May
30
The Magnitude of Christ’s Consecration
Filed Under Mass Readings, Reflection, Scripture | Leave a Comment
May 28, 2006 Gospel Reading: John 17:11b-19
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me,so that they may be one just as we are one. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world d them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”
The reality of Christ’s words here may not strike us at first. “I consecrate myself for them”. What does this mean? Although the expression is very poetic, the beauty does not rest completely in its form. Instead, the beauty lies within what it is; what Christ meant to say through it. We know it’s not a hollow statement nor any kind of allegory. We know this because Christ is praying this prayer to his Father. He is unveiling the deepest recesses of His Sacred Heart in the perfection of such a union.
Read more
May
25
A Mantel of Protection
Filed Under Blessed Mother, Reflection, Spiritual Warfare | Leave a Comment
In the midst of battle, it is hard to find beauty. Blood, filth, and grime cover everything, and beauty is nearly non-existent. Everyone is stained. Everyone is bloodied. Everyone is scarred. Everyone, that is, but My Lady. With one look at her, I find the strength for another step. An embrace within her arms gives me the courage to struggle onward. In her eyes, I find the confidence of one who has survived this battle… unscathed.
Read more
May
17
When Things Get Hard
Filed Under Reflection, Spiritual Warfare | Leave a Comment
What do I do when I am challenged? When something is out of place in my life, how do I react? Many times, if I see that something is wrong or otherwise misplaced I try to keep living the same way. I don’t care to yield that comfortable lifestyle in order to put my life back in order. It may take me years to finally realize what must be done. It may take me years to get up enough courage to try. How long do I let my sins linger on? How many different excuses do I make for myself? Do I remember my sorrow for sin in times of trial, or do I choose that easy way out?
Read more
May
13
The Belt of Truth Against an Enemy of Contradiction
Filed Under Chastity, High School, Reflection, Spiritual Warfare | Leave a Comment
Yesterday, at school, I was sitting in my health II class as a guest speaker was talking about different laws regarding sexual behavior. As he reviewed the three levels of sexual assault, he alerted the class to the fact that fornication is indeed illegal, and although an offender probably wouldn’t get locked up for it, there would be consequences if his/her actions were brought to court. The room became dead silent, and a heartbeat after he had made this statement, a young women raised her hand and asked, “I don’t understand. I thought that the Catholic Church was the only religion that forbade sex before marriage. How can the government impose morals on us like that?” The speaker was equally confused at the question, “Uh… It’s the law. It’s there to protect you. Morality has nothing to do with it.” This was followed by a string of disagreements from the rest of the class, and we literally could not progress with the conversation because everyone would keep coming back to this.
Read more
May
11
In Defense of Abstinence
Filed Under Chastity, Open Letter | Leave a Comment
This is a letter I am sending to Glamour after being asked by a friend to write a response to the article “New Lies about Women’s Health”. You can find the referenced article in the May 2006 issue.
Read more
May
11
Obedience
Filed Under Family Life, Reflection, Spiritual Warfare | Leave a Comment
Everyday, I do things without complete understanding. Most of the time, I do it because I have to. I know if I don’t do what my parents say, there’ll be consequences afterward. Sometimes, that’s enough. Other times it’s not. Sometimes, I want my way so badly that I’m willing to risk those consequences. If I’m set on watching a show late at night, or if I really don’t feel like doing my chores, I may just continue on doing my own thing.
Read more
May
10
An Official Introduction
Filed Under Housekeeping, Reflection, Spiritual Warfare | Leave a Comment
Hello and welcome to Soldier 4 Christ.
Read more
May
8
The Good Shepherd
Filed Under Mass Readings, Reflection, Spiritual Warfare | Leave a Comment
A great battle is being waged. It continues almost without hope of an ending. For some, it is just beginning. For others, it has been going on for quite some time. What is this battle? Who wages it? How are we even involved?
Read more
