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Christ King of the Universe

The universe is massive. There are billions of galaxies, and there are an estimated one hundred thousand million stars in a galaxy! Our sun is a star. I think we often overlook the sheer magnitude of the universe we live in because of man-made lights. But to see the stars on a clear winter’s night out in the country or desert is truly a sight to behold. Christ is King of all of it. Christ is king of the universe. Christ’s kingship is a religious observance that is celebrated by Catholics around the world.

The Lord God will give Him the throne of David, his ancestor; he will rule in the house of Jacob forever and his kingdom will have no end, alleluia. – Canticle of Mary (LOH)

One of my fondest early childhood memories was looking out of my bedroom window on Christmas Eve for Santa Claus in the sky. It was a cold winter’s night, and the stars were out. Somewhere up there in those stars was Christ the King.

Christ Himself has proclaimed the kingdom of God to the whole world in the Gospels:

“This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15

Long ago in Bethlehem angels did proclaim. Their glorious anthem filled the sky, a heavenly refrain. Their song was echoed through the night to tell what God had done.

Christ’s heavenly kingship is in those twinkling stars I saw as a young child. He has won the battle here on earth. He has ascended back to heaven with his angels.

Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants [would] be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” John 18:36

A message was given to all of the earth: Emmanuel has come. We sing, Joy to the world! Heaven and nature sing. All declare the glory of God and welcome the newborn King.

Emmanuel grew up. He was formed in wisdom. He healed afflicted people and did great things. Emmanuel was the fulfillment of the divine plan of salvation – Christ was anointed by the Father with the Holy Spirit and established priest prophet and king

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38

Singing, joy to the world! Heaven and nature sing. We declare the glory of God and welcome the newborn King.

Welcome the newborn King in our hearts. Advent is on the way. The Christ child will rule preaching from the Nativity a Gospel of love, peace and mercy. He will grow strong, perform miracles, save us from the clutches of the devil and ascend into heaven with his holy angels. May Jesus Christ be praised forever and ever. Amen!

So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. Mark 16:19

A song was born that Christmas night bringing Good news to all men: Unto us a Child is born to us a Son is given.

A Christmas Eve night full of stars. A night of joy of peace. A season of mercy. A labor of love for the One who would lay down His very life for us. As a star arises, can we open our hearts to the King of Peace? Where there is child like humility, there the Lord reigns supreme – sovereign king and Lord of the universe.

He is Lord of lords and king of kings, and those with him are called, chosen, and faithful. Revelation 17:14

So lift your voice and shout your praise and celebrate His birth, for the Child who came on that holy night would bring us peace on earth.

Thank you Child of Light. We celebrate you this holy night. Throughout the universe you reign supreme. For you alone are the Holy One. You alone are the Lord. You alone are the Most High. You are our Lord and savior. You are Christ the King.

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD; All the families of nations will bow low before him. For kingship belongs to the LORD, the ruler over the nations. Psalms 22:28-29

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him.

Wisdom and understanding are in His house. His decrees are firmly established.

The LORD is king, robed with majesty; the LORD is robed, girded with might… Psalms 93:1

We sing, Joy to the world! Heaven and nature sing. All declare the glory of God and welcome the newborn King.

Let heaven and nature sing! Open your hearts to Christ the King. In a baptism of love, we accept Him. He completes us. He fills us with His love. This world is gone. We ascend to Him like a dove beyond the lights, beyond the stars, beyond time.

Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. John 3:5

Singing, joy to the world! Heaven and nature sing. We declare the glory of God and welcome the newborn King.

We declare the glory of God. We have a Messianic king. His anointing by the Father shows his love for us endures forever. All that is true, all that is good, all that is holy and pure, all those twinkling stars in the still of winter…God is with us this night. We embrace Him in faith. We adore Him in love. We cling to Him. He loves us forever.

As for you, the anointing that you received from him remains in you, so that you do not need anyone to teach you. But his anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not false; just as it taught you, remain in him. 1 John 2:27

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! We declare the glory of God and welcome the newborn King. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Oh Lord Jesus, Lord of the angels, Lord of every grace and blessing, rule in our hearts and do with us as you will. Reign supreme oh holy priest, prophet and king.

But you are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises” of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

Lets declare the glory of God and welcome the newborn King. Jesus, You’re the glory of God. We welcome the newborn King.

Welcome little King. In the twinkling of an eye, you reign over heaven and earth supreme. May we serve you faithfully in this life, oh Lord. May your glory shine forth from the stars of the sky. And we wonder why we feel such love within when we live like you. Give Christ the praise that is due. This holy night and universe belong to you.

The kingdom of the world now belongs to our Lord and to his Anointed, and he will reign forever and ever. Revelation 11:15

Finally, the People of God shares in the royal office of Christ. He exercises his kingship by drawing all men to himself through his death and Resurrection. Christ, King and Lord of the universe, made himself the servant of all, for he came “not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” For the Christian, “to reign is to serve him,” particularly when serving “the poor and the suffering, in whom the Church recognizes the image of her poor and suffering founder.” The People of God fulfills its royal dignity by a life in keeping with its vocation to serve with Christ. CCC786

Jesus Christ is the one whom the Father anointed with the Holy Spirit and established as priest, prophet, and king. The whole People of God participates in these three offices of Christ and bears the responsibilities for mission and service that flow from them. CCC 783

Happy Advent this year to you and your family! In closing, here are some good tidings for the season from a few of the Church Fathers.

