Tag Archives: Battle

ARE YOU ASLEEP?

by

Sunday 9th April – Palm Sunday

Reflection: Matthew 26: 14- 27:66

ARE YOU ASLEEP?

The above question which our blessed Saviour asked Simon Peter in today’s gospel reading remains pertinent to us as individuals in our journey of faith. Perhaps we think we can wish away temptation(s) or sufficiently ward it off by human strength; the experience of Apostle Peter should help us to know better!

To effectively combat and overcome temptation, we need to stay awake – we need to be spiritually watchful and vigilant (1 Pet 2:8; Lk 22: 40, 46). Much as soldiers do not start preparation on the day of battle, we as Christians cannot afford to allow ourselves to be caught in the web of temptation before we start looking for a way out, otherwise we might find ourselves lacking in the needed strength to overcome it. To be spiritually awake, we must daily find time to commune with God in prayer. The complexity of the modern times demands a daily evaluation of our life before God lest our faith is drowned by the wave of secularism and relativism raging around us. This is much more important to us as youths.

Beloved, are you asleep or awake? Is your standard of living measuring up to the call and investment of God in your life or you have merely settled for complacency? Let us this day arise from slumber and be awake to a full actualization of our call and potentials in Christ Jesus.

PRAYER: Consider and answer me, Oh Lord my God; lighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep death. Amen. Psalm 13: 3.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 2849 –…It is by His prayer that Christ vanquishes the tempter, both at the outset of His public mission and in the ultimate struggle of His agony. In this petition to our heavenly Father, Christ unites us to His battle and His agony. He urges us to vigilance of the heart in communion with His own. Vigilance is “custody of the heart”…the Holy Spirit constantly seeks to awaken us to keep watch.

HIDE A TREASURE: “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation” Matthew 26: 41a RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Isaiah 50: 4-7; Psalm 22: 8-9, 17-20, 23-34; Philippians 2: 6-11; Matthew 26:14- 27:66

Advertisement

THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S

by

Monday 1st February

Reflection: 2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13

THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S

“What business is it of mine or yours?” this response of David when he was being cursed as he tried to run from his son, Absalom in today’s first reading should be our attitude when we realise that any battle we face is not ours. It is the Lord who fights for us and gives us victory.

This is much more important for us to understand when we are leaders in any capacity because the Lord who put us there as leaders knows that there will be difficult and challenging times for which we cannot overcome except we leave them to God. David’s battle came from within as his own son turned against him, with a deep insight he understood the manipulation and without any act of revenge trusted in God to deliver him.

Beloved, once you are a child of God, consciously striving to please Him each day, always bear in mind that whatever battle you face, whether physical or spiritual is not a struggle to undergo by your own strength. Make a situation report to God, with complete trust that He will fight and win the battle for you.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, this life is full different battles, let me always remember that with my effort I will lose but with you on my side, I am a victor. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT40 – Can God do anything? Is he almighty?

“For God nothing is impossible” (see Lk 1:37). He is almighty.

HIDE A TREASURE: But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. Psalm 3:3 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: 2 Samuel 15: 13-14,30; 16:5-13; Psalm 3:2-3, 4-5, 6-7; Mark 5: 1-20