Pope St. John Paul II maintained that the western world, especially Europe, Canada, and the USA, was in a crisis of faith. The lack of priestly and religious vocations in our part of the world is a symptom of a lack of faith. Our problems are not superficial, but critical. Satan is not just trying to break the windows of western civilization; he's trying to take out our foundation.
Because "all depends on faith" (Rm 4:16), we need faith. However, Satan has worked over so many people that some Christians no longer believe in Jesus' cross or in His final coming. The cross of forgiving enemies, the cross of letting ourselves be persecuted, the cross of sexual purity, the cross of a simple lifestyle, and the cross of submission to authority are a few of the crosses which many Christians consider absurd and stumble over (1 Cor 1:23). Moreover, some Christians have lost their faith in Jesus' Second Coming. They are therefore among the foolish bridesmaids who were not ready for the Master's return (see Mt 25:2). Jesus' final coming is rarely on many Christians' minds and has no practical effect on their lives.
Faith in the foundational revelations of Christianity is eroding. Repent, believe, and "fight hard for the faith" (Jude 3).
| PRAYER: | Jesus, when You return may You find me with a strong faith (see Lk 18:8). |
| PROMISE: | "Keep your eyes open, for you know not the day or the hour." –Mt 25:13 |
| PRAISE: | Belinda had a tubal ligation. Years later, she repented and expressed it by adopting a baby girl. |
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