A tiny child is born, who is a great king. Wise men are led to him from afar. They come to adore one who lies in a manger and yet reigns in heaven and on earth.” + St. Quodvultdeus,

Today the Magi gaze in deep wonder at what they see: heaven on earth, earth in heaven, man in God, God in man, one whom the whole universe cannot contain now enclosed in a tiny body. As they look, they believe and do not question, as their symbolic gifts bear witness: incense for God, gold for a king, myrrh for one who is to die. + St. Peter Chrysologus

Christ is the eternal splendor enlightening our minds and hearts. + St. Ambrose

The Lord of hosts is himself the king of glory. He will transform us and show us his face, and we shall be saved; all our longing will be fulfilled, all our desires will be satisfied. + St. Augustine

Mine is not a kingdom of this world; but yes, I am a king. John 18:36,37

An All Souls Day Reflection from the Book of Wisdom

Wisdom

It was a cool November evening. Leaves that had finally given way to the elements were gently falling to the ground. Nightfall had begun. Despite the chill in the air outside, a cozy, spiritual warmth was enjoyed by the faithful in the Archabbey of St. Meinrad for evening vespers. The monks processed in, as is their custom. I was in attendance for vespers that evening along with others. This old monk walked up to the ambo for the reading and said in his old monk voice, “A reading from the book of Wisdom.” I thought to myself, oh this is going to be good.

I must say, I had a similar experience while visiting St. Joseph Abbey last year. I was there on fall retreat for the weekend. It has recently come to my attention the readings were probably the same. The reading is the first reading for All Souls Day Mass, celebrated by the Church every year on November 2^nd. The reading is from the Book of Wisdom found in the Old Testament. The reading is provided below:

The Destiny of the Righteous Contrasted to the Ungodly.

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.

They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction

and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace.

For if to others, indeed, they seem punished, yet is their hope full of immortality;

Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself.

As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.

In the time of their judgment they shall shine and dart about as sparks through stubble;

They shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the LORD shall be their King forever.

Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with the elect. Wisdom 3:1-9

Consolations and Desolations

There is great consolation in this passage for families and friends who have lost loved ones over the years, and sometimes these losses have been in tragic circumstances. Everyone is included on some level, for we have all lost a loved one.

We never know what day or hour we will pass for judgment.

…each of us shall give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:12

The other weekend at Mass an announcement was made for the repose of the soul of Betty R. And I thought to myself, “Oh no! Was that the sweet little old lady that sat at my table several years ago for a parish function?”

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. Wisdom 3:1

I looked in our parish directory for verification. Fortunately, it was not her. Turns out, her name is Wilma (I forgot)! But just flipping through the parish album and seeing the love of all the parish families resonated with me on a spiritual level.

Maybe it is because I have been grinding it out on my own in desolation in what has often been in oppressive circumstances.

Maybe it is because I received holy communion this morning in what I hope was a state of grace, and with all the Divine love that is infused within the Eucharist.

Maybe it was because as a human being, I yearn for the love I was blessed to experience with my family while growing up in a close-knit, small-town community.

Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with the elect. Wisdom 3:9

I make it a point to pray for the preservation of Christian families (especially those in my parish) with my intentions offered to the Blessed Virgin Mary for her most powerful intercession to God. The reason why is because everything that is deemed good and worthy of righteousness in this world gets attacked.

Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9

The devil and his minions are hell-bent on ripping God fearing nations, families, and souls apart. Despite the chaos going on, in the end, God’s plan is to be trusted.

For God created man for incorruption, and made him in the image of his own eternity, but through the devil’s envy death entered the world, and those who belong to his party experience it. Wisdom 2:23-24

The Two Ways

Every road has two sides. One way leads to life and the other to death. At any moment in time, we are either headed in one direction or the other (the way of the righteous or the ungodly). In the end, all roads lead back to Jesus the Lord.

Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” John 12:31-32

Think about the morning prayer to St. Michael the Archangel:

Michael, Michael, of the morning, fresh chord of heaven adorning. Keep me safe today, and in times of temptation, drive the devil away. Amen.

Obviously, we want to be going the way of St. Michael. The way of God’s holy angels is the way of righteousness that leads upwards to Christ the Lord in heaven where the beatific vision of God awaits us. But we must make the arduous journey to get there.

That involves refraining from sin and enduring sufferings, afflictions, and persecution.

That involves faith in God, despite temptations and chastisements.

That involves hope. Hope that we hang on and never be discouraged by adversity.

And finally, that involves love. Love for God and love for one another.

So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

We trust in God.

We persevere.

We refrain from sin and pray to be delivered from evil.

We endure suffering and afflictions.

We remain steadfast in our devotions.

We confess regularly and receive holy communion.

We stay close to the sacramentals.

We perform corporeal and spiritual works of mercy.

We study scripture.

We combat the devil with scripture.

We live out our baptism (CCC 1241) and grow in wisdom.

We strive for sanctity.

We long for Jesus to be at the center of our lives.

And we seek to be obedient to the Lord’s holy commandments.

Here, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.

Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today. Drill them into your children. Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest. Deuteronomy 6:4-7

In faith hope and love, we strive to live a righteous life, and with grace of God, may we all one day receive the reward of the righteous with the souls of the just – eternal life.

Sparks Through Stubble

In the time of their judgment they shall shine and dart about as sparks through stubble; Wisdom 3:7

Let us pray for the souls of our loved ones and for one another.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you. Save souls. Amen. +

The Morning Offering – A Good Morning with God

Gospels

Jesus has given us a Way for us Christian disciples to follow Him here on earth. It is the way of the cross. It is the way of love, mercy, forgiveness and charity. Christian discipleship is often at times a life of self-denial, but it is a life that leads to the hope of eternal life with Jesus.

