A Father’s Loss (2 Sam 18:33) by Shane Kapler

04 Feb A Father’s Loss (2 Sam 18:33) by Shane Kapler

“My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you!” ~ 2 Sam 18:33 (full readings)
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Shane’s Reflections: David’s kingdom was in rebellion; and, like any king, he wanted it put down.  The difficulty?  The rebellion was led by his son Absalom.  Battle ensued and, to David’s horror, his general Joab took Absalom’s life.  David’s kingdom was preserved but at the loss of his son.  It was a “victory” that crushed David’s soul.

There are many men in today’s world whose “success” has come at the cost of his child, through abortion.  “I can’t afford a child right now … I’ll have to drop out of college …”  But in time they admit what they have done: pushed to have their child’s life ended to ensure their own misguided sense of “survival.”  They allowed themselves and their children’s mothers to be deceived, and they hate themselves because of it.  They would now gladly exchange places with their children.

* Shane Kapler is the author of “The God Who is Love: Explaining Christianity From Its Center” and the soon-to-be-released “Through, With, and In Him: The Prayer Life of Jesus and How to Make It Our Own.”  Visit www.explainingchristianity.com.
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Faith Challenge:  God forgives.  God is mercy.  Jesus does not want anyone to succumb to despair. Whether you personally know a man in this position or not, call out to God to pour his merciful forgiveness into their lives.  Praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for this intention would be ideal.  “Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world … For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
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Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel.
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Our Prayers: Pray LIFE Runners Creed to end abortion.  Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, unceasingly. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
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Feast Day: St. Joan of Valois
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Faith Quote: “There is no footprint too small to leave an imprint on this world.”  ~ Anonymous.

Through Christ our Lord,
Shane