Powerless to Resist November 29

“Great and wonderful are your works, Lord God almighty. Just and true are your ways, O king of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, or glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All the nations will comeand worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” Revelation 15:3-4

Not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives. Luke 21:18-19

Piety

God, source of all life, protect us and send us out of our comfort zone. You are truly a worker of wonders. Secure our lives with even the smallest amount of real faith so we will have the courage and fortitude to head out into the world to proclaim your Good News despite the apparent risks. We know you have won victory over death. So help us win victory over the demons in our lives. Deliver us from these evils and grant us peace today so we can do what pleases you. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/112906.shtml

Victory. Today we hear the victory speech. In the passage from Revelation, the victory speech harkens back to Moses overcoming the Pharaoh’s army in Exodus. Today, not only do we see the Lord prevail upon temporal rulers, but also his victory comes over the forces of evil who try to overcome Him.

In Luke’s Gospel, despite the crisis faced, by trusting in God’s intervention, we will persevere through our friendship with Jesus. If we have faith, we will not have to take another step. The Lord will provide our defense. He will provide to us “wisdom in speaking” and our “adversaries will be powerless to resist.” Resistance is futile. Love rules.

Action

Do we trust in God? Do we trust in God enough? There is that famous passage in Mark. If we have the faith of a tiny mustard seed, then we can say to the mountain to toss itself in the sea and it will do as we wish.

Jesus is telling us to have that kind of faith. Just a small amount of true faith will secure our future.

Do we have the courage to walk into the face of our enemy? Would you be on that flight with Pope Benedict this week heading to Turkey or would you just as much like to switch that trip to head off to a “friendlier” country? Maybe another trip to Germany? Or perhaps Poland? Why not very Catholic Mexico? Or Spain? Or Canada? Or even the USA?

Where would your “trip to Turkey” take you? Do you have problems to iron out with a friend or a relative? Jesus wants us to work out those before we head to church.

Please pray for the Pope’s trip to Turkey and ask for the courage to tackle your own personal challenges with as much faith as a tiny mustard seed.