But as it is written: “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him,” 1st Corinthians 2:9

How exactly does one scale a human life span in terms of eternity?

A grain of sand on the beach?

A droplet of water in the ocean?

Like a drop of water from the sea and a grain of sand, so are these few years among the days of eternity. Sirach 18:10

Even if we live to be over one hundred years old, the brevity of human life is simply of no comparison for the life to come.

Seventy is the sum of our years, or eighty, if we are strong; Most of them are toil and sorrow; they pass quickly, and we are gone. Psalms 90:10

Love is the gift God gave us. God breathed his very life into us.

…the LORD God formed the man out of the dust of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7

Even if we live a full life, eventually the gift of life God gave us goes back to Him.

And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7

What will God find when He opens up the gift of life He gave us? It is hard to love someone we don’t know. That is why God gave us the Gospels.

The Gospel of St. Matthew

The Gospel of St. Mark

The Gospel of St. Luke

The Gospel of St. John

The Gospels help us to know and understand Jesus so we can learn to love Him the way He loves us. The Gospels help us to answer questions we may have about Jesus.

What did Jesus do?

Where did Jesus go?

What did Jesus say?

Who was Jesus with?

Why did Jesus do the things He did while He was down here on earth?

Why did Jesus sacrifice Himself on the cross for us so we might be with Him?

Everything Jesus did, He did out of love for us.

So be imitators of God, as beloved children, Ephesians 5:1

It makes sense that not only would we want to spend time with Jesus in prayer, but we would also want to contemplate His every move and Word. It make sense we would want to be more like Him in thought, word and deed. Jesus is the Son of God, and Jesus has the words of eternal life. St. Peter himself affirms this in the Gospel of John.

…You have the words of eternal life. John 6:68

A Good Morning with God

One of the things Jesus did was spend quiet time alone with the Father in prayer.

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35

You are never alone. When you pray, God is with you. God is always with you.

…And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age. Matthew 28:20

We are called to imitate the Lord’s example. We should offer our hearts up to God at the dawn of each day, giving morning glory to the One who has given us the gift of life, and the many blessings we have received from Him. Let us always be thankful.

Awake, my soul; awake, lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn. I will praise you among the peoples, Lord; I will chant your praise among the nations. Psalms 57:9-10

Glory be to the Father, and the Son, and Holy Spirit…as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever, Amen.

Just praying a short prayer of praise to God in the morning is a way to express you are mindful of Him in your day and in your life. A morning prayer with Jesus is morning glory in the Kingdom of God with Christ and His holy angels.

Christ, King of Glory, be our light and our joy.

Here are some points of contemplation about Jesus alone with the Father in Prayer.

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35

Jesus woke up early in the mornings.
The first thing Jesus did in the morning was pray.
Jesus made his morning offering to the Father in solitude.
Jesus seeks guidance from God the Father just like we do.
Jesus demonstrates ordinary simplicity and humility.
Jesus practices what He preaches.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.

But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. Matthew 6:5-6

Jesus often draws apart to pray in solitude, on a mountain, preferably at night. He includes all men in his prayer, for he has taken on humanity in his incarnation, and he offers them to the Father when he offers himself….His words and works are the visible manifestation of his prayer in secret. CCC 2602

In terms of simplicity, a formula to follow from Jesus may look something like this.

Wake
Pray
Be Amazing
Repeat

Reading over the catechism passage above, it basically says it was Jesus’ prayer life that made Him amazing in all that He said and did.

In faith, we can just touch the tassels of the cloak of Jesus and still be amazing with the Holy Spirit in our lives. We can give thanks and follow God every day.

It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praise to your name, Most High, To proclaim your love at daybreak, your faithfulness in the night, Psalms 92:2-3

Morning Glory

Here is a prayer for spiritual communion with Jesus.

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament

A Morning Offering to God

O my God, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary (if applicable, here kiss your scapular as sign of your consecration to Mary, which carries a partial indulgence), I offer Thee the Precious Blood of Jesus from all the altars throughout the world, joining with It the offering of my every thought, word, and action of this day. O my Jesus, I desire today to gain every indulgence and merit I can and I offer them, together with myself, to Mary Immaculate, that she may best apply them in the interests of Thy Most Sacred Heart. Precious Blood of Jesus, save us! Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us! Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

The Archangel Raphael – A Prominent Messenger and a Miracle from God

Angels, Spiritual Warfare

This is a true story, and I hope it might help you believe in the existence of angels. I also hope it might help strengthen your faith in God as He is the Creator of angels. This story began in September 2009. It resurfaced again in October of 2011, and it has mysteriously played out years later in November of 2019. In some ways, this story is still playing out on different levels in my life today. May God’s will be done.

I have not been much on praying novena prayers, but for whatever reason, I prayed a novena prayer to the Archangel St. Raphael in October of 2011. I had printed the novena prayer out, and I had the image of St. Raphael on top of my chest of drawers. The chest of drawers is significant as it is the only belonging that I think has been with me my entire life. As far back as I can remember, the chest of drawers has been there in every chapter of my life, and it has been through many moves in my life.

