history repeats itself
"He carried off all the treasures of the temple of the Lord and those of the palace." —2 Kings 24:13
Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, attacked Jerusalem and destroyed it. He captured the Israelite leaders, carried off the treasures of the Temple, and exiled eighteen-thousand people. Is Satan doing something similar to the Church today?
Many of our religious leaders seem captured by the religion of our day, secular humanism. They even look down on orthodox Christianity.
The evil one has also carried off many treasures of the Temple. Mass is celebrated less frequently, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation is ignored by many. Some pastors rarely preach God's Word but merely tickle people's ears (2 Tm 4:3). Also missing are over half the registered Catholics from Sunday Mass.
Finally, Satan has exiled many, many thousands of Christians by seducing them to go back into the world. The Lord has chosen us out of the world (Jn 15:19), so the world is not our home. Don't let history repeat itself. Repent!
Prayer: Father, may I learn from others' mistakes rather than make my own.
Promise: "Anyone who hears My words and puts them into practice is like the wise man who built his house on rock." —Mt 7:24
Praise: Mariano, a Christian businessman, witnesses to every customer with whom he deals. His secret of evangelization: "I listen attentively to them and am interested in what is going on in their life. Soon, when they return the favor, I tell them what Jesus is doing in my life."
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, January 2, 2014
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