Daniel 7:2-14, Daniel 3:75-81, Luke 21:29-33
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/112913.cfm
"Up, devour much flesh." -Daniel 7:5
During yesterday's Thanksgiving feast, many obeyed the command to devour much flesh (Dn 7:5). We hear Jesus' command to not become bloated (Lk 21:34), lest by devouring too much flesh and drink, we starve our souls by overindulging our desires (Prv 13:19). When we constantly indulge our flesh, we then "feed the beast" (see Dn 7:7ff). Our fleshly nature is never satisfied; it always wants more. It cannot be tamed. The Lord teaches us that the proper way to deal with our fleshly nature is not through education, self-control, or self-gratification; instead, we must crucify our flesh (Gal 5:24; 6:14; Rm 6:6; Col 3:5).
When enough people in a nation feed their fleshly nature, it becomes a nation of the flesh, that is, an ungodly, pagan nation. Today many nations are devouring "much flesh" in the holocaust of abortion. Those nations resemble the beast of today's first reading, which speaks in arrogance and lives only to crush and trample (Dn 7:7). How can such a nation be converted to godliness?
God has devised an ingenious plan to win the battle for the flesh. He commands us: "Up, devour much flesh" (Dn 7:5). The flesh that God gives us to eat is the eucharistic body of Jesus, Who says: "Let Me solemnly assure you: if you do not eat of the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you. He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has life eternal, and I will raise Him up on the last day" (Jn 6:53-54). Go to Mass frequently, daily if possible. Eat the flesh of the eucharistic Jesus, win the battle of the flesh, and make your nation holy.
Prayer: Father, when I receive Jesus in the Eucharist, His flesh renews my flesh. I give You thanks and I give You my life in return.
Promise: "The heavens and the earth will pass away, but My words will not pass." -Lk 21:33
Praise: Robert's mother's prayers were answered twenty years later when he returned to Confession.
"Up, devour much flesh." -Daniel 7:5
During yesterday's Thanksgiving feast, many obeyed the command to devour much flesh (Dn 7:5). We hear Jesus' command to not become bloated (Lk 21:34), lest by devouring too much flesh and drink, we starve our souls by overindulging our desires (Prv 13:19). When we constantly indulge our flesh, we then "feed the beast" (see Dn 7:7ff). Our fleshly nature is never satisfied; it always wants more. It cannot be tamed. The Lord teaches us that the proper way to deal with our fleshly nature is not through education, self-control, or self-gratification; instead, we must crucify our flesh (Gal 5:24; 6:14; Rm 6:6; Col 3:5).
When enough people in a nation feed their fleshly nature, it becomes a nation of the flesh, that is, an ungodly, pagan nation. Today many nations are devouring "much flesh" in the holocaust of abortion. Those nations resemble the beast of today's first reading, which speaks in arrogance and lives only to crush and trample (Dn 7:7). How can such a nation be converted to godliness?
God has devised an ingenious plan to win the battle for the flesh. He commands us: "Up, devour much flesh" (Dn 7:5). The flesh that God gives us to eat is the eucharistic body of Jesus, Who says: "Let Me solemnly assure you: if you do not eat of the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you. He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has life eternal, and I will raise Him up on the last day" (Jn 6:53-54). Go to Mass frequently, daily if possible. Eat the flesh of the eucharistic Jesus, win the battle of the flesh, and make your nation holy.
Prayer: Father, when I receive Jesus in the Eucharist, His flesh renews my flesh. I give You thanks and I give You my life in return.
Promise: "The heavens and the earth will pass away, but My words will not pass." -Lk 21:33
Praise: Robert's mother's prayers were answered twenty years later when he returned to Confession.
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