October 7, 2011
Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary
By Melanie Rigney
Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; yes, it is near, a day of darkness and of gloom, a day of clouds and somberness! (Joel 2:1- 2)
The Lord will judge the world with justice. (Psalms 9:9)
"(Jesus) was driving out a demon [that was] mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute person spoke and the crowds were amazed. "Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons. Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that [I] drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. (Luke 11:15-21)
Piety
Lord, I ask for mercy rather than justice when You judge me.
Study
Are we in the end times, the days that will precede Christ’s second coming? Family Radio evangelist Harold Camping contends we’re two weeks from the appointed day. The Catechism of the Catholic Church takes a much less date-specific approach, saying that the Church will first pass through “a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers” and that the Antichrist will appear and ultimately be defeated by God. No timetable attached.
When is Jesus coming again? In a different sense, He comes to us every day. He’s with us when we pray. He’s with us in the Eucharist. He’s with us when we treat others with kindness and gentleness and love. The crazy thing is that He’s with us even when we do absolutely none of those things—at a distance if we push Him away, because He’s a gentleman.
But given the demonic forces at work in the world, we can use all the help we can get to arm our palaces. Why would we try to push Him away? Looking for a sign from heaven? Check out the stars. Look at your children or spouse. Reread a journal or diary entry from a year or five years ago, and consider how the worries that seemed so important then have been forgotten… or how the joys and victories from that time have been tempered by sorrow. Do you honestly think human beings have long-term power over each other, let alone themselves?
When is Jesus coming again? Live your life as if the Second Coming is happening in five minutes.
Action
The Arlington Cursillo 123rd Men’s Weekend is under way at the San Damiano Spirituality Center in White Post, Virginia. Offer palanca that the babe chicks and team are more fully armed through their time together.
