Prepare a way for the Lord,
make his paths straight,
and all mankind shall see the salvation of God.LK 3:4, 6
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My Soul's Beloved,
The world continues on its merry way to the very abyss of hell because we who are faithful are not zealous for souls. It is of You that Scripture speaks when it says, 'It is zeal for your house that has consumed me; the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.' If we O Lord loved the sinner with a tough love unafraid of speaking the truth in love regardless of the consequences. If we were prepared to suffer for the sake of the Gospel and were prepared to lay down our lives for the sake of the truth. If we did not care for bodily ease and comfort, and for being liked and praised by the world but cared only to be on fire with the love of the Gospel desiring nothing more than to spend our lives to make You known and loved, the world would surely turn away from the path of annihilation and destruction and we would all wait with joyous anticipation for Your coming again in glory.
The prophets Elijah and St. John the Baptist were prophets who cared nothing for the acclaim of the world, they were concerned about being faithful to God's call. They were unafraid to call out the sins of those in high places loudly and in public even though they had the power to destroy and put them to death. Many saints as well who adorn the hall of saints in the Church cared nothing for bodily ease and comfort, they spent themselves totally in order to save souls and they were martyred for it. But the undeniable truth is this, Beloved, 'The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Gospel.' This never ceases to be true in every age. Faithful witness to Your love and to the Good News that saves has converted millions through the ages and will continue to do so if only we have the zeal of Elijah and John the Baptist.
The prophet Elijah arose like a fire,
his word flaring like a torch.
Has anyone reason to boast as you have?
Taken up in the whirlwind of fire,
in a chariot with fiery horses;
designated in the prophecies of doom
to allay God’s wrath before the fury breaks,
to turn the hearts of fathers towards their children,
and to restore the tribes of Jacob,
Happy shall they be who see you,
and those who have fallen asleep in love.
his word flaring like a torch.
Has anyone reason to boast as you have?
Taken up in the whirlwind of fire,
in a chariot with fiery horses;
designated in the prophecies of doom
to allay God’s wrath before the fury breaks,
to turn the hearts of fathers towards their children,
and to restore the tribes of Jacob,
Happy shall they be who see you,
and those who have fallen asleep in love.
PSALM 79(80):2-3,15-16,18-19
God of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hear us,
shine forth from your cherubim throne.
O Lord, rouse up your might,
O Lord, come to our help.
shine forth from your cherubim throne.
O Lord, rouse up your might,
O Lord, come to our help.
God of hosts, turn again, we implore,
look down from heaven and see.
Visit this vine and protect it,
the vine your right hand has planted.
Visit this vine and protect it,
the vine your right hand has planted.
May your hand be on the man you have chosen,
the man you have given your strength.
And we shall never forsake you again;
give us life that we may call upon your name.
And we shall never forsake you again;
give us life that we may call upon your name.
God of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
MATTHEW17:10-13
My Soul's Beloved,
My Soul's Beloved,
The disciples have just been given a glimpse of Your glory on Mt. Tabor. They saw You conversing with Moses and Elijah and are reminded of the teaching of the scribes that Elijah will come before the Messiah and so they ask, ‘Why do the scribes say that Elijah has to come first?’ You reply, that what they say is true and Elijah is the precursor who prepares the way of the Lord. You then go on to say that Elijah had in fact already come but the people of Israel did not recognize him and mistreated him. He was in fact persecuted, imprisoned, and beheaded by Herod. You also revealed that the same treatment meted out to John the Baptist would be meted to You too.
The scribes twisted prophecy and their hatred of You was so great they plotted against You to kill You almost from the first. Even to this day and well into the future, until You come again in glory, the people of God, the faithful remnant, those who are zealous for God and for His Kingdom, will suffer at the hands of the enemies of Truth. May their tribe increase Lord and may those who hear You and keep Your commandments be prepared to suffer all manner of persecution for Your sake and the sake of the Kingdom.
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