Message of 11-25-14

Published: Tue, 11/25/14

Message of the Day

The times we find ourselves having to wait on others may be the perfect opportunities to train ourselves to wait on the Lord.

- Joni Eareckson Tada

(Also, an opportunity to practice patience.)

Daily Readings

RV 14:14-19; PS 96:10, 11-12, 13; LK 21:5-11

R. The Lord comes to judge the earth.

Say among the nations: The LORD is king.

He has made the world firm, not to be moved;

he governs the peoples with equity.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;

let the sea and what fills it resound;

let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!

Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.

Before the LORD, for he comes;

for he comes to rule the earth.He shall rule the world with justice

and the peoples with his constancy.

USCCB Lectionary

Reflection on the Scriptures

"...in the sky fearful omens and great signs." –Luke 21:11

Are you afraid of anything? I hope not because the worst is yet to come. We will "hear of wars and insurrections" (Lk 21:9) even more so than we do today. "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, plagues, and famines in various places – and in the sky fearful omens and great signs" (Lk 21:10-11). "Men will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the earth" (Lk 21:26).

How can we live fearlessly, die fearlessly, and even face the end of the world fearlessly? We conquer fear by love. "Love has no room for fear" (1 Jn 4:18). "Perfect love" is not necessarily sinlessness but complete commitment. If we love the Lord with all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds, and all our strength (Lk 10:27), we will be so filled with love that our love will crowd out all fears.

Because of the graces lavished upon all who receive the Holy Spirit (Rm 5:5; Ti 3:6), may love reign supreme and fear be homeless forever.

PRAYER: Father, by Your grace I will walk in faith (see 2 Cor 5:7) and not in fear.

PROMISE: "So the One sitting on the cloud wielded His sickle over all the earth and reaped the earth's harvest." –Rv 14:16

- from mycatholic.com web site

Spiritual Reading

Selected Quotes from the Writings of St. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)

Now in the people that were meant to be green there is no more life of any kind.
    There is only shriveled barrenness.
The winds are burdened by the utterly awful stink of evil, selfish goings-on.
    Thunderstorms menace.
The air belches out the filthy uncleanliness of the peoples.
    The earth should not be injured!
       The earth must not be destroyed!

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