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From Father Andrew Bahhi: The Renewal of the Church

November 11, 2018
in The Word
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This Sunday, which is the second Sunday in our Liturgical calendar, we call The Renewal of The Church. Last Sunday was the consecration of the Church. This is not about the physical church.
A lot of times in our life, we try to have everything while forgetting to renew our relationship with God. But we never know when our life will be done.

We need to renew our spirit in the same way we renovate our homes. In order to renew our homes, we have to do several things: Destroy the old things, then create new designs, new painting and then the new furniture. If we can do the same thing in our spiritual life, it will be very good.
What does renovation mean? In Mark 8:36, it says “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?’

If we want him to come into our hearts, we have to clean our hearts, so he can come.
We need first to destroy everything old, all the bad habits and old sin. Then we create a new design. You renew everything. In St. Paul’s letter to the Romans 12:2, he says “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Then we have to clean the home, which we call repentance. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand,” says Mark 1:15. We never know when our time will come, so we must have our home ready.

We clean from inside by performing the virtues. Prayer, fasting, helping the poor, and also reading the gospel.

Ask God to renew your heart and take out the love for power and money. And then you will have permission to pass smoothly into heaven with your faith in Jesus Christ.

Learn more from Father Andrew’s sermon video here.

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