. Today, Jeff talks about how we can embrace this invitation, fall in love with Jesus, and then share this good news with others.
Snippet from the Show
As the Bride of Christ dressed in white, catechumens will enter into the purity of the Lamb of God himself, and partake of the marriage feast of the lamb.
SHOWNOTES
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) outlines the steps to discipleship as follows.
CCC 1229: “From the time of the apostles, becoming a Christian has been accomplished by a journey and initiation in several stages. This journey can be covered rapidly or slowly, but certain essential elements will always have to be present: proclamation of the Word, acceptance of the Gospel entailing conversion, profession of faith, Baptism itself, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and admission to Eucharistic communion.”
Jeff Compares Falling in Love with Jesus to How a Woman Falls in Love with a Man
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- Courtship – Discovering God’s invitation to love, beginning to understand just how God loves each of us, and the feeling of being on fire and in love with the faith.
- Commitment – Accepting the call to discipleship and committing yourself to follow Jesus.
- Communion – Full communion and intimacy with Jesus and the Church, especially the sacraments and the Eucharist.
CCC 1304 – 1305: “Like Baptism which it completes, Confirmation is given only once, for it too imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, the “character,” which is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the seal of his Spirit by clothing him with power from on high so that he may be his witness.
This “character” perfects the common priesthood of the faithful, received in Baptism, and “the confirmed person receives the power to profess faith in Christ publicly and as it were officially (quasi Ex officio).”
Prayer for new believers:
Dear Lord Jesus,
I thank you that you love me and have a wonderful plan for my life. I thank you that you have sought me out and begun to reveal yourself to me.
I know I have sinned and my life is in need of your love and forgiveness. I want to repent of walking contrary to your ways. I ask you to forgive me and create in me a new heart.
As I begin my walk with you, I pray I will love you more everyday. As I submit myself to your covenant family, the Church, help me to walk humbly and discover my place in your family. Thank you for this new beginning.
Amen
Prayer for baptized Christians returning to the Church:
Dear Lord Jesus,
I thank you that you love me so much that you came and died for me.
I repent of walking contrary to your way and ask you to forgive me and create in me a new heart. I do confess that you are Lord and I am in great need of your life.
As I renew my walk with you, I pray that I will love you more deeply everyday, evidenced by a life of obedience. Help me Lord, to renew a love for you and a participation in your family, the Church.
I also thank you for the Church, a place where I can be fed, encouraged and healed.
Amen
Get your copy of The Activated Disciple: Taking Your Faith to the Next Level. And don’t forget to check out the TGA Catholic Bible. Preorder it now to get your copy before Christmas!
Do you have comments or questions for Jeff? Use the comment box below, or email Jeff at thejeffcavinsshow@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!
