Judith, Chapter 4, Verse 1-2
1 When the Israelites who lived in Judea heard
of all that Holofernes, the ranking general of Nebuchadnezzar king of the
Assyrians, had done to the nations, and how he had looted all their shrines and utterly destroyed them, 2 they were in
very great fear of him, and greatly
alarmed for Jerusalem and the temple of the Lord, their God.
Join the resistance! No
not the fake news one but the resistance to all that is evil. Godly resistance
is much different than the guttural take no prisoners of modern time’s
resistance with our pink devil horned hats.
Holy Resistance[1]
·
The Israelites’ reaction to invasion differs
from their neighbors in two respects: The nature of their fear and their
response.
·
Their fear is not only for themselves but
primarily for Jerusalem and the temple of the Lord.
·
Most secularists surrender to evil with joy; but
the holy prepare to defend its most precious possession: faith and trust in He
who is.
·
We must prepare to defend the mountain passes by
defending our faith
·
However the most important preparation for siege
is spiritual through prayer and fasting.
·
Note Mary the Mother of Christ via Fatima apparitions
tell us that we like the Israelites must
continue in prayer, making reparation and consecration to God.
·
The key is cry unto the Lord.
The Book of Judith symbolic of the Virgin Mary[2]
Judith
was a holy widow. She wore haircloth and fasted almost every day. She
spent most of her time in a chamber of her home, praying. The land of Israel
was in distress, being under siege by Holofernes. It is when Israel is in it's
greatest need that she comes forth from the chamber to save them by her
intercession. This is symbolic of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her victory over
Satan in the very last days to come. What is most interesting and noteworthy is
the talk she gave to the leaders of the people. Her words apply to us in the
latter days of this great apostasy from the Catholic faith. We should pay heed
and learn from her as they are words Our Lady would no doubt address to each of
us: Have patience, be humble, pray to God for mercy, it was our fathers that
drew down this chastisement upon us: Our part is to suffer these tribulations
as penance for our sins. It is for our sanctification.
Judith was
symbolic of the Virgin Mary
And
they came to her, and she said to them: What
is this word, by which Ozias hath consented to give up the city to the
Assyrians, if within five days there come no aid to us? And who are you that tempt the Lord?
This is not a word that may draw down
mercy, but rather that may stir up wrath, and enkindle indignation. You have
set a time for the mercy of the Lord, and you have appointed him a day,
according to your pleasure. But forasmuch as the Lord is patient, let us
be penitent for this same thing, and with many tears let us beg his
pardon: For God will not threaten like man, nor be inflamed to anger like the
son of man. And therefore let us humble our souls before him, and continuing in
an humble spirit, in his service: Let us ask the Lord with tears, that
according to his will so he would shew his mercy to us: that as our
heart is troubled by their pride, so also we may glorify in our humility.
For we have not followed the sins of our fathers, who forsook their God, and
worshiped strange gods. For which crime they were given up to their enemies, to
the sword, and to pillage, and to confusion: but we know no other God but
him. Let us humbly wait for his consolation, and the Lord our God will
require our blood of the afflictions of our enemies, and he will humble all the
nations that shall rise up against us, and bring them to disgrace. And now,
brethren, as you are the ancients among the people of God, and their very soul
resteth upon you: comfort their hearts by your speech, that they may be mindful
how our fathers were tempted that they might be proved, whether they
worshiped their God truly. They must
remember how our father Abraham was tempted, and being proved by many
tribulations, was made the friend of God. So Isaac, so Jacob, so Moses,
and all that have pleased God, passed through many tribulations, remaining
faithful. But they that did not receive the trials with the
fear of the Lord, but uttered their impatience and the reproach of their
murmuring against the Lord, Were destroyed by the destroyer, and perished by
serpents. As for us therefore let us not revenge ourselves for these things
which we suffer. But esteeming these very punishments to be less than our
sins deserve, let us believe that these scourges of the Lord, with which like
servants we are chastised, have happened for our amendment, and not for our
destruction. And Ozias and the ancients said to her: All things which
thou hast spoken are true, and there is nothing to be reprehended in thy
words. Now therefore pray for us, for thou art a holy woman, and one
fearing God. JUDITH
8, 10-34
Daily Devotions/Prayers
Comments
Post a Comment