PRIERE DU JOUR - PRAYER OF THE DAY!!!!

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SPIRITUAL LIVING
Prayer and Devotions

Our Redemption Is at Hand
by Father Paul Campbell, LC

Offer your Mass today for the Holy Father and your bishop.

November 29, 2007
Thursday of the Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Luke 21: 20-28

Jesus said to his disciples: "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city, for these days are the time of punishment when all the scriptures are fulfilled. Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth and a wrathful judgment upon this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand."

Introductory Prayer: Lord, thank you for this time to be with you. You are never too busy for me. Help me never to put things and activities ahead of you. Let me center my life on you and serve you in everything I do today.

Petition: Lord, increase my confidence in your work in my life.

1. Destruction of the Temple Jesus’ prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple was fulfilled by the Romans in 70 A.D. With the new covenant and the new sacrifice of the Mass established by Jesus Christ, the Temple was no longer needed. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. What would be the need for more animal sacrifices in the Temple? And so in God’s providence, it was swept away by destruction of the Romans.

2. A Pure Offering The prophet Malachi prophesied that “from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 1:11). The Catholic Mass is celebrated around the world; the pure offering of the Lamb of God is represented to the Father for the forgiveness of sins. This Lamb was without stain or blemish, and we who would offer that sacrifice should strive for purity heart.

3. Raise Your Heads “Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” Our salvation is not from the earth; it is not the product of human effort. We are saved by Jesus Christ. Our salvation is from above, so we should raise our hearts to heaven, the source of our salvation. Jesus will return. Christians should be a hopeful people. Because Jesus has promised to return and bring us to be with him in the Father’s house, there is no need to fear the future.

Conversation with Christ: Jesus, forgive me for the times that I worry and get preoccupied with the passing things of this world. Increase my faith in you. Help me to see your work in my life. Increase my hope, that I might not get discouraged as I see my faults and lack of progress.

Resolution: I will offer my Mass today for the Holy Father and my bishop.


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