Category: Daily Reflections
“Children, it is the final hour; just as you heard that the antichrist was coming, so now many such antichrists have appeared.” –1 John 2:18 Many “antichrists have appeared.” “It was from our ranks that they took their leave — not that they really belonged to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have stayed with us” (1 Jn 2:19). There are baptized Christians who are officially members of the Church but do not belong to the Church in their hearts. These people have joined the Church socially and culturally but have not totally given their lives...
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“Herod is searching for the Child to destroy Him.” –Matthew 2:13 Modern-day “Herods” are still searching for children to destroy (Mt 2:13). These Herods gain entry to the home right under the nose of the parents, who are paralyzed or asleep on the watch (see Mt 26:40). Once the new Herods gain access to the home, they attempt to take over formation of the children in that home. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton prophesied in the 1800’s that evil would come into every home through a “black box.” There are many such “boxes” in the modern home. Television is a major...
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“…Rachel bewailing her children; no comfort for her, since they are no more.” –Matthew 2:18 Why does the Lord permit evil? Why did He allow “the massacre of all the boys two years old and under in Bethlehem and its environs”? (Mt 2:16) One explanation is that He loves the Herods of the world very much and wants to save them all (see 1 Tm 2:4). The suffering of these innocents is the most powerful means in God’s plan of salvation for changing the most hardened Herod-hearts. We see this in the deaths of the martyrs and especially in the...
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“…Rachel bewailing her children; no comfort for her, since they are no more.” –Matthew 2:18 Why does the Lord permit evil? Why did He allow “the massacre of all the boys two years old and under in Bethlehem and its environs”? (Mt 2:16) One explanation is that He loves the Herods of the world very much and wants to save them all (see 1 Tm 2:4). The suffering of these innocents is the most powerful means in God’s plan of salvation for changing the most hardened Herod-hearts. We see this in the deaths of the martyrs and especially in the...
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“On the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away, so she ran off to Simon Peter and the other disciple (the one Jesus loved) and told them…” –John 20:1-2 St. John has been traditionally identified with “the beloved disciple” (Jn 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7). However, the Church has also interpreted John 19:26 to mean that the beloved disciple may not be specifically named to show that he represents all of Jesus’ disciples for all times. All of Jesus’ disciples are beloved. All...
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