The Archangel Raphael – September 2009

I have a memory about the Archangel Raphael when I was discerning for priesthood in seminary at St. Meinrad in Indiana. I looked to see if he was mentioned in the diary I kept while I was there. He was. Here is the excerpt:

Sep 29, 2009 9:57 PM – I went to Eucharistic adoration and mostly just stared. The sun was periodically beaming in on the blessed sacrament and it was like “The Transfiguration.” I have to say, it looked awesome as just one ray was lighting up the Eucharist, but really nowhere else in the chapel….it was like something out of a movie. I read in the breviary about the Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, their roles with God and their opposition to Satan and the fallen angels. Everybody probably knows who Michael and Gabriel are, but for the record, Raphael cured Tobit’s blindness. St. Raphael is known as the angel of healing. I read an amazing write-up about Raphael on the net. I have to say, he is my favorite angel of the three.

The Archangel Raphael – October 2011

Back to October 2011…I completed praying the novena to St. Raphael. All was well, or so I thought. The following day, I made a return trip to Indiana to visit a friend of mine that lived in Jasper. We had attended St. Meinrad together. We were comrades there in the House of St. Matthew. His family had Notre Dame season football tickets. He invited me to attend the Notre Dame vs. USC rivalry game, and I accepted.

Before I could make the trip, I had to deal with some casualties on the home front. My truck was attacked. Someone had poured sugar in the gas tank. Fortunately for me, my insurance covered the expenses to get my vehicle repaired, and the mechanic was able to repair my truck. I was also fortunate that I had a rental car to make the drive to Indiana and back, but the incident was an awful experience to go through.

I got off to a late start on the road because of that, and I did not get up to Jasper until after 1:00 A.M. the next morning. My friend Michael had to wait up for me and give me directions on how to get to their house as I traveled the rural roads there. And to make matters worse, I went through a speed trap on the way there, and I got a ticket.

My vehicle was vandalized, and I got a ticket…on the same day.

Yes, you could say I was not pleased about that. When I got back home, I took the St. Raphael novena prayer off the chest of drawers, and I put it away. I certainly did not throw it away! Lest I incur the wrath of an archangel. But I thought St. Raphael was not happy with me, so I distanced myself from having any spiritual relationship with him. This decision, made in ignorance, has been a foolish mistake on my part.

Now that I know more about spiritual warfare, I realize what most likely happened was the result of diabolical retaliation. If you listen to spiritual warfare experts like Fr. Chad Ripperger, Kyle Clement, Jesse Romero, and Dan Schneider, they can explain how many of the principles of spiritual warfare work from over 2,000 years of Roman Catholic experience. Spiritual warfare is for real, and it is not to be taken lightly.

I do not want that to hinder anyone from praying novenas to archangels. If you do, I recommend going to confession regularly and living in a state of grace with God as best as you can. I, personally, would also go to confession before praying a novena prayer to any of the three archangels (St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael).

The Archangel Raphael – November 2019

Fast forward 8 years later…November 2019. I went to a Benedictine monastery in Louisiana, St. Joseph Abbey, for a fall retreat. I bought a statue of St. Michael the Archangel in their gift shop while I was there. I had learned from a Fr. Ripperger video every Catholic should have a statue of St. Michael the Archangel blessed and put in their home for spiritual protection. A senior monk at the Abbey blessed the statue of St. Michael in the Old Rite along with some medals of St. Benedict.

A Miracle from God

Well, when I got home from the trip I knew the presence of an archangel was going to go right back on top of the chest of drawers, as that is where I had planned to put the statue. I remember that while I was unpacking, and I was a little concerned about it.

When I got everything squared away from the trip, the last thing I did was address the St. Michael statue. I remember standing there holding the statue of St. Michael directly over the top of the chest of drawers. After a moment of hesitation, I put the blessed statue of St. Michael on top of the chest of drawers.

Immediately, I heard my cell phone go off in the other room. I went and looked at my phone. I had just received an email from my aunt at that very moment.

Guess what my aunt’s email was about?

A novena prayer to the Archangel Raphael

WHOAHH !!!!

Guess what the name of the monk is that blessed my St. Michael statue?

Father Raphael

WHOAHH!!!!

The Precise Timing of Angelic Activity

One of the things I have learned about experiences with angels is things will happen at the very precise moment they need to happen. To provide a testimonial to this, please watch the documentary of Fr. Aloysius Ellacuria, CMF, available on Formed.org. You can watch the promo video here (angels discussion begins at 3:45).

Who is the Archangel Raphael?

The word angel means “messenger.” In Hebrew, the word Raphael means “God heals.” Although he is not mentioned in the New Testament, St. Raphael plays a prominent role in the Book of Tobit in the Old Testament. St. Raphael is also mentioned in other ancient Jewish writings such as the Book of Enoch and the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls.

“I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand and serve before the Glory of the Lord.” Tobit 12:15

Remember how God revealed to Moses that His name is “I AM” (Ex 3:14)? Raphael affirms he is a member of the Divine hierarchy in heaven. Like God, it would seem Raphael indicates angels are not constrained by our concept of time (Tb 11:7). In the Book of Tobit, Raphael goes by the name, Azariah, which means, “YHWH has helped.”

Raphael is one of the angels venerated by name in the Church, with Michael and Gabriel, and he is revered especially as an angel of healing. Christian lore sometimes identifies him as the head of the guardian angels, the angel of knowledge and the angel of science. Raphael is also a prominent figure in the angelic traditions of Judaism; Jewish legend says that he was one of the three messengers who visited Abraham before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 18:2) Source: Catholic Bible Dictionary

The Old Testament Book of Tobit

Based on my own experience, I would highly encourage everyone to read the Old Testament Book of Tobit. Not only is the book filled with Divine wisdom, but it also a real page turner. It almost reads like a novel. However, as with all of Sacred Scripture, the verses and passages are meant to be contemplated. The Old Testament book is ancient (at least second century B.C.), but many of the verses are full of symbolism, and the wisdom – inscribed by the Spirit of God – still applies in our lives today.

