The worldly are wheeling and dealing — manipulating, conniving, and lying — filling the sky with their towers of Babel (Gn 11:4). They rip off the poor man and promote severe injustices. However, the Lord doesn't seem to do much about it. "He will not contend or cry out, nor will His voice be heard in the streets. The bruised reed He will not crush; the smoldering wick He will not quench" (Mt 12:19-20).
Nevertheless, the Lord conquered "the shakers and the movers" not by shaking and moving but by becoming one of the poor and the oppressed. He became a Lamb led to the slaughter Who opened not His mouth (Is 53:7). He suffered the injustices of all people. He was not only abused but scourged and crucified. He died as the perfect sacrifice, innocent of sin and loving His enemies. Thus, He overcame the world (Jn 16:33).
We also can conquer the world by believing in Jesus, the Conqueror of the world (1 Jn 5:5). We do so when we act like Him — when we suffer redemptively, forgive mercifully, and love unconditionally. Those expressing their faith through the nonviolent militancy of the cross conquer the world by love. When we believe in Jesus enough to act like Him and love like Him, "we are more than conquerors" (Rm 8:37).
| PRAYER: | Father, "where there is hatred, let me sow love." |
| PROMISE: | "You do see, for You behold misery and sorrow, taking them in Your hands. On You the unfortunate man depends; of the fatherless You are the Helper." –Ps 10:14 |
| PRAISE: | Teresa, a Carmelite, prays the divine office each day on the bus as she commutes to work. She witnesses to the bus drivers and passengers about how Jesus has blessed her in the Carmelite community. |
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