Monday, June 12, 2017

I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Tobit, Chapter 6, Verse 15

So now I too am afraid of this demon, because it is in love with her and does not harm her; but it kills any man who wishes to come close to her. I am my father’s only child. If I should die, I would bring the life of my father and mother down to their grave in sorrow over me; they have no other son to bury them!”

When we are filled with the essence of Christ we fear neither man nor demon.

Tobit[1]

1. When they arrived at Media, Azariah said they needed to stop at the home of Raguel – their relative and the father of Sarah.
2. Raguel means “Friend of God.”
3. Azariah told Tobias he was the nearest relative and had the right (maybe even obligation) to marry her.  He would also inherit half her father’s estate.
4. Tobias was not thrilled with that since he had heard about the seven previous husbands.  He knew his parents would be overcome with grief were he to die.
5. Tobias obeyed his father’s request.  He left Nineveh and moved back to Ecbatan to live with Raguel and Edna.  Tobias lived until he was 117. 
6. Before he died, he heard about the destruction of Nineveh and knew that its prisoners were taken to Media.  Tobias blessed God.

The final battle[2]

We see that Tobias is concerned about the battle. Likewise like Tobias we are confronted with evil that wishes to destroy families for the final battle between the Lord and the reign of Satan will be about marriage and the family

Don’t be afraid … because anyone who operates for the sanctity of marriage and the family will always be contended and opposed in every way, because this is the decisive issue … however, Our Lady has already crushed its head” (Sister Lucia, one of the seers of Fatima)

The Latin phrase, motus in fine velocior, is commonly used to indicate the faster passing of the time at the end of an historical period. I’ve heard it said that it means, “Things accelerate toward the end.” We are living through an historical hour which is not necessarily the end of times, but certainly could be marked as the end of an era. I wrote about the potential significance of the 100 years since Fatima, which could be the “100 years of Satan.” That 100 years concludes this year, 2017. In the United States, according to those who work in exorcism ministry, there is an alarming increase in demonic activity (see HERE). In the culture, we are seeing an overreach of evil never witnessed before. It is important to understand Satan’s names: “diabolos” means “he who places division or separation,” and “daio,” the root of “demon,” means “to divide.” In these final 5 years of Satan’s reign, we have all seen how these outrageous demonic activities have caused great division in our families and communities. As Satan seductively coaxes more and more people away from the designs of God, these separated people look back, pointing an accusatory finger at those who remained with the Lord, saying, “You are the cause of division because you chose not to join the rebellion!!” … “Join us at this *new and modern* separated place, and we will find unity again!!” Of course, strong and devout Catholics simply cannot join the ranks of the separated, and so division continues to increase.

Daily Devotions/Prayers

·         Drops of Christ’s Blood

·         Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus

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[1]http://www.biblewise.com/bible_study/characters/tobit-and-tobias.php

[2]https://www.romancatholicman.com/things-accelerate-towards-end-satans-raging-final-days-100-year-reign/