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Home Sections The Daily B.R.E.A.D. Nov 24, 2009 - Tuesday Meditation (Slouching Towards Gomorrah)
Nov 24, 2009 - Tuesday Meditation (Slouching Towards Gomorrah) PDF Print E-mail
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Sections - The Daily B.R.E.A.D.
Friday, 20 November 2009 19:34

We often don't recognize the moral crisis and spiritual conflict of our age, until something "shakes us up" to the reality of our present condition. The reward for doing what is right and just and the penalty for sin and wrong-doing are not always experienced in this life; but they are sure to come in the day of judgment. God intends our anticipation of his final judgment to be a powerful deterrent to wrongdoing. God extends grace and mercy to all who will heed his call and his warning.


Memorial of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and his companions, martyrs
Daniel 2:31-45
Daniel 3:57, 58, 59, 60, 61

L uke 21:5-11  And as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, (6) "As for these things which you see, the days will come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." (7) And they asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign when this is about to take place?" (8) And he said, "Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, `I am he!' and, `The time is at hand!' Do not go after them. (9) And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once." (10) Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; (11) there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

Meditation by Don Schwager

H ow would you respond if someone prophesied that your church or place of worship would be destroyed?  In 1972 a violent earthquake ripped through the center of Managua and destroyed the great cathedral church. This was only the beginning of the troubles for the tiny nation and Christian community of Nicaragua which suffered great turmoil and loss in the civil war that ensued for more than a decade. Out of the ashes of destruction and the ravages of communism has emerged a humbler and more purified church.

Jesus foretold many signs of God's action and judgment. To the great consternation of the Jews, Jesus prophesied the destruction of their temple at Jerusalem. The Jewish people took great pride in their temple, a marvel of the ancient world. The foretelling of this destruction was a dire judgment in itself. They sought Jesus for a sign that would indicate when this would occur. Jesus admonished them to not seek signs but rather to seek God's kingdom. There will be plenty of signs – such as  wars, famines, diseases, tidal waves and earthquakes – pointing to God's ultimate judgment.

Jesus' prophecy is a two-edged sword, because it points not only to God's judgment, but also to his saving action and mercy.

Jesus foretells the destruction of Jerusalem and the dire consequences for all who would reject him and his saving message. While the destruction of Jerusalem's temple was determined (it was razed by the Romans in 70 A.D.), there remained for its inhabitants a narrow open door leading to deliverance.

Jesus says: "I am the door; whoever enters by me will be saved" (John 10:9). 

Jesus willingly set his face toward Jerusalem, knowing that he would meet betrayal, rejection, and death on a cross. His death on the cross, however, brought about freedom, peace, and victory over sin and death – not only for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, but for all – both Jew and Gentile alike – who would accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Do you know the peace and security of a life submitted to the lordship of Jesus Christ?

An American judge, named Robert H. Bork, wrote a book a few decades ago entitled, Slouching Towards Gomorrah. His message sounded an alarm about the moral crisis and decay of culture which he saw in Western society. We often don't recognize the moral crisis and spiritual conflict of our age, until something "shakes us up" to the reality of our present condition. The reward for doing what is right and just and the penalty for sin and wrong-doing are not always experienced in this life; but they are sure to come in the day of judgment. The Lord Jesus tells us that there will be persecution, suffering, and difficulties in this age until he comes again at the end of the world. God intends our anticipation of his final judgment to be a powerful deterrent to wrongdoing. God extends grace and mercy to all who will heed his call and his warning. Do you take advantage of this season of grace and mercy to seek God's kingdom and to pursue his will?

"Lord Jesus, your grace and mercy abounds even in the midst of turmoil and destruction. Increase my hunger for your kingdom and help me to be faithful to your word. May nothing, not even the fear of death or the loss of all that I have, deter me from seeking you and the coming of your kingdom with hope and joy."



Supplementary Reading
PRoDIGAl SoNS
 

In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents. – Luke 15:10


 
O ne morning, we found three-day-old kittens under the narra tree in front of our house. We tried to nurture the little ones to life but they could not be saved.

It’s like that with our spiritual lives. If we’re not properly nourished with the Word of God, we too perish. That’s why, at every opportunity, we share God’s Word with others.

Once, our uncle’s clan members came to the house to give his son a despedida. We shared with them about how God has been moving in our lives. And we were happy that our sharing touched my cousin, who was our target for evangelism.

But what was more surprising was my uncle’s response. He approached us repentantly confiding about his long-term live-in situation. We told him to see a priest and have a Confession.

Four months later, my uncle suffered a heart attack and died. We knew that his repentant heart had brought him back to God’s grace. With the angels, we rejoiced that prodigal sons have returned. ---Rolly España
 
REFLECTION:

God is not a distant Father but One who is just waiting for us to return to Him.
 
Heavenly Father, we thank You for waiting and looking for us, Your prodigal sons. Grant us always the grace to return.
 
For meditation/readings of the previous days/months , please click any of the following links:
http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com/
http://www.mabuhayradio.com/sections/the-daily-bread.html
http://butuanglobalforum.org/cgi-bin/dboard/YaBB.pl?num=1229339492/220


 
Daily Mass and Gospel Meditation Broadcast (Tagalog) thru DWXI (5am Phil Time), pls click this link:  http://www.eradioportal.com/index.php?p=2&aid=1&sid=62#STS=g1jais7y.zk6

GOD BLESS US ALL!
O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
 




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