Here is an example of some of the maxims of wisdom found in the Book of Tobit:

READING Tobit 4:15a. 16a. 18a 19

Do to no one what you yourself dislike. Give to the hungry some of your bread, and to the naked some of your clothing. Seek counsel from every wise man. At all times bless the Lord God, and ask Him to make all your paths straight and to grant success to all your endeavors and plans. (From The Liturgy of the Hours Volume IV p.717)

Overview of the Archangel Raphael

St. Raphael was sent by God to aid a struggling family. The reason why this happened is because the family members recognized the severity of their afflictions and prayed to God for assistance. God responded, but He did so on His own Divine terms. God’s will unfolded through the assistance of an angel. The family was not even aware an angel (St. Raphael) was involved until the entire conflict was resolved (Tb 12:11).

Here is a listing of many of the benefits the family received from St. Raphael:

Raphael serves as a messenger from God in heaven.
Raphael was also sent by God to test certain family members.
Raphael journeys with Tobias to serve as a guide and protect him.
Raphael instructs Tobias: in prayer, in medicine, in spiritual warfare, in giving alms, in praise to God and proclaiming His goodness to others.
Raphael serves a mediator of prayer: He both instructs what God’s will is to the family, and he carries the families prayers up to the throne room of God.
Raphael helps deliver the family from the diabolic that dwelled in their home.
Raphael helps heal the family of physical infirmities and mental anguish.
Raphael, revealed his angelic identity before Tobit and Tobias.

Here are two key passages to consider from the Catechism of the Council of Trent (CCT) about God’s angels and how they help us here on earth.

How We are Helped by the Angels.

And the immense advantage springing from the special care and providence of God with regard to men, the execution of which is entrusted to Angels, who by nature hold an intermediate place between God and man, will be clear from a multitude of examples with which Sacred Scripture supplies us in abundance, and which show that in God’s goodness it has often happened that Angels have wrought wondrous works under the very eyes of men. This gives us to understand that many and equally important services, which do not fall under our sight, are wrought by our Angels, the guardians of our salvation, in our interest and for our advantage. CCT p.462

The Angel Raphael

The Angel Raphael, the divinely appointed companion and guide of Tobias, conducted him and brought him back safe and sound; saved him from being devoured by an enormous fish; made known to him the extremely useful properties possessed by the liver, gall and heart of the monster; expelled the demon; repressed and fettered his power and prevented him from injuring Tobias; taught the young man the true and legitimate notion and use of matrimony; and finally restored to the elder Tobias the use of his sight. CCT p.463

I hope you enjoyed this post and are inspired by the angels of God! All of us have a guardian angel. We would do well to pray to our guardian angels daily and ask them to light and guard, and to lead and guide us each day as we continue our pilgrim journey as disciples of Jesus Christ here on earth. May God’s peace be with us all.

So now bless the Lord on earth and give thanks to God…Tobit 12:20

The Holy Name of Jesus

Faith

There is life with Jesus, and there is life without Jesus. We get to choose which life we want to live. It is basically a binary decision. We are either going one way or the other. In my early years of life growing up and as a young man, I mostly lived a secular life without Jesus, and let me humbly say I have suffered needlessly for it over the years.

I had a loving family. I had many friends. I had girlfriends. I had an outgoing social life. I had the great outdoors, hunting and fishing, adventures, good times and all of that. And through it all, I also had a void of emptiness that eventually overwhelmed me in the reality of my first job away from my family and my hometown.

We share in Christ’s sufferings symbolically and gain salvation in reality. + From the Jerusalem Catecheses

I hope I gain salvation. That is the end goal. I am older and wiser now, in the years of mid-life. Perhaps John the Baptist would give me a pat on the back, because, basically, all those things I had have decreased over the years, and Jesus has increased.

Which way is the better way? Well, I can tell you, detachment from the world, from pride, sin, and all of that has been quite brutal, and it is still an ongoing process of life long formation of discipleship. It’s an uphill climb. But spiritually speaking, things are happening with Jesus. Let Jesus in your life and the light of Christ will follow.

Christ is both the way and the door. + St. Bonaventure

Jesus, I feel, is increasing, and I am decreasing. How am I doing this? I bought a Benedictine crucifix at an Abbey gift shop of a Benedictine monastery. I watched a priest exorcise and bless the crucifix in the presence of others that were there in the gift shop that day. I am gradually making more time before this blessed, holy crucifix, mostly in the evenings. In these tender moments of prayer before Jesus, I feel I am living to fullest of what it means to be a disciple. I am letting go and letting God.

Be still and know that I am God! Psalms 46:10

For the first time in my life, I am engaging in mental and contemplative prayer! I am keeping vigil with Jesus on the cross just as the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John the Evangelist did on Good Friday. Outside of holy communion, Eucharistic adoration and praying the rosary, this might be the best way to understand and appreciate the Holy Name of Jesus. This time alone with Jesus, I feel, has been spiritual growth in God. The end goal for all Christian disciples is God. God calls us to be holy, like Him (1 Pt 1:16).

