Therefore, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.And now, Battle Ready with Father Dan Rehill.
Good day.Welcome to Battle Ready.Let's pray.In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.Amen.St.Michael the Archangel defend us in battle. be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the rune of souls.Amen.Our Lady Queen of Peace, pray for us.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.Amen.Okay.It's Wednesday, October 30th. Uh, we are six days from our election.
Please continue to pray your rosaries asking for our ladies intercession that God would choose the candidates to bring America back to, uh, the country.It was founded to be quite honestly.
I was reading this morning that, uh, president Joe, our current president, Joe Biden yesterday said that, uh, supporters. of presidential nominee Donald Trump are garbage for backing such an unconscionable candidate.
That's rich coming from a heretic that pillaged millions of dollars from foreign countries for his own personal gain.This man was the worst president America has ever seen.And he has dragged America into the depths of filth. and horrible policies.
And we're going to reap those benefits for years of all the problems he has caused in the last four years.Probably by far the worst president we've ever had.
Not just because of his stupidity and his ignorance, but because he flagrantly, flagrantly supports Satan and his policies.So, and I can speak freely about Joe Biden because he's not a candidate for the presidential election.
So I can just unload on him all day long with no retaliation from the IRS and taking away my tax ID number.
So, you know what, Joe Biden, I hope you find truth one day before you die, because if you don't figure out what is truth and what is goodness and what is holy, you're probably going to hell.
And that would be so sad because we don't want anybody to go to hell, but you know what, for you to be calling half the country garbage.Wow. That's rich, coming from a slug like you.All right, moving on.
You know, we never really talked about, I wanted to talk about Bartimaeus, because he was the subject of the gospel a few days ago.I believe it might even have been Sunday.
So I'm going to talk about Bartimaeus, because this is a true role model for all Christians.And there's a lot of things we can glean from his example.But you know, just One more side note.
The days we live, because of the days we live in, and they're ever-changing and rapidly bringing forth ideologies that are very dangerous to mankind, we have to be a people that are getting back on the narrow path, right?Jesus said,
There is a narrow way to heaven and he is the gate through which we have to go through.We have to get back on that path.You know, he's the way, he's the way.And so we have to get back on that path.
And I think this generation has been diverted to the other path that is not Jesus's way.But Jesus is the only way, you know, everybody in heaven is there because of Jesus.That's it.
So our lady keeps calling us to conversion, to a complete change of life.You know, if we don't do that, we're not really being true to God.He's looking for everything.He doesn't want part of us.He wants everything.
And, uh, if we allow ourselves to be detached from God, from Jesus, then we're heading for disaster. And that's the problem today, because the world is dangling all of these enticements to literally get us away from being attached to God.
And sadly, a lot of people are going for this.A lot of people are buying Satan's game, even though they don't know it.I mean, I don't think people, there's always a few that will want to worship Satan for an increase in power.
By and large, I think the majority of folks who have been enticed by him have been tricked, just like Eve, tricked into following that path.So, you know, we're living in a time when America still seems to be at, you know, somewhat at peace.
We don't have anybody attacking us from foreign countries yet.But, you know, those days could change, you know, those days could change.
As I've said before, you know, if ever there was a time to attack America, it's the days we live in right now, leading up to this election, because there's really no leadership in this country currently.
And if I think if Kamala wins the election, as we've seen from many of the world leaders that challenge America, like Russia and China, they're all hoping she wins.Now that should tell you something.They don't want Trump in office.
So whatever happens, you know, there's going to be that three month period before the person is sworn into power as president.
That's also a dangerous time because that's more time of this lame duck president where they know there's no leadership going on here.So pray for that every day too, that we would be protected from a foreign invasion.Now, when we think about,
Jesus as our king.He's also our brother and he's given us treasure.He gives us treasure in these earthen vessels.And, uh, we have to be taking this, the treasure is his grace is his glory among other things.
And we have to be constantly, you know, using the treasure he gives us to advance his kingdom.And that's really true.We have to be doing it day in and day out.Uh,
I was just reading something recently, one of the mystics, current mystics of our day, who said Jesus was saying, before hearts of stone, pray and give them to me.
You know, there's still a lot of stiff-necked people out there who just don't see truth for what it is.It's one of these phrases that you hear, that's not my truth.What does that mean? I mean, really, what does that mean?
My truth, as though we can manufacture our own truths randomly?Again, this is the obloviation of ridiculousness, when we think we can just say something and make it true.No, truth is that which is in accord with reality.That's truth.
And divine truth is a person.It's Jesus Christ.I am the way, the truth, and the life.We know that. So he's saying, give them to me, you know, and I, I know this to be true.
You can't fight with somebody, uh, even intellectually who is blind and there's no getting them to win, to win over to your side if they are blind to truth.
So, you know, I think that's a smart thing to do is just, we just take people like that and hand them over to Jesus.Let him shape them, let him mold them, let him purify them.
as he's done with all of us, you know, and we're constantly on that, uh, curve bell curve of, of becoming the saints he made us to be.We're not, you know, very few of us have accomplished perfection yet in life.
Some, you know, the walking saints among us, we all know they've been around some of them in canonized, but most of us are in process, you know, we're in process.And as long as we keep ourselves moving forward in that process of being refined,
and purified, then we will, at the end of life, get to the goal of heaven, if we continually bring ourselves into Jesus' arms and really never leave them.
We're in a state in the world now where I would say, do not stray from the embrace of Jesus Christ.Every day, stay in those strong arms protecting us from the world, the flesh, and the devil. That's enough about that.
The other thing that's a little bit strange is yesterday.I saw that the Vatican put out some kind of a, it was a very strange picture.So we have this Jubilee coming up in 2025, just a few months away.
And that's a very special year for the Catholic church.Every 25 years, we have this, this great Jubilee, which actually has its roots in the old Testament. whereby we celebrate the church on these special years that are earmarked for jubilee.
And, of course, there's gifts granted as well.So plenary indulgences for walking through special doors at St.Peter's, among other cathedrals and basilicas around the world.And it's a time, it's a great celebration in the Old Testament
All was restored on these jubilees.So if you owed somebody money, uh, the debts were canceled.You got your land back.That was put up as a collateral, all these things.And everybody was given a reprieve to begin again.
So it's just, it's a starting over point.It was anyway.Now it's more of just, uh, a celebration and every, and it should be a return to our first love.That's Jesus anyway.So they put out, uh, you know, a presser.
We do press releases for everything, including the church, and that's fine.No problem with that.But they unveiled this mascot of the holy year 2025.It's, uh, I don't even know what you'd call it.
It's like a little plastic character carrying, uh, a walking stick that has a V on the end of it.That looks very similar to what a witch's stick, but who knows if they were thinking that and her name's Luke.I'm going to say Luce.It's Italian.
The Italian word for light.Okay.I can even go with that, but why, why a plastic, uh, it looks like a meme.I don't even know what to call it.And it's a girl with blue hair and purple eyes.
So right away, she looks like she's part of the, the movement of the alphabet city movement.And, uh, she looks sad.Her eyes look very sad.
You know, this is, I have a problem with this because, and also there's a weird logo in the bottom of the press release that I've never seen before.I don't know what it means.Maybe in time, somebody can tell us what that means.
I don't like symbols that aren't defined and that's definitely one of them.Anyway, so can I remind Holy Mother Church just for a moment that we have 2,000 years of tradition and beauty.