Commentary

Do you feel it? Do you feel a 'sense' of the world being out of balance? Do you have a feeling like you're waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop? I do and have for quite a while.

Amazingly, the more people I encounter who have uneasy feelings about what's happening within our Country and the World in general, the more I am convinced that perhaps the Holy Spirit is warning us of what lies ahead. Our Lady has warned the world many times and according to millions, keeps doing so at Medjugorje. The Church has made no official ruling on this alleged apparition site but the fruits coming from it are amazing to say the least.

I am convinced further that chastisements have already begun. They are often subtle and either get passed over as natural phenomenon or just simply ignored. We are not getting the message and in fact, are adding to the intensity of the chastisements as they begin to unfold at a faster pace and perhaps in much more dramatic ways. God is so very patient but I think (as do many others) that His patience is getting to the breaking point. America in particular is showing no signs of repentance and in fact, is coming up with newer abominations at a fast pace.

Designer babies, abortion, so-called gay marriage, stem cell 'research', legalized euthanasia, production of pornography at a level and through venues not previously experienced - and it continues to worsen. We are loosing our young to filthy videos, music and other media especially video games. Adults too are falling into the entertainment trap.

We wonder how we as a formerly God-oriented Country have gotten to the point we are presently at in a matter of about 50 years or so. Desensitization is a key factor here as is tolerance of formerly unacceptable activities. People readily accept two individuals living together without the benefit of marriage. The readily accept all manner of intimate relationships. Crime is out of control; we are loosing jobs on a huge scale; the economy is in dire straits; and our educational system is a mess.

Things will continue to worsen the more God is forced out of our lives. We simply cannot exist without Him. Man thinks he has a better idea but in the end, he fails. We are reaping what we have sown and continue to sow. Make no mistake; God is not mocked. Mercy is His chief characteristic but the day will come when the era we know will come to and end. I think we are fast approaching that end when there will be chastisements such as we could never imagine.

It is imperative that we remain in the state of grace, pray, visit the Blessed Sacrament, and say the Rosary. Mass is paramount as is receiving Holy Communion. We need to beg God's mercy for ourselves, our family and loved ones and even those who are far away from Him. "Pray for sinners." No one knows (except God Himself) when our era will come to an end but there are signs we can readily see. This is no joke; there are eternal consequences to all of our actions as individuals and as a Nation.

I have mentioned before that a home should have sacramentals like Holy Water, blessed candles and others as well. These are not to be used as 'lucky charms' for of themselves without faith, they can do nothing. They are mere objects. Get to know your faith and do yourself the best thing that you could possible do - get right with God and stay with Him. Remember, He 'wins' in the end.

While I cannot speak for God, Jesus tells us in the Gospels some of the signs we can look for as to end time events. Read the Gospel for the First Sunday of Advent and you'll get the idea. Never before in my 60 plus years as a Catholic have I seen our country as it is today. What happened between the 50s and now? Bring back the Fonze.

Seriously, I have studied prophecy for more years than I care to count. Much of it has to be taken with a grain of salt. However, that being said, there is some which is well worth paying attention to. I particularly look for similarities and matches among the various "prophets" to see if there's a connection. I always begin with apparitions (approved ones of course) of Our Lady. Fatima is my lead prophecy. It happened in 1917 so for all intents and purposes, it is a prophecy for our time. More recently, the apparitions of Jesus to Saint (Sister) Faustina on September 13-14, 1935 gave us the Divine Mercy Chaplet. It is a recognized and approved devotion and for many souls, it will be their last hope of salvation. Yet, there are parishes where Divine Mercy Sunday is not even mentioned, clerics and prelates who do not believe in this apparition, and worse yet because of this, numerous souls are denied access to the greatest opportunity in the world - remission of all their sins and the punishment due to those sins. There is only one other time when a person is totally sinless and without a need to work off punishment in purgatory and that is at our Baptism. If a person complies with the requirements of Our Lord for the Divine Mercy graces and forgiveness, receives them and suddenly dropped dead, their soul would go directly to Heaven just as the souls of the newly Baptized would.

This feast comes but once a year and I most certainly would do everything in my power to participate.

