Prophets 

   Prophets are not seers or predictors of future events.  Prophets are those who speak the word of God.  Sometimes the word of God may include a statement of what is to come, however, even then it is not the word of the prophet but the word of God.

   Prophets have routinely been hated for the word spoken through them.  Some have been killed and some fled to avoid being killed.  Yet they did not cease to speak for God; they did not deny their calling as a prophet of the Lord.

   What many Christians don’t realize is that we are all to be prophets of the Lord.  We are to speak the word of the Lord to those who do not know Him, both in our words and in our actions.  We are unlikely to be killed as were many of the prophets, but our words will not always be welcome, and we may suffer persecution because of them.

   Our priests and pastors are also to be prophets.  They should never shy away from speaking the word of God to their flock, especially when addressing the wages of sin.  They will anger some and some may leave their church, but it is their role to warn of the consequence of sin even if some reject the warnings.

   There have always been and always will be prophets.  Those chosen by God to speak His word to others.  We are honored and blessed if we are so called.  Let us never refuse God’s call, standing firm in His word and sharing that word with all.

 

 Courage in Faith 

   “The greatest obstacle in the apostolate of the Church is the timidity or rather the cowardice of the faithful.  (St. Pope Pius X) 

   Those words of Saint Pope Pius X are from over one-hundred years ago.  Even then the Church was faced with a laity that was less than courageous in faith.  It has gotten even worse in today’s Church.  Cardinal Ratzinger, before he became Pope Benedict XVI said that the Church will become smaller and more faithful.

   I believe the exodus from the Church and from Christianity, as a whole, will continue because I see little courage in faith.  Rather, it seems more and more of those who are in the pews on Sunday never display their faith once they leave the pews.  An hour or so a week does not demonstrate a devotion to God and all that such a devotion should include.  The word “lukewarm” comes to mind, and lukewarm is a poor excuse for courage in faith.

   There is a crisis in Christianity.  It’s not the first time and most likely won’t be the last.  Fewer and fewer Catholics attend Mass on a regular basis and the number who believe and accept the teachings of Christ continues to decrease.  Many now claim to be “nones,” those who have no religious preference.  In other words, they are atheist.

   Let’s call it like it is.  We are either a child of God or a child of Satan.  There really is no in-between.  We must choose who we will follow, and that choice will determine whether we spend eternity full of joy and love or full of pain and regret.

 

 The Battle for Our Soul 

   “Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. (Eph 6: 11) 

   There is a battle waging that we cannot see, a battle between good and evil.  The prize is our soul for all eternity, whether it be consigned to hell or welcomed into God’s kingdom.

   The battle has been won if we will but stand in the breach with God and reject the evil Satan would impose upon us.  Christ said, “I have conquered the world.” (John 16: 33).  On a cross on Calvary Jesus won the battle for us, only if we withdraw from the field can the battle be lost.

   Yet, in many ways and for many people the battle has become lost.  The family, the primary building block of all society and of the Church is crumbling.  Traditional two-parent families have become the exception rather than the rule.

   Many seek to serve their own personal desires rather than the will of God even though it is only through His will that we can enter heaven.  Society says money, fame, sex, and so many other false gods are of greater value than the one true God, and those who follow those false gods will be lost.

   The saddest part is that the battle is won, but still can be lost by our own actions or inactions.  God loves us so much that He sent Christ to die for us (John 3: 16).  And yet, just two verses further the reality of the battle is seen: “Whoever believes in Him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but the people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.” (John 3: 18 – 19).

   When we turn from the light we will stumble in the darkness and the battle for our soul will be forfeited to the evil one.