falling away?
"There is One Who can protect you from a fall and make you stand unblemished and exultant in the presence of His glory. Glory be to this only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord." —Jude 24
The great apostasy at the end of the world may already be starting or may be coming soon (see 2 Thes 2:3; Mt 24:12). Even before the apostasy, there are formidable temptations to "fall away from your sincere and complete devotion to Christ" (2 Cor 11:3). Therefore, "let anyone who thinks he is standing upright watch out lest he fall!" (1 Cor 10:12)
Those who fall away from their faith in Jesus are in the worst condition possible for a human being (2 Pt 2:20; Lk 11:26). They can be re-possessed by seven worse demons (Lk 11:26) than before. "It would have been better for them not to have recognized the road to holiness than to have turned their backs on the holy law handed on to them, once they had known it" (2 Pt 2:21). Therefore, "let anyone who thinks he is standing upright watch out lest he fall!" (1 Cor 10:12)
"Take care, my brothers, lest any of you have an evil and unfaithful spirit and fall away from the living God" (Heb 3:12). "Therefore submit to God; resist the devil and he will take flight. Draw close to God, and He will draw close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you backsliders" (Jas 4:7-8). "Let anyone who thinks he is standing upright watch out lest he fall!" (1 Cor 10:12)
Prayer: Father, make me faithful to You till death.
Promise: "Your kindness is a greater good than life." —Ps 63:4
Praise: St. Casimir would often kneel for hours before the locked doors of churches regardless of the time or the inclemency of the weather.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, July 28, 1999
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 3, 1999