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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

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St. Catherine of Alexandria


Revelation 14:14-19
Psalm 96:10-13
Luke 21:5-11

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the worst fears are yet to come

"...in the sky fearful omens and great signs." —Luke 21:11

Are you afraid of anything? I hope not because the worst is yet to come. We will "hear of wars and insurrections" (Lk 21:9) even more so than we do today. "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, plagues, and famines in various places — and in the sky fearful omens and great signs" (Lk 21:10-11). "Men will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the earth" (Lk 21:26).

How can we live fearlessly, die fearlessly, and even face the end of the world fearlessly? We conquer fear by love. "Love has no room for fear" (1 Jn 4:18). "Perfect love" is not necessarily sinlessness but complete commitment. If we love the Lord with all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds, and all our strength (Lk 10:27), we will be so filled with love that our love will crowd out all fears.

Because of the graces lavished upon all who receive the Holy Spirit (Rm 5:5; Ti 3:6), may love reign supreme and fear be homeless forever.

Prayer:  Father, by Your grace I will walk in faith (see 2 Cor 5:7) and not in fear.

Promise:  "So the One sitting on the cloud wielded His sickle over all the earth and reaped the earth's harvest." —Rv 14:16

Praise:  Wise beyond her young years, St. Catherine, patroness of Christian philosophers, was blessed with a martyr's death.

Reference:  (For a related teaching, order our tape on Interpreting the Present Time on audio AV 81-1 or video V-81.)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 24, 2014

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