Humbly submit your will to God (thy Will be done) and consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary.

Brothers and sisters:
Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.
Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm
against the tactics of the Devil.
For our struggle is not with flesh and blood
but with the principalities, with the powers,
with the world rulers of this present darkness,
with the evil spirits in the heavens.
Therefore, put on the armor of God,
that you may be able to resist on the evil day
and, having done everything, to hold your ground.
So stand fast with your loins girded in truth,
clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,
and your feet shod in readiness for the Gospel of peace.
In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield,
to quench all the flaming arrows of the Evil One.
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God.

With all prayer and supplication,
pray at every opportunity in the Spirit.
To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication
for all the holy ones and also for me,
that speech may be given me to open my mouth,
to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel
for which I am an ambassador in chains,
so that I may have the courage to speak as I must. Eph. 6:10-20

I am convinced the Holy Spirit is seeking you out as we prepare for Confirmation. These are the verses in our Sealed on Fire book I had you read the last two days. They appear again today. The day I have you write your Scripture reflections in class. Jesus causes division, “You are either with me or against me”. One group of people, the non-believers, will say it is just a coincidence, luck, or magic. Another group will say, “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.” I call them Godcidences. Over the years, I have learned that these are promptings of the Holy Spirit that I just cannot deny. What is the Truth, the essence, the key? I believe, therefore I pray, and through the gifts of the Holy Spirit: knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and counsel I have come to know who God is, who I am, and what my mission and purpose are. It is difficult battle wrestling with God about every life situation. It is a difficult to go to the depths of hell and fight Satan. It is a difficult battle to let go of sin that chains us and overcome the sin we hate. It is difficult reading and reflecting for hours on Scripture and spiritual books seeking Truth and the answers to life’s toughest questions. The result, peace. Friendship with God. Perfect love that has no fear, St. John says. Put on the armor of God and fight for your souls entire future depends on it and a Father who wants nothing more than you to be safe in His arms is waiting.

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said,
“Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.”
He replied, “Go and tell that fox,
‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow,
and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.
Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day,
for it is impossible that a prophet should die
outside of Jerusalem.’

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,
how many times I yearned to gather your children together
as a hen gathers her brood under her wings,
but you were unwilling! 
Behold, your house will be abandoned.
But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say,
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Lk 13:31-35

Jesus tells us on the third day “I accomplish my purpose”.  He is frustrated because the chosen people are so ignorant of God’s love and so many prophets have been sent by God to help them.  Jesus is in front of them speaking about the kingdom of God and performing miracles and they still do not believe he is God, above all, in all, and “Blessed in he who comes in the name of the Lord”.  Jesus is not afraid of any human ruler.  The roman rulers were called gods, lord, savior. There is only one God, Ruler, King of Kings, Lord, Savior, and Messiah, Jesus Christ and His love will never end.

Today’s challenge: Love-be obedient, sacrifice what you want for someone else, give without receiving anything in return, help someone who cannot help you back.  Love never ends, requires sacrifice, and will be the biggest regret on your death bed if you do not do it enough.

Become a saint!
​Christian YOLO