It is clear to me that the Catholic Church is entering into the Garden of Gethsemene just like the Savior and that she will undergo persecution unlike we have seen before. Many Catholics are "jumping ship" on the Church in favor of some mega-church; others who remain Catholic do not go to Mass, Confession or Holy Communion. Why in the world would any Catholic leave the Real Presence of Jesus Christ for any reason? The scandals some say are the cause; others say "I don't get anything out of Mass." If receiving the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord is not "getting something out of Mass" I don't know what is. Besides, Mass is a sacrifice that we are privileged to be present at - the very foot of Calvary - standing with Mary His Mother and Saint John...a host of angels, the other women. We are taken back to Calvary. Think about it and see if there's anything or anybody worth exchanging this for some trendy mega-church or excuse for simply refraining to participate and witness our redemption.

Michael Brown

Spirit Daily 

Distance yourself from that which afflicts you:

WHEN THERE ARE HIDDEN BLOCKS IN YOUR LIFE, IT MAY BE DUE TO A SPIRIT OF 'CLINGING'

Are you being blocked? Are you in bondage? Did you know that there can be a "spirit of clinging"? It's our meditation this week.

Perhaps you haven't thought of it in those terms.

But it's true: many of us tend to cling to people, places, and things -- or we have someone clinging to us. It's all equally harmful.

We're called to cleave to our spouses and above all to the Lord the Almighty, but even with a spouse, it should never be obsessive. When we marry, we're told to stop clinging to our parents and shift to the wife or husband (in a balanced fashion).

But after that, we're to exercise discretion. Always pray for balance! Love everyone and be open but do not let yourself be tugged toward an orbit into which you do not want to be pulled. That can be very damaging.

Meanwhile, always know your place.

Don't force yourself on others (nor let them force themselves on you)! You'll only get hurt. Neither confuse love with over-attachment.

We can cling in an unhealthy fashion to children, brothers and sisters, friends, co-workers, old romantic relationships, and even enemies -- all to our detriment (and often theirs) if the hold is obsessive.

Obsession equals idolatry. Really, cling to God alone.

When we are clinging to someone, we are defining the relationship; we are demanding closeness (one that may not be in God's designs); we're forcing ourselves into a situation.

It rarely works. Interjection leads to rejection. Know your place!

In fact, the more you cling to someone, the more prone they are to resist any contact with you, or to develop resentment.

That's because the inner knowing senses an over-attachment in a spiritual dimension.

For clinging often means an obsession or oppression and an obsession is an unhealthy, exaggerated emotion: the inability to let others get on with their own lives and live independently. By the by, it is also the root of cults.

Pride clings, while love releases. Love is true and the truth sets a person free (as opposed to holding him or her in an orbit). Do you feel stymied when certain people contact you? Do you feel oppressed? Are you made to stay close to someone out of guilt? Does a cloud come over you?

If so, you need to pray to break that bondage.

Clinging is a form of control. There is a soul tie. We are nearly "one flesh." And the spirit of control, says the Bible, can be the spirit of witchcraft.

That's why you may feel an actual dark force when someone is trying to meddle in your affairs -- to be a part of your inner circle when they are not meant to be part of your inner circle, or trying to share what you have (including your family).

Hear the hiss: possession. Obsession.

Some people cling to us by "helping" or being overly "generous." "Gifts often create an unhealthy obligation," write Bill and Sue Banks in Breaking Unhealthy Soul-Ties. "Jewelry is often such a gift. Rings particularly are used to bind someone, and often called, excused, or disguised as rings of 'friendship.'"

How many have had a situation whereby a person defined the relationship and exercised an unhealthy control (without our input)?

Answer: all of us.

Remember, love does not always mean closeness. We are to love everyone. But when there are problems -- when there is an unhealthy soul tie -- distance yourself from that which afflicts you.

Also, don't cling to negative emotions. Don't cling to a grudge.

Don't cling to hurts.

That too will bind you.

Especially, don't cling to a material object (nor become obsessed with a pet).

There are those who believe that when there is an obsession, such an obsession can go beyond death -- that there are souls bound to the earth because they insist on clinging to people or places or things.

In Jewish folklore, a spirit that wanders the earth (instead of moving on to the Light of God) is known as a dybbuk, which means "cleaving" or "clinging." The ancient Jews believed that an over-attached soul could cause problems after physical death. In 1 Samuel 16, a bad spirit attaches to King Saul to trouble him!

That's for your discernment. What we know is that we are called to let go and let God. When something bothers you, don't cling to the aggravation. When you're disturbed, release what's disturbing you.

Let it pass. Don't let it bind you. And don't let it disturb what God has designed. Don't let the "spirit of clinging" affect what you do, where you go, where you move, who you are.

Don't let it prevent you from finding your mission in life, nor prevent you from your place of blessing, which the Lord has marked for you in time.