The Long Road to Bethlehem, Part 1
As announced yesterday, the daily interpretations during the Advent season during the week will primarily serve the contemplative deepening of the Sunday lecture, which is uploaded on YouTube in English with a Spanish translation. Read More
First Sunday of Advent
Introduction
Today’s reflection on the first Sunday in Advent should be seen as a foreword to our plans for the “short Lent” of Advent.
During these weeks of preparation for the feast of the birth of Christ, the daily reflections are linked to four lectures on the Advent season, which I will publish on my YouTube channel on the corresponding Sunday in Advent:
The seventh of the month is reserved for a meditation from God the Father. I take the text of the meditation from the “God the Father speaks to his Children” by Mother Eugenia Ravasio, a message recognised by the Church.
“I have raised you all to that dignity which is due to children of God; yes, you are my sons and daughters and you are to tell me that I am your Father. Do not fail to trust me accordingly, for without this trust you will never attain true freedom.” Read More
Today we turn to the subject of how to deal with thoughts and feelings in the sense of spiritual efforts, in which asceticism is included.
“Perverse thoughts, however, separate people from God” (Wis 1:3) “for the holy spirit of instruction… recoils from unintelligent thoughts” (Wis 1:5). Read More
If we have learned to order our flow of speech and not just let it flow unhindered to the outside world, then the question now is what and how we say it.
The apostle admonishes us: “No foul word should ever cross your lips… do good to your listeners” (Eph 4:29) and and elsewhere he tells us: “now you also must give up all these things: (…) abusive language and dirty talk” (Col 3:8) Read More
The fight against our disorderly tendencies cannot be limited to the sensual sphere, which must be circumcised and tamed so as not to weaken us and possibly even make us more ready to sin. It must also be applied to disordered spiritual inclinations, for these also burden the soul. Read More
As we saw yesterday, asceticism is about becoming more docile to the will of God and not allowing ourselves to be dominated by the inclinations of our fallen nature. It is therefore a means, a necessary effort, which is linked to a goal, namely to improve our disposition to unite ourselves with the will of God. From this point of view, ascetic exercises and asceticism get their deeper meaning and dignity. Read More
Concluding remarks
If we consider the four basic frameworks that we listed in yesterday’s reflection, we have a good starting point to resist the threat of the Antichrist.
Once again, let us remember: Unequivocal church doctrine, unambiguous morality, true mission and ardent pursuit of holiness. Read More
Basic armour for resistance against anti-Christian powers
This is the penultimate reflection on the Antichrist in the context of daily meditations.
I know very well that many questions are still open and need further study. That is why I will point out again tomorrow in the last meditation that the continuation of this theme will be done in a different way, especially for those who see themselves addressed by the Lord and want consciously oppose the antichristian tendencies and forces. For the wide circle who listen to the daily speeches, general advice may be enough for now. Read More
The Antichrist Threat working in our church
Now that we have looked at the question of the Antichrist from different sides, have referred to relevant passages from the Holy Scriptures, and have included literature and also the prophetic realm, the urgent question arises as to how strongly the antichristian spirit works and exerts influence in our church.
In my view, I regret to say that this spirit is increasingly present in the Church and exerts a strong influence. Read More
