Friars Corner: Be a Living Sacrifice
Jeremiah 29:7-9; Psalm 63:2, 3-6, 8-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27
Two of this week’s readings are very inspiring. I look for the most encouraging words from God during the difficult times we are in. The best is yet to come if we look to God’s provisions and trumpet blast He is giving us. Many know we are in a war between good and evil, between God and so many anti-gods. Between those who promote goodness for many and those who will not.
Jesus is our Way, Truth and New Life, John 14:6. He is our Light, John 8:12, leading us to a brighter future and eternal glory in heaven. St John 8:31-32 told us, “If you make My Word (our scriptures) your home, you will become My disciples (students), you will learn My Truth and My Truth will set you free.” So this weekend we “dive into His word,” to get refreshed by God’s truth and plan for our lives and our future.
Living sacrifice
St. Paul urges us in Romans 12, to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. We are not to conform to the confusion and “fake news” of this mess in the U.S. We want to stand on Jesus, our true rock and the Jewish Christian principles our country was founded upon. Many have turned far away from those Godly ways. We are to ”be transformed by the renewal of your minds, that we “may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect,“ 12:2.
We don’t want to throw God’s way out and follow a socialist path where the government dictates our life. Socialist ideologies have never worked. Many in our country want to stand under the spout of God where His glory comes out to receive His merciful blessings of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, as our Declaration of Independence tells us.
Psalm 62 today is so full of God’s blessings. God, we seek You. Our flesh pines and our soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. When we go to our churches and pray close to the tabernacle, we are radiated with God’s power and love. “Lifting up our hands, We will call upon Your Name.” You, Lord, are our help, “and in the shadow of Your wings I shout for joy. My soul clings fast to You; Your right hand upholds us.” Thank You, Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit.
First voting principle
The fifth commandment God gave to Moses is: “Thou shalt not kill.” Abortion is the murder of innocent, helpless U.S. human citizens, conceived in our country. Life begins when a female egg is penetrated by just one male sperm. Life begins at that moment, as God designed. That new life cannot develop to be anything other than human.
This must be our first voting principle. We must stop all abortions and close all Planned Parenthood death clinics and end all taxpayer funding to promote this great sin against God and humanity. God wants to raise up new Nehemiahs to stand with our President to do far more than just “rebuild the walls around Jerusalem.” With our voice and work, we must stand up and help build up God’s faith in our country. I shall close with this prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, taken from the exorcism of places prayer given to us by Pope Leo XIII, amended text of 1952.
“St. Michael the Archangel, illustrious leader of the heavenly army, defend us in the battle against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of darkness and the spirits of wickedness in high places. Come to the rescue of mankind, whom God has made in His own image and likeness, and purchase from Satan’s tyranny at so great a price. Holy Church venerates you as her patron and guardian. The Lord has entrusted to you the task of leading the souls of the redeemed to heavenly blessedness. Entreat the Lord of peace to cast Satan down under our feet, so as to keep him from further holding humans captive and doing harm to God’s Church. Carry our prayers up to God’s throne, that the mercy of the Lord may quickly come and lay hold of the beast, the serpent of old, Satan and his demons, casting them in chains into the abyss, so that they can no longer seduce the nations.”
I pray this over all of us and our nation,
+ Father Bob Hilz
fbhilz@gmail.com
(© 2020 Father Bob Hilz, TOR)
