Wednesday, May 24, 2017
2 Chronicles, Chapter 20, Verse 13-15
13 All Judah was
standing before the LORD,
with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 And the spirit of the LORD
came upon Jahaziel, son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of
Mattaniah, a Levite of the clan of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly, 15 and he said: “Pay attention, all of Judah, inhabitants of Jerusalem,
and King Jehoshaphat! The LORD
says to you: Do not fear or be
dismayed at the sight of this vast multitude, for the battle is not yours but
God’s.
Pay attention the Lord
is calling you to battle—but do not be afraid at the power of the secular world, for the battle is not yours but God’s. He calls us to action.
Battle Call[1]
·
"You are a force to be reckoned with! The
battle for the soul of our culture is up to you. This is your moment! I promise
you, if you are faithful, you will change the world!"
·
"Forty years is a long time to restore this
basic civil right to life, noting that the Lord let the Israelites, and lets
today's defenders of life, know that they are not alone.”
·
"We too are being tested on our own 40-year
journey, and like the Israelites, we have a choice -- to give in to
discouragement, despair, frustration -- or to draw closer to the Lord, to grow
in love, to open ourselves to his promise of salvation."
·
The battle against abortion is the greatest
civil rights battle of all time," has to start with each person.
·
"Before we can change laws, we have to
change hearts, starting with our own.
·
"Before pro-life is a political agenda, it
must become a personal agenda. Before we can take on the culture of death, we
have to become part of the culture of life, of eternal life!"
As we battle for the life of innocent children we must also be cognizant of the life of earth which God has charged us with being the stewards of the fruits of his creative work.
Protecting the Fruits of the Earth
“The liturgy itself teaches us this, when, during the presentation of the gifts, the priest raises to God a prayer of blessing and petition over the bread and wine, “fruit of the earth,” “fruit of the vine” and “work of human hands.” With these words, the rite not only includes in our offering to God all human efforts and activity, but also leads us to see the world as God’s creation, which brings forth everything we need for our sustenance. The world is not something indifferent, raw material to be utilized simply as we see fit. Rather, it is part of God’s plan, in which all of us are called to be sons and daughters in the one son of God, Jesus Christ (cf. EPH1:4-12). The justified concern about threats to the environment present in so many parts of the world is reinforced by Christian hope, which commits us to working responsibly for the protection of creation.” ~Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis, 2007, § 92
Rogationtide Wednesday[2]
Today
would be a good day to reflect on what we want to harvest this fall; so like
farmers we must till the soil of our soul reflecting this day on our use of our
TREASURE (yes money/tithe) and look at in what ways we may offer our money to
Christ to help build a harvest for His Kingdom. It has been said that money is
the root of all evil. Yet, this is not exactly true for the real root of all
evil is not money but the LOVE of money. Those who fear the Lord know
that money is a gift from God. It is not to be buried but sown. This is the
correction that God wishes us to accept. We are all sowers and we are to spread
the seeds or gifts that God gives us out. Does God need a tithe from us? Or
Does God need our hearts free from the love of money? Do not make my house a
marketplace. For love of money or the lust for money is what corrupts men not
the money itself.
Events had happened in Europe only several years earlier, and this no doubt was still fresh in people's minds. Napoleon Bonaparte had jailed Pope Pius VI who died in goal, after which Pope Pius VII was elected. Just a short time later, he too was jailed by Napoleon, who kept him prisoner at Fontainbleau, 35 miles from Paris. The Holy Father vowed to God that, if he were restored he would institute a special feast in honour of Mary. Military reverses forced Napoleon to release the Pope, and on May 24th 1814, Pius VII returned in triumph to Rome. Twelve months later, the Pope decreed that the feast of Mary Help of Christians, be kept on the 24th of May.
Australia became the first nation in the world to have, Mary, Help of Christians as Patroness: the first church to celebrate May 24th on a national scale (elsewhere the feast was restricted to Rome and specified places); and the first country to have a mother-cathedral under the same title.
Mary Help of Christian’s
patroness of Australia and of the Military Ordinariate (Feast: 24th May)
Almighty God, deepen in our hearts our love of Mary
Help of Christians. Through her prayers and under her protection, may the light
of Christ shine over our land. May Australia be granted harmony, justice and
peace. Grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens. Bless
especially the men and women of the Australian Defense Force and their
families. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen. Mary Help of Christians,
pray for us.
Daily Devotions/Prayers
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