30 Aug Stay Awake (Mt 24:42) by Shane Kapler
Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors.
.
“Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” ~ Mt 24:42 (full readings)
.
Shane’s Reflections: Today’s Gospel is what I call a “gut check.” We’re forced to ask ourselves, “If Jesus returned at this moment and saw what I am doing, would I be welcomed into His Kingdom, or not?” What has God called you to be, a mother or father? A single person, priest, or religious? Are you giving it your best, or are you slacking off? Come on, be honest with yourself. Do you work outside the home? Is your productivity being hurt by peeking at the internet too much? Do you speak up in your workplace or within your circle of friends when you hear the culture of life attacked? I’m not throwing out these questions to have you beat up on yourself. I bet you’re doing great in most, if not all of these areas. But ask yourself, “If Jesus returned right now, what do I wish I was doing better?”
* Shane Kapler (LIFE Runner) is the author of “The God Who is Love: Explaining Christianity From Its Center” and co-author of “Tending the Temple”. He works as a speech therapist in St. Louis, but his favorite “job” is being a Dad. Visit www.explainingchristianity.com.
.
Faith Challenge: When your head hits the pillow tonight, ask the Holy Spirit to be at work in your mind as you review the day. Ask Him to inspire you with one simple thing you can do better tomorrow.
.
Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, AFA,Vatican, Project Rachel.
.
Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
.
Feast Day: St. Jeanne Jugan.
.
Faith Quote: “The parousia [or Second Coming] is the highest intensification and fulfillment of the liturgy…every Eucharist is parousia, the Lord’s coming.” ~ Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI)
.
Through Christ our Lord,
Shane
.
* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will and His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (and families): Abortion (images) is #1 death cause (22% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 and Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa.
* Evangelize: Make room for unbelievers and re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.