Friday, May 18, 2018
26 But if we say,
‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a
prophet.”
The chief
priests and the elders of the people were master politicians during Christ’s
time. Some of them were faithful in thought word and deed, but many were as
Christ pointed out like marble sepulchers which are pretty on the outside but
inside full of death and rottenness within. Many of them put on the airs of
piety but in reality were agnostic in nature.
Here we see
the priest and elders were afraid of the people. I think in our time a similar
thing occurred with Saint John Paul II’s struggle with communism in Poland.
John Paul was a John the Baptist of his time. Poles like the Jews of the Baptists
time identified with John Paul and were hungry for a chance to cleanse
themselves of the compromises they had to make to live under the rule of the
communist’s. I believe John the Baptist message to have been very similar to
John Paul’s.
“He told
them to be good, not to compromise themselves, to stick by one another, to be fearless,
and that God is the only source of goodness, the only standard of conduct. 'Be
not afraid,' he said. Millions shouted in response, 'We want God! We want God!
We want God!' The regime cowered. Had the Pope chosen to turn his soft power
into the hard variety, the regime might have been drowned in blood. Instead,
the Pope simply led the Polish people to desert their rulers by affirming
solidarity with one another. The Communists managed to hold on as despots a
decade longer. But as political leaders, they were finished. Visiting his
native Poland in 1979, Pope John Paul II struck what turned out to be a mortal
blow to its Communist regime, to the Soviet Empire, [and] ultimately to
Communism."[1]
For
as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward
those who fear him.
Mission BBQ Armed Forces Day buildup
US Air Force[2]
HOLY SPIRIT NOVENA-EIGHTH DAY
(Friday,
7th Week of Easter)
Bend
the stubborn heart and will, melt the frozen warm the chill. Guide the steps
that go astray!
Embodying all the other gifts, as charity embraces all the other virtues, Wisdom is the most perfect of the gifts. Of wisdom it is written "all good things came to me with her, and innumerable riches through her hands." It is the gift of Wisdom that strengthens our faith, fortifies hope, perfects charity, and promotes the practice of virtue in the highest degree. Wisdom enlightens the mind to discern and relish things divine, in the appreciation of which earthly joys lose their savor, whilst the Cross of Christ yields a divine sweetness according to the words of the Savior: "Take up thy cross and follow me, for my yoke is sweet and my burden light.
Prayer
Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul the mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding greatness, power and beauty. Teach me to love them above and beyond all the passing joys and satisfactions of earth. Help me to attain them and possess them for ever. Amen.
Our
Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
For
as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward
those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our
transgressions from us.
Daily Devotions
·
Please
pray for me and this ministry
·
Please
Pray for Senator
McCain and our country; asking Our Lady of Beauraing to
intercede.
[1] Angelo M.
Codevilla, "Political Warfare: A Set of Means for Achieving Political
Ends", in Waller, ed., Strategic Influence: Public Diplomacy,
Counterpropaganda and Political Warfare (IWP Press, 2008.)
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