Focus of the Mass and week: The necessity of charity (caritas) for the eternal wedding feast.
1
Corinthians, Chapter 7, Verse 15
If the unbeliever separates, however, let him separate. The brother or sister is
not bound in such cases; God has called you to peace.
Paul here is talking about the
keeping of your marriage vows. If possible you are to live in peace with your
spouse but if you cannot it is better to separate but there is a stipulation
you must remain chase and not remarry. We must remember our physical marriage
is an sign of our eternal
wedding with the Holy Spirit. Peace is the target or mark in a marriage.
In the military, units of
archers are men who are expert at hitting a mark or target.
Sin is the act of
violating God's will. Sin can also be viewed as anything that violates the
ideal relationship between an individual and God; or as any diversion from the
ideal order for human living. To sin has been defined as "to miss the
mark" to have a hardened heart, a loss of love for God, a disposition of
the heart to depart from God because of inordinate self-love
We need to live the Shema
Israel. Every day, every action of ours should be metaphorically speaking
target practice aiming to love God with our whole heart, mind, soul and
strength. We should exemplify this with the proper attitude toward wealth and be
completely occupied with good deeds and alms-giving.
Let us never forget that Satan does
his utmost to destroy mankind. In a thousand ways he plots and wars against God
and tries to usurp His throne. On this subject, the following instruction given
by Our Blessed Mother to Venerable Mary d' Agreda, is worth quoting: "My
daughter," she says, "by no power of human words wilt thou in this
mortal life ever succeed in describing the evil of Lucifer and his demons
against men, or the malice, astuteness, deceits and ruses, with which, in his
wrath, he seeks to bring them into sin and later on to eternal torments. He
tries to hinder all good works . . . All the malice of which his own mind is
capable, he attempts to inject into souls. Against these attacks, God provides
admirable protection if men will only co-operate and correspond on their part."
Among the means provided by God for our protection, is the ready recourse we
may have at all times to the strengthening Blood of Christ. "This
Blood," declares St. John Chrysostom, "has the power to drive away
the evil spirits and to draw to our side the good angels, aye, the King of
Angels, and to blazen the way to Heaven." Fortified by the Precious Blood,
let us place ourselves under the leadership of St. Michael and unfurl
everywhere the banner of our Faith, without fear
of godlessness. If Satan tries to induce us to sin, and promises honors,
riches, happiness on conditions that we omit a good work, or commit an evil
deed, let us ever oppose the tempter with the energetic words: Who is like unto
God? God is my only treasure, my highest Good, His Blood is upon me, and
"though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil." If in time of
temptation, we have the courage to rebuke the evil one and call upon the
assistance of our leader, St. Michael, the enemy will surely be put to flight.
But if we wish to enjoy the great Archangel's protection, we must also imitate
his virtues, particularly his humility and his zeal for God's glory.
"O great St. Michael, take us 'neath thy shield, Thy
mighty power in our favor wield!"[1]
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