"It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign! The only sign it will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah." (Matthew 12: 39)
What is Christ's sign for me today?
Lord, this is enough. I ask for no more sign than pray you bless me with deep trust in you every moment, every step of this day.
"Do not be afraid! Stand firm, and you will see what Yahweh will do to rescue you today: the Egyptians you see today you will never see again. Yahweh will do the fighting for you; all you need to do is to keep calm." (Exodus 14: 13-14)
Father, you have consoled me in the past with this scripture. Console me again today with it. I recall EUF86. Thank you Father. Father you have placed me in casa with SFJ as my means of daily bread. You know that it is for me like an Exodus experience. At times, I am very frightened. Father, fight for me. I surrender.
In life, we experience multiple Exoduses. The journey of faith is made up of many Exoduses. Exodus 14: 13-14 is the answer to all Exoduses.
"The Lord keeps in our minds the wonderful things he has done. He is compassion and love; he always provides for his faithful." (Psalm 110: 4-5)
God Himself reminds us of the wonderful things He accomplishes in our life. I try through journaling to keep a list of these wonderful interventions of God in my life. I have found that this is the greatest insurance against discouragement. Whenever I am under attack, I walk round my apartment where I have pinned to walls some of these uplifting remembrances.
"Lord, bring us closer to salvation through these gifts which we bring in your honor. Accept the perfect sacrifice you have given us, bless it as you blessed the gifts of Abel…." (Offering Prayer on the 16th Sunday)
The Eucharist is the perfect sacrifice. It is a wonderful privilege to participate. "Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!" (Revelation 19: 9)
"He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil." (Matthew 13: 37 – 39)
Christ is the farmer who sows the good seed. Heresy is the instrument of the devil in sowing weeds among wheat. The mass media also sow weeds by offering alternative message to the knowledge of salvation.
How do we know the good seeds from the weeds? "By their fruits you shall know them." The word of God is the template for the discernment of spirits. I pray continuously for the gift of discernment of spirits. I now understand that the more I am into sacred scripture, the more capable I will be in discerning spirits. Discernment of spirits in this context means applied Scripture.
For, although we are in the flesh, we do not battle according to the flesh, 5
for the weapons of our battle are not of flesh but are enormously powerful, capable of destroying fortresses. We destroy arguments
and every pretension raising itself against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive in obedience to Christ,
and we are ready to punish every disobedience, once your obedience is complete. (2 Corinthians 10: 3-6)