Tagged: Daily Reflection

“They did not listen…they rejected [God’s] statutes…and the warnings which He had given them.” –2 Kings 17:14, 15 The Israelites experienced the consequences of rejecting God thousands of years ago, and modern society follows the same path. If the causes are similar, why would the results differ? Persist in sin; receive the wages of sin: death (Rm 6:23). Condemn others, even silently, and be condemned (Mt 7:2). Fail to give alms, and cause others to suffer (Sir 14:4-9). Fail to evangelize, and reap a godless society. Put your trust in contraception and reap a culture of death. Sow the wind,...

“They shall look on Him Whom they have” pierced. –Zechariah 12:10; John 19:37 In American culture, most women, as well as a number of men, have their ears pierced. In recent decades, many get other body parts pierced as well. Though people might pierce their bodies for any number of reasons, body piercing is biblically a mark of slavery (Ex 21:6). Slaves had their ear pierced to identify them as lifelong slaves (Ex 21:6). If you’ve had your body pierced by a piercing gun or tattoo needles, Jesus identifies with you. He has pierced hands and feet (Ps 22:17). His...

“Though the Aramean force came with few men, the Lord surrendered a very large force into their power, because Judah had abandoned the Lord.” –2 Chronicles 24:24 Jehoiada, the priest, brought about a great revival for the people of Judah. They repented of idolatry and adored the true God for almost forty years (2 Chr 23:17). They even restored the temple (2 Chr 24:4ff). However, after the death of Jehoiada, the people of Judah “forsook the temple of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and began to serve the sacred poles and the idols” (2 Chr 24:18). They even...

“She concealed him from Athaliah, and so he did not die.” –2 Kings 11:2 The queen mother, Athaliah, killed off the whole royal family, with the exception of one infant, Joash (2 Kgs 11:1-2). Seven years later, Joash and the priest, Jehoiada, were the central figures in overturning the wicked, idolatrous reign of Athaliah. This pattern is often repeated throughout God’s plan of salvation. An evil system dominates society and destroys so many people that only a few believers survive. Eventually, though, this remnant, by God’s power, overturns the forces of evil. Right now, new Athaliahs are killing off God’s...

“This is how you are to pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.’ ” –Matthew 6:9 The writer of Sirach exclaimed: “How awesome are you, Elijah!” (Sir 48:4) Yet the awesome Elijah is only a creature of the totally awesome God. “Let us praise Him the more, since we cannot fathom Him, for greater is He than all His works; awful indeed is the Lord’s majesty, and wonderful is His power” (Sir 43:29-30). “To whom can you liken God? With what equal can you confront Him?” (Is 40:18) Jesus instructs us to address as “Father,” “Abba,” “Daddy,” this...