Learning the Catholic Faith

What does the Church say about the Holy Name of Jesus? I want to share a few things I learned, mostly from the following three sources rooted in Traditional Catholicism:

My Catholic Faith a Catechism in Pictures
The Catechism of the Council of Trent
The Catholic Bible Dictionary

Jesus is God! He is Divine. That is something to consider when reading about everything Jesus did and said in the Gospels. Jesus is also a man. Jesus is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Jesus is equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Think about Jesus at the Wedding Feast at Cana. If we invite Jesus in our lives, He accepts our invitation. If we are obedient to Him and His requests by putting in the work (filling the ablutions with water drawn from the well) Jesus produces the miracles (turning gallons of water into the best wine!). This is the Jesus of love and mercy. If we search for the Holy Name of Jesus in our lives, we will surely find Him planted in our hearts. The Lord dwells in the highest heavens (Isa 57:15).

…Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew 16:24-25

Jesus is true God and true man. He became flesh and dwelt among us while still being fully Divine. Saints become saints because they spend so much time with Jesus (prayer, scripture, and sacraments) the limitless Divinity of love overflows into their hearts, and they partake of the Divine cup – in both suffering and fulfillment in Christ.

He Keeps Sending Me Angels.

I think we would be amazed to know how involved God’s angels are in our lives. It was no different in Biblical times for St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Each one experienced an encounter with an angel to name the Son of God, “Jesus.”

An angel of God was sent to St. Joseph.

…The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21

An angel of God was sent to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

…He was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. Luke 2:21

Who are We in the Eyes of God?

Do we only identify with Jesus as being LORD, or do we receive Him in our lives? Are we Catholic Chinos (Catholics in Name Only)? I think the typical mindset very often this day and age of modernism, technology, pleasure, comfort, etc. is often this:

‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything, Revelation 3:17a

People often get lukewarm in the faith. What does Jesus say in response?

“And yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:17b – 19

The gold refined by fire is God’s saving grace. The white garments are symbolic of an upright life. And the ointment applied to the eyes is to remove spiritual blindness. (Source: USCCB commentary)

St. Paul had his spiritual blindness removed first hand by the blinding light of Jesus:

On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Acts 9:3-5

The name Jesus means “Yahweh saves.” Think about how Jesus saved St. Peter from perishing in the stormy seas (Mt 14:22-33). Peter began to sink for lack of faith. To his credit, St. Peter cried out for Jesus to save him. Jesus stretched out His hand and saved him. We should do the same should we ever begin to sink.

I shall remember how Saint Peter at a blast of wind began to sink because of his lack of faith, and I shall do as he did: call upon Christ and pray to him for help. And then I trust he shall place his holy hand on me and in the stormy seas hold me up from drowning. + St. Thomas More

Jesus is a Saving God

The name of Jesus also means that He is Savior (Redeemer). The title “Redeemer” means that Jesus rescues us from sin, eternal death and hell. All you have to do is read about the July 13, 1917 appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima before the three visionary children to know that we want Jesus to save us from the fires of hell.

Oh my Jesus…forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy. + Fatima Prayer

We are commanded by Jesus as His disciples to love Him and love one another. The more we love God, the more we will love one another with mercy and charity.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31

Goals of Discipleship

The word “goal” is only mentioned twice in the New Testament in Philippians and 1st Peter. We could say there are only two end goals for the Christian disciple:

Goal #1: To be with Jesus forever in heaven.

I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

Goal #2: To be saved by Jesus from the fires of hell.

Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of [your] faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9

God’s Plan for Jesus

God the Father commanded that the Christ child be named Jesus. Jesus, the God who saves sinners (Mk 16:15-16), came down from heaven with his Messianic ministry in mind in obedience to the Father in heaven.

Goal #1: Save us from our sins.

She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

Goal #2: Open the gates of heaven for us.

Open the gates of righteousness; I will enter and thank the LORD. This is the LORD’s own gate, through it the righteous enter. Psalms 118:19-20

This helps explain why the name of Jesus is the Holy Name of Jesus. Jesus is holy and Jesus is God. He is obedient to the Father. Jesus loves us. He calls us to be with Him both in this life and for eternity. It’s up to us to accept Him in the life He has given us.

Holy Name of Jesus Bible Verses

Here is the Litany Prayer of the Holy Name of Jesus: Holy Name of Jesus

We should always use the name of Jesus with reverence, especially in prayer. We should never use the name of Jesus in vain (Exodus 20:7).

We, as Christian disciples, acknowledge that Jesus Christ is LORD. We place all that we are and all that we have been given under His Authority, even our very lives. By uniting ourselves to Him in faith, His Divine presence and power manifests through us:

Peter [said] to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

Jesus, although ascended into heaven, continues to speak and take actions through the lives of his disciples, especially the apostles (clergy) He has called to serve Him:

Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, [rise and] walk.” Acts 3:6

The Holy Spirit enables disciples to speak fearlessly, invoking the name of Jesus before others, even if they are our enemies – inside or outside the Church:

then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed. Acts 4:10

Throughout human history, the enemies of Christianity fail to suppress the LORD of Israel from speaking and taking actions through His chosen disciples:

So they called them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Acts 4:18

Jesus teaches us in the Gospel of Matthew not to be saddened, but to rejoice and be glad (Mt 5:10-12) whenever we are attacked by others for the sake of His Holy Name:

After recalling the apostles, they had them flogged, ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them. Acts 5:40

The Holy Name of Jesus divinely manifests the reality of the kingdom of God for all believers who accept Jesus, for both Jews and Gentiles alike:

but once they began to believe Philip as he preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, men and women alike were baptized. Acts 8:12

Once St. Paul was converted and baptized, his life was changed forever in Christ:

Then Barnabas took charge of him (Paul) and brought him to the apostles, and he reported to them how on the way he had seen the Lord and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. Acts 9:27

The Spirit of God enables St. Peter to baptize Gentiles in the name of Jesus:

He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 10:48

The immense power of the Spirit of Jesus working through St. Paul allows him to take decisive action and exorcise an oracular spirit with immediate results:

She did this for many days. Paul became annoyed, turned, and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” Then it came out at that moment. Acts 16:18

St. Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, initially thought it was God’s will for him to ruthlessly persecute Christians who believed in the name of Jesus and followed Him in discipleship. Fortunately for us, Jesus intervened:

I myself once thought that I had to do many things against the name of Jesus the Nazorean, Acts 26:9

God the Father exalts the Holy Name of Jesus and shares His glory with Him for all of eternity. When the nations are assembled together on the day of final judgment, every angel and fallen angel (demon), every human being, alive and dead, good and bad, will proclaim to the glory of God the Father that Jesus Christ is LORD:

At the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, Philippians 2:10

The preceding verse bridges back to the Prophetic Book of Isaiah in the Old Testament. Let us turn to Jesus in our lives and proclaim the Gospel. Jesus Christ is LORD:

Turn to me and be safe, all you ends of the earth, for I am God; there is no other! By myself I swear, uttering my just decree, a word that will not return: To me every knee shall bend; by me every tongue shall swear, Isaiah 45:22-23

Closing Thoughts

Let us remember, when we pray to God, we should always pray in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus presents our prayers before the Father in heaven. Jesus gives us the commandments. As servants of God, we do the work and carry out the Lord’s commandments as best as we can while we are here on earth.

His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:5

From there, Jesus accepts our work and prayers and uses them (often at the request of His Blessed Mother) to produce miracles. And the end-result of the miracles produced by Jesus is love and mercy. Jesus is a God of love and mercy. May the Holy Name of Jesus planted in our hearts help fortify us to preserve His Holy Church on earth.

My brothers, you must consider and preserve the traditions you are now receiving. Inscribe them across your heart. + St. Cyril of Jerusalem, apostolic bishop 315-387 A.D.

7 Principles of Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare

For, although we are in the flesh, we do not battle according to the flesh, for the weapons of our battle are not of flesh but are enormously powerful, capable of destroying fortresses. We destroy arguments and every pretension raising itself against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive in obedience to Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:4-6

This post is about spiritual warfare. Fighting the good fight!

There are numerous strategies we can follow to combat a formidable and relentless opponent. Below are seven (7) principles I learned from Fr. Mark Goring via YouTube.

Father Mark Goring is a Catholic priest and a member of The Companions of the Cross. The Companions of the Cross are a community of Catholic priests inviting people to know Jesus and empowering them to share Jesus.

The seven principles of spiritual warfare Fr. Goring teaches are as follows:

Spiritual Warfare Principle # 1

Know Who You Are

The important thing here is not to be deceived by the devil with the life God has given you. You are a child of God (1 John 3:2). The devil does not want you to believe this.

Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist. 1 John 2:22

Obviously, the devil has been very successful with his cunning ability to convince people to do anything but worship God. We know from the first three commandments of the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments, God must be our all.

“The love of Christ must come before all else. + St. Benedict

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall not have other gods beside me.

You shall not make for yourself an idol or a likeness of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; Deuteronomy 5:6-8

The first three commandments of the Ten Commandments are as follows:

1. I AM THE LORD THY GOD: THOU SHALT NOT HAVE STRANGE GODS BEFORE ME.

2. THOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN.

3. KEEP THE SABBATH HOLY.

Jesus has given us the Church and he has given us assurance the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Mt 16:18). The Church has been built by Christ to last forever, and we have been chosen to be a part of it. Don’t miss the opportunity!

“Oh Catholic faith, how solid, how strong you are! How deeply rooted, how firmly founded on solid rock! Heaven and earth will pass away, but you can never pass away.” + St. Fidelis

The devil, however, wants you to fall away and abandon the Church. And this helps explain why there are so many empty seats at Mass. The devil deceives. Lies and deceit are his diabolical specialty. He deceives people, especially fallen away Catholics, into thinking their Christian faith in Jesus is no longer needed.

Do not be surprised that, as time goes on, our ancient foe will fight all the harder to wipe out the Christian religion. + St. Gregory VII

The disturbing proof is in the numerous empty seats at Mass. Shortly after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks church pews throughout much of America were full. Then after a while, the devil began to pick off people from the pews through an array of diabolical tactics, and these diabolical tactics are being carried out on us today.

Then the dragon became angry with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus. Revelation 12:17

The devil even tempted Jesus to question his own identity in the Gospels!

Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple,

and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down… Matthew 4:5-6

Do you not think the devil won’t tempt you into abandoning your Christian identity ?

Christ could have kept the devil from himself; but if he were not tempted he could not teach you how to triumph over temptation.” + St. Augustine

Spiritual Warfare Principle #2

Remember We Are at War

The war is ongoing, and we are thrust in the battle whether we like it or not, and whether we choose to believe it or not. This key spiritual warfare principle reminds us to remember each day that we are at war with the enemy, the devil and his demons.

“To stand fast in battle on the day of the Lord means to oppose the wicked enemy out of love for what is right.” + St. Gregory

With that said, it is time to put on the spiritual armor of God.

Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. Ephesian 6:11

The good news of the Gospels is Jesus has decisively won this war with his saving work on the cross and resurrection. Sacred Scripture, however, does soberly remind us we are still very much engaged in a battle with a cunning and unholy enemy:

Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for [someone] to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

This is why it is a good idea to take time to pray the Lord’s Prayer each day. We win this battle firmly rooted in God. By all means, hide in Jesus’ wounds! This is not a battle we can win on our own. We will perish if we abandon our faith in Jesus the LORD.

Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels. Mark 8:38

Spiritual Warfare Principle #3

Know the Tactics of Your Enemy

The aforementioned verse from 1 Peter gives some indication of what kind of opponent we are dealing with: a fallen angel, the Evil One. Our opponent, the devil, roams around the world – even as you read this – looking for someone to devour.

The LORD said to the satan, “Where have you been?” Then the satan answered the LORD and said, “Roaming the earth and patrolling it.” Job 1:7

TACTIC #1: The satan is the ACCUSER. He attacks our conscience and our spirit.

The accuser: the meaning of the Hebrew word “Satan,” found in

Satan continues to accuse Christ’s disciples. Source: USCCB

The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have salvation and power come, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed. For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and night. Revelation 12:9-10

TACTIC #2: The devil is the DECEIVER. Not only does Satan lie, he is the father of lies.

Listen to what Jesus has to say about the devil in John’s Gospel:

…He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44

Spiritual Warfare Principle #4

Keep your Peace

Easier said than done in this day and age, but that is what we are called by God to do.

And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

If you do fall in sin get back up and keep moving! Go to confession if you can and take time to examine your conscience each day and confess your sins to God.

If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. 1 John 1:9

This spiritual warfare battle is won in Christ. Thus, our hearts should be formed:

in Prayer
in the Word
in Preaching
in the Sacraments

And when we focus on being humble we find favor with God.

And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for: “God opposes the proud but bestows favor on the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5

Not so with the devil. The devil wants to deceive, confuse and corrupt you. This is why we must remain close to God. God wants to give us his peace.

…He is not the God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the holy ones, 1 Corinthians 14:33

Spiritual Warfare Principle #5

Need to Know Your Weaknesses

When the enemy attacks, the first thing he looks for is the weakest line of defense. Only a fool doesn’t want to take a step back and consider what his weaknesses are.

The wise person is cautious and turns from evil; the fool is reckless and gets embroiled. Proverbs 14:16

We as human beings are inclined to sin, and we all do.

all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

Here are the 7 deadly sins. Which of these sins apply to you in your own life?

Anger
Gluttony
Greed
Pride
Lazy
Lust
Envy

We must avoid sins. Should we neglect this we give the enemy a stronghold on us. If we live a life in unrepentant sin we might lose the battle, and there is simply too much at stake not to live a repentant life and make atonement to God for our many sins.

Whoever sins belongs to the devil, because the devil has sinned from the beginning. Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8

Spiritual Warfare Principle #6

Need to Have a Holy Spirit Inspired Specific Strategy

Let’s take a look at what the fruits of the Holy Spirit are:

The fruit of the Spirit is

Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Generosity
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control

Galatians 5:22-23a

You can combat your weaknesses with your virtuous characteristics given to you by the Holy Spirit. Example: if you struggle with lust, combat it with generosity.

As water quenches a flaming fire, so almsgiving atones for sins. Sirach 3:30

Generous donations and works of charity will help to yield favor from the Lord.

The generous will be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. Proverbs 22:9

If you struggle with anger, combat it with some devotional prayers each day. Simply praying some Hail Mary prayers after any type of outburst or disturbance can help humble the soul, and it is a great way to combat one’s own demons.

“The Hail Mary puts the devil to flight and causes Hell to Tremble with terror.” + St. Bernard

Any exorcist priest will tell you: The demons will flee in fear whenever they hear a Hail Mary prayer. Please consider the rosary as a devotional prayer.

“Through devotion your family cares become more peaceful, mutual love between husband and wife become more sincere, the service we owe to the prince becomes more faithful, and our work, no matter what it is, becomes more pleasant and agreeable.” + St. Francis de Sales

Spiritual Warfare Principle #7

Remember the Lord

Remember what is most important in life is union with God. We win the spiritual warfare battle in Christ. Without Jesus, we would wither away and be lost.

Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. John 15:5

You can have it all, as they say: wealth, pleasure, power, and fame.

But if there is no union with God in your life, the devil has won his battle against you.

A primary tactic of Satan and his demons is to get you to pursue false idols.

Some examples of false idols today are:

Sports
Entertainment
Recreation

The demons don’t really care what idol it is, as long as it makes you neglect or reject your own personal relationship with Jesus. To give all our time, talent and treasure over to idols is quiet dangerous and could leave us cut off from eternal rest in the Lord.

How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? Hebrews 2:3

There is a classic spiritual warfare book, The Spiritual Combat, written hundreds of years ago. St. Francis de Sales called it “the golden book.” He also carried it with him and constantly read from it. Why would a saint do that?

Rely on the mighty LORD; constantly seek His face. 1 Chronicles 16:11

The first two chapters of this classic book, and maybe the most important ones, say to distrust in yourself and keep your confidence in God.

For the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from the snare. Proverbs 3:26

7 Principles of Spiritual Warfare Recap

Spiritual warfare goes on in the world until Christ returns in glory with his angels.

In the meantime, we will win the ongoing battle in our own lives by drawing near to Christ with humble and contrite hearts. And always keep in mind in this spiritual warfare we are in that the family that prays together stays together.

So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

You can watch the 7 Principles of Spiritual Warfare video here: