Are you afraid of anything? I hope not because the worst is yet to come. We will "hear of wars and insurrections" (Lk 21:9) even more so than we do today. "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, plagues, and famines in various places – and in the sky fearful omens and great signs" (Lk 21:10-11). "Men will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the earth" (Lk 21:26).
How can we live fearlessly, die fearlessly, and even face the end of the world fearlessly? We conquer fear by love. "Love has no room for fear" (1 Jn 4:18). "Perfect love" is not necessarily sinlessness but complete commitment. If we love the Lord with all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds, and all our strength (Lk 10:27), we will be so filled with love that our love will crowd out all fears.
Because of the graces lavished upon all who receive the Holy Spirit (Rm 5:5; Ti 3:6), may love reign supreme and fear be homeless forever.
| PRAYER: | Father, by Your grace I will walk in faith (see 2 Cor 5:7) and not in fear. |
| PROMISE: | "So the One sitting on the cloud wielded His sickle over all the earth and reaped the earth's harvest." –Rv 14:16 |
| PRAISE: | Wise beyond her young years, St. Catherine, patroness of Christian philosophers, was blessed with a martyr's death. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College