At the first Christmas, Herod killed several innocent children. This Christmas, many thousands of innocent children will be killed each day not only through surgical but especially chemical abortions. Today's death toll of innocent babies is unprecedented in the history of the human race.
St. Joseph saved his Foster-Son, Jesus, from death by obeying a revelation he received in a dream. Likewise, the Lord has revealed to us how we can stop the massacre of infants. He told us through Pope St. John Paul II that prayer and fasting are the most effective weapons in fighting against the culture of death (The Gospel of Life, 100). "Our battle is not against human forces but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness, the evil spirits in regions above" (Eph 6:12). Some demons cannot be driven out except by prayer and fasting (Mt 17:21, NAB).
Like Joseph, we have been told by the Lord how to save lives. Will we be like Joseph and obey the Lord, or will we through our disobedience let demons use the Herods of today to continue the massacre of innocent children? Be like Joseph. Be obedient. Be for life.
| PRAYER: | Father, may I not be selfish and thereby defeated by Satan. |
| PROMISE: | "If anyone should sin, we have, in the presence of the Father, Jesus Christ, an Intercessor Who is just. He is an Offering for our sins, and not for our sins only, but for those of the whole world." –1 Jn 2:1-2 |
| PRAISE: | "The Holy Innocents gave witness not by words but by their life's blood" (Liturgy of the Hours). |
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