{"id":48203,"date":"2022-12-19T15:26:23","date_gmt":"2022-12-19T21:26:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/?p=48203"},"modified":"2023-04-24T23:53:08","modified_gmt":"2023-04-25T05:53:08","slug":"god-is-with-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/god-is-with-us\/","title":{"rendered":"God is With Us","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Do not fear what may happen tomorrow.
\nThe same loving Father who cares for you today will
\ncare for you tomorrow and everyday.
\nEither he will shield you from suffering
\nor He will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
\nBe at peace then and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings<\/strong>.<\/span>
\n\u2014St. Francis de Sales, 17th century bishop,<\/span>
\nLetter to a Lady (LXXI), January 16th, 1619,<\/span>
\nfrom the\u00a0Spiritual Letters of S. Francis de Sales<\/em>,<\/span>
\nRivingtons, 1871, p 185<\/span><\/p>\n

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,<\/span><\/strong>
\nand they shall name him Emmanuel,<\/span><\/strong>
\nwhich means \u201cGod is with us.\u201d<\/span><\/strong>
\n(Matt 1:23)<\/span><\/p>\n

LAST<\/strong>\u00a0week’s content, I’m sure, has been as difficult for my faithful readers as it has been for me. The subject matter is heavy; I am aware of the ever-lingering temptation to despair at the seemingly unstoppable spectre that is spreading across the globe. In truth, I am longing for those days of ministry when I would sit in the sanctuary and just lead people into God’s presence through music. I find myself frequently crying out in the words of Jeremiah:<\/p>\n

I have become a laughingstock all the day; every one mocks me. For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, “Violence and destruction!” For the word of the LORD has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. (Jer 20:7-9)<\/span><\/p>\n

No, I cannot hold back the “now word”; it is not mine to keep. For the Lord cries out,<\/p>\n

My people perish for want of knowledge! (Hosea 4:6)<\/span><\/p>\n

I have often said that Our Lady is not coming to earth to have tea with her children but to prepare us. Recently, she said it herself:<\/p>\n

Tell everyone that I have not come from Heaven in jest. Listen to the Lord\u2019s Voice and let Him transform your lives. In these difficult times, seek strength in the Gospel and in the Eucharist.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u2014Our Lady to Pedro Regis,<\/a> December 17, 2022<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It Must Be This Way<\/h5>\n

Authentic hope is born, not in false assurances, but in the truth of God’s eternal Word. As such, there is actually hope in simply\u00a0knowing\u00a0<\/em>that what is unfolding has already been foretold, which is to say: God is in complete control.<\/p>\n

Be watchful! I have told it all to you beforehand. (Mark 13:23)<\/span><\/p>\n

The Final Revolution<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>reveals a large part of the overall plan of the powers of darkness, which is \"\"ultimately the long-foretold fruit of human rebellion begun in Eden. As such, the Church’s path is intrinsically tied to Our Lord’s as we necessarily follow in His footsteps in this final confrontation between the Kingdom of Heaven and the kingdom of Satan.[1]<\/sup><\/a>cf. Clash of the Kingdoms<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/span>