Lenten Reflection

psalm 2

Br. Anthony Paul of the Holy Wounds of Jesus | Psalm Reflection | 02/26/23

Persecution of the church and Christ will fail!

Why do the nations conspire,
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the Lord and his anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds asunder,
    and cast their cords from us.”

Pride is the main sin that causes the “snowball effect” of all the other sins. This is the main sin that causes Satan to fall from heaven. To be completely and submitted to God requires true humility! The devils influence human beings to choose themselves over God and his kingdom[1]. Just as the book of Revelation states that the Anti-Christ will gather forces to make war against Christ, so during this time period, the enemies of God’s chosen people were ready to make war and devour it. Hard to believe that even now, the dark forces of Satan and still at work to bring down the ruin of men.

He who sits in the heavens laughs;
    the Lord has them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
    and terrify them in his fury, saying,
“I have set my king
    on Zion, my holy hill.”

“The Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is he.[2] God is a Supreme being of love, but also of justice. Everything that happens on the earth, he permits according to his Holy Will. Time is forever present with him, and nothing occurs with his very thoughts[3]. God’s kingdom reigns forever in heaven and he wishes to be among the children of men. That is why God choose Jerusalem to be his Holy Temple.

I will tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to me, “You are my son,
    today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
    and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron,
    and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

God’s laws are written in the hearts of men[4]. We must work tirelessly and use our time effectively to share the law of God with others. Only when we acknowledge and recognized the Kingdom of God now, then with his saving power, he deliver us from our struggles with the world and the devil and establishes his throne in our hearts. God is not just talking about the physical nature of his kingdom but of the spiritual kind. The one that carries God[5] as it were, an invisible throne, yet when one works towards the establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven, then God’s love will manifest itself upon the earth. [6]

Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
    with trembling kiss his feet,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way;
    for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever.” Those who are chosen by the people to be rulers, governors, princes, etc., we must never forget that our main purpose of loving and serving God with all our minds, soul, and strength.[7] We must always remember that we are all going to die and must answer before the Throne of God on account of our thoughts, words, and actions. God is patience and wants to forgive us, yet he will not allow himself to be mocked and he will administer this Divine Justice and give us everything according to what we deserve.[8] Let us always pray for the graces of God to lead us into his arms and to everlasting life!

Your brother in Christ Jesus,

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[1] Proverbs 21:24

[2] Deuteronomy 32:4

[3] Judith 8:14

[4] Roman 12:2

[5] Revelation 11:15

[6] Philippines 4:6

[7] Matthew 22:36-40

[8] Sirach 15:6