Tagged: Daily Reflections
“They entered the King’s service.” —Daniel 1:19 Yesterday, the Church celebrated the Solemnity of Christ the King. Today, we read about the four Jewish young men who trained three years to enter the service of the King of Babylon (see Dn 1:5). Likewise, Jesus trained His twelve apostles, 72 disciples, and other followers for a period of three years. Many of us trained for our profession in school for twelve years, and in college for at least another four years. How much time are we spending to train to serve Christ the King? Can you devote three years to train...
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“Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus. ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ he asked Him. Jesus answered, ‘Are you saying this on your own, or have others been telling you about Me?’ ” —John 18:33-34 The prophet Daniel, in visions during the night, “saw One like a son of man coming” to God’s throne where He received a kingdom which will never pass away (Dn 7:13-14). Jesus is the Fulfillment of this prophecy. He is the King of kings (see Rv 1:5; cf Rv 19:16). Will you accept Jesus as your King? To do so, you...
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“But I now recall the evils I did in Jerusalem…these evils have overtaken me; and now I am dying, in bitter grief, in a foreign land.” —1 Maccabees 6:12, 13 Antiochus Epiphanes IV had savagely butchered the people of God. For example, he had killed babies and hung them from the necks of their mothers (1 Mc 1:61). He had militantly imposed the secular Greeks’ lifestyle upon the chosen people. He had literally gotten away with murder. God wanted him to repent, but Antiochus persisted in his sin. So, God let Antiochus have his way and reap the wages of...
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“On the anniversary of the day on which the Gentiles had defiled [the Temple], on that very day it was reconsecrated…” —1 Maccabees 4:54 The worst day in the lives of the Jews in the times of the Maccabees was the day of the defilement of the Temple by the cruel tyrant Antiochus Epiphanes (1 Mc 1:54). What was the worst day of your life? Many of us have had our bodies defiled by acts of violence, sexual sin, and perhaps other indignities. The memories of these events may fill us with great pain and dismay. Jesus entered into Jerusalem...
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“He was filled with zeal; his heart was moved and his just fury was aroused.” —1 Maccabees 2:24 Jesus “wept over” Jerusalem (Lk 19:41). “Just look at the fruit of this sorrow” (2 Cor 7:11). “What a measure of holy zeal!” (2 Cor 7:11) Jesus’ tears fell like sparks igniting a fire on the earth (see Lk 12:49). Jesus’ sorrow did not lead to despondence. Rather, His sorrow motivated Him to run to Jerusalem and die on the cross to take away the sins of every person. Mattathias was grieved at the sins of God’s people (see 1 Mc 2:14)....
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