the vengeance of god
"Why, then, did you not fear to speak against My servant Moses?" —Numbers 12:8
"Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses" (Nm 12:1). "So angry was the Lord against them that when He departed, and the cloud withdrew from the tent, there was Miriam, a snow-white leper!" (Nm 12:9-10) " 'Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,' says the Lord" (Rm 12:19). The Lord stands up for His people. He takes personally any attack on us. Remember that Jesus flattened Saul and said: "Saul, why do you persecute Me?" (Acts 9:4) when Saul went after the Church.
Because the Lord avenges His people, we:
- must never speak against or attack a child of God,
- don't have to avenge ourselves, and
- can be fearless, bold, free, and secure.
Sometimes the Lord does not immediately avenge His people. For example, we ourselves have sinned and are partly responsible for torturing and crucifying Jesus (see Catechism, 598). Apparently, we've gotten away with this, or at least we haven't been struck down by a lightning bolt as yet. However, the Father will eventually avenge the murder of His Son, Jesus. Therefore:
- Repent now and go to Confession.
- Don't worry if those who attack you get away with it for a while.
- Call others to repentance.
- Share willingly in Christ's sufferings (see Phil 1:29).
Prayer: Father, make me fearless, forgiving, and forgiven. Mary, pray for me.
Promise: "Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water, moving toward Jesus." —Mt 14:29
Praise: St. John Vianney spent at least eleven hours per day in the confessional bringing sinners back to God.
Reference: (For more teaching, order our leaflets, Unforgiveness is the Cause and Forgiveness and Evangelization.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 18, 2015
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