faithful till death?
"After the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and the king then listened to them. They forsook the temple of the Lord." —2 Chronicles 24:17-18
After the death of Jehoiada the priest, the Israelites forsook the temple of the Lord and served false gods. After a change of pastors, some parishioners don't go to church as much anymore. After young people leave home, many leave the practice of their faith. After Christians are rejected by fellow parishioners, some drop out of ministry or become less active in their churches.
Our faith in Jesus, worship of the Lord, and service to His people change because circumstances change. Our faith should move mountains, rather than mountains or even foothills moving our faith (see Mt 17:20). However, this firmness in our faith can only happen by God's grace and our willingness to accept His grace. If we realize we are weak and changeable, we will "be solicitous" to make our "call and election permanent" (2 Pt 1:10). We will discipline our bodies and master them (1 Cor 9:27). We will cry out in prayer for God's grace, live in His word (Jn 8:31), surround ourselves with His people (Heb 12:1), and obey the Pope and the leaders of the Church. When we realize we need all the help we can get to persevere in the faith, we will seek and find all the help we need. Be solicitous to be faithful.
Prayer: Father, if I'm living during the time of the mass apostasy (see 2 Thes 2:3), may I not be unfaithful, no matter how many turn away from You.
Promise: "Let tomorrow take care of itself." —Mt 6:34
Praise: St. Aloysius died at age twenty-four as a result of selflessly attending to the victims of an epidemic.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our tape Am I Going to Heaven? on audio AV 54-3 or video V-54.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, January 4, 2008
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