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“Truth”…its acceptance or rejection will determine our eternal destiny and have so many other sobering consequences.
In this age of ‘relativism’ and ‘Culture of Death’, the ‘Truth’ urgently needs to be told, to be shouted from the rooftops as never before! (cf: http://www.catholic.org/hf/faith/story.php?id=42151 )
Why? The acceptance or the rejection of ‘Truth’ will determine our eternal destiny and influence the ‘Culture of Life’ for better or for worse.
And where is one to look in order to discover the ‘Truth’? Jesus is the answer!
“Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
Truth goes hand in hand with God’s love for us. Pope John Paul 11 explains it so well in his Encyclical Letter, “The Splendor of Truth”.
He states: “The Splendor of Truth shines forth in all the works of the Creator and, in a special way, in man, created in the image and likeness of God. (cf: Gen 1:26) Truth enlightens man’s intelligence and shapes his freedom, leading him to know and love the Lord. Hence the Psalmist prays: “Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord.” (Ps 4:6)
For any man or woman who freely refuses God’s Truth in favour of their own ‘truth’, they ultimately also refuse God’s offer of salvation. This is so clearly explained to us by God in Romans 1: 16-31:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel. For it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and to the Greek. [17] For the justice of God is revealed therein, from faith unto faith, as it is written: The just man liveth by faith. [18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and injustice of those men that detain the truth of God in injustice: [19] Because that which is known of God is manifest in them. For God hath manifested it unto them. [20] For the invisible things of him, from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made; his eternal power also, and divinity: so that they are inexcusable.
[21] Because that, when they knew God, they have not glorified him as God, or given thanks; but became vain in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] For professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. [23] And they changed the glory of
the incorruptible God into the likeness of the image of a corruptible man, and of birds, and of fourfooted beasts, and of creeping things. [24] Wherefore God gave them up to the desires of their heart, unto uncleanness, to dishonour their own bodies among themselves. [25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie; and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
[26] For this cause God delivered them up to shameful affections. For their women have changed the natural use into that use which is against nature. [27] And, in like manner, the men also, leaving the natural use of the women, have burned in their lusts one towards another, men with men working that which is filthy, and receiving in themselves the recompense which was due to their error. [28] And as they liked not to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them up to a reprobate sense, to do those things which are not convenient; [29] Being filled with all iniquity, malice, fornication, avarice, wickedness, full of envy, murder, contention, deceit, malignity, whisperers, [30] Detractors, hateful to God, contumelious, proud, haughty, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
[26] God delivered them up: Not by being author of their sins, but by withdrawing his grace, and so permitting them, in punishment of their pride, to fall into those shameful sins.
[31] Foolish, dissolute, without affection, without fidelity, without mercy. [32] Who, having known the justice of God, did not understand that they who do such things, are worthy of death; and not only they that do them, but they also that consent to them that do them.
It is a very sobering message from God. After reading this, one has to ask himself/herself: “Which ‘road’ am I on? Which road will I choose today? Will I travel the broad road of ‘relativism’ and ‘lies’ to eternal damnation, or the narrow road of the truth which leads ultimately to ‘Heaven’?
[13] Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat. [14] How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth to life: and few there are that find it! (Mattew 7:13)
I ask you this: “Do you know Jesus Christ?” It is the most important question you will ever ask yourself and strive to answer! In this sex-obsessed world will you choose to be a man/woman dominated by a spirit of lust or a man/woman redeemed by Christ and living for Christ as Lord of your life?
I ask you this:
”Do you know Jesus Christ?”
When man chooses to follow the teachings of the Catholic Church, he can, with the help of God’s Grace, strive successfully for Heaven. Pope John Paul 11 tell us how herein:
“It is in the saving Cross of Jesus, in the gift of the Holy Spirit, in the Sacraments which flow from the pierced side of the redeemer (cf: Jn 19:34) that believers find the grace and the strength always to keep God’s holy law, even amid the gravest of hardships.” (Splendor of Truth, 103)
Today, it is not popular, it is not politically correct, to preach the ‘Truth’. Much persecution ensues. Pope Benedict XV1 called Christians the ‘Most Persecuted People” in a conference of priests in Rome, on Feb 9, 2013. (cf: http://juicyecumenism.com/2013/02/11/pope-benedict-xvi-calls-christians-the-most-persecuted-people )
As Andrew E. Harrod, Ph.D., said: “The Pope saw this persecution emanating from Christian non-conformity to an egotistical and materialistic world. “As Christians, “Benedict XV1 elaborated, “We are everywhere lost and foreign.” Even in historically Christian countries, “it seems astonishing today that someone can still believe and live accordingly.”
In Western countries such as U.S.A, religious freedom is greatly endangered. His Eminence Francis Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago described the attacks on Christianity in the Western world.
“I expect to die in bed, my successor will die in prison and his successor will be a martyr in the public square.” ( cf: http://stlouisreview.com/article/2012-02-16/ever-increasing )
I personally believe that this prediction will manifest itself at a much more accelerated pace than just described.
In Canada, we see the attack on Truth at the highest levels. The case in point is the ruling of the Supreme Court of Canada regarding ‘William Whatcott’ a prominent ‘pro-life advocate. (cf: http://www.aborterrorism.ca/be-prophets-of-truth-dont-be-intimidated-by-the-supreme-court-of-canadas-decision-in-whatcott-case )
In this decision the Supreme Court has ‘trumped’ the Christian’s freedom to quote the ‘Truth’ of the ‘Word of God’. (cf: http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/whatcott-supreme-court-labelled-truth-hate-speech-in-homosexuality-case )
To get a good idea of the persecution against Christians ‘worldwide’ go here.
Today, many are being martyred for their Christian faith. How will you and I react when our turn comes? As for myself, when I turned sixty-five (in 2012) I made the resolution to God to wear the ‘Cross’ outwardly around my neck, along with the ‘Miraculous Medal’ as my ‘public witness’ of my Christian faith, knowing full well that this will bring many blessings to others and to myself but also it will bring much persecution in the days ahead.
I also have a ‘large Cross’ hanging over the top of my graphic signs which I wear on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Canada, to protest abortion and the Culture of Death. (cf: www.aborterrorism.ca) I firmly believe that I cannot effectively protest against abortion and the Culture of Death without the Cross of Jesus Christ being evident to whomever I meet and talk with.
This is so, because souls need to be saved from the darkness and chains of sin and only a ‘personal encounter’ with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will convert those who are immersed in the Culture of Death.
As Pope Benedict XV1 once said:
“The proclamation of the Gospel will always be marked by the sign of the Cross-this is what each new generation of Jesus’s disciples must learn anew. The Cross is and remains the sign of ‘the Son of Man’: ultimately, in the battle against lies and violence, truth and love have no other weapon than the witness of Suffering.” (Jesus of Nazareth, Part Two, by Benedict XV1, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 2011, p. 49)
“Entering into the mystery of the Cross must constitute the heart of the apostolic ministry, the heart of the proclamation of the Gospel designed to lead people to faith.” (ibid., p.238)
As Pope Benedict XV1 so clearly emphasizes, the ‘Cross’ is at the heart of everything. It must also be our focus and the ‘heart’ of our life.
I believe it is only with a deep life of prayer and a total surrender of our ‘will’ to God’s will focused on the Cross, that we will be able to withstand the onslaught of evil today and be used by God in a mighty way to save souls from Hell and win victories for the ‘Culture of Life’. The key is found in Mary’s words at the wedding in Cana:
“His mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye.” (John 2:5)
By the grace of God, and with Mother Mary’s powerful help and intercession, may it be our heartfelt desire to be an ‘instrument of God’s saving and healing love’ in a cold and selfish world, even if it ultimately means persecution and martyrdom, red or white.
With the ‘Cross’ before us and the world behind us, while we still have breath let us proclaim God’s truth in love as we strive for Heaven now!
Donald Andre Bruneau,
May 24, 2013.
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