Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

(St. Jerome)

Jesus said: “My people, this water fountain rising up into the air in the vision is keeping the plants all around it lush with green vegetation. This represents My ‘Living Water’ and how I nourish all of My faithful in their spiritual lives with My Host in Holy Communion. Grace from My sacraments is as necessary for your soul as water is for your bodies because it is your life blood to be united with Me. In today’s first reading from Job you have an example from this prophet of how to have trust in Me even amidst the most dire of circumstances. You can read in the further texts of how he lost family members and nearly all of his possessions. Yet, he remained faithful to Me in spite of this testing. You even remember a saying describing someone as having the ‘patience of Job’. This same kind of trust and patience will soon be demanded of My faithful in the coming tribulation. You will be seeing the trust that you will need in Me to protect you and provide for your needs. Some already are losing value in their stocks and savings with your economic crisis. But all of your possessions will also be stripped as Job had when you will come to My refuges. Just as Job had more possessions restored, My faithful will be rewarded in My Era of Peace, and finally in heaven.”

Jesus said: “My people, when your young people are confirmed, they receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit even as My apostles received the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost. Your candidates are now old enough to understand that this sacrament is a new commitment to be one of My followers. Some candidates are given training lessons in the faith, and possibly some projects to help those in the parish. This is when you become My soldiers spiritually so you can help evangelize souls in the faith. People quickly forget this calling of Baptism and Confirmation, but it is important to pass on your faith to any unbelievers. Your sponsors should be a faith inspiration for your candidates by being good Christian examples. Parents also need to guide and encourage these candidates in the faith by directing them to a good prayer life, Sunday Mass, and frequent Confession. By providing a good environment for faith to grow, your young people will not wander away from My Church. See Confirmation as another milestone in the faith lives of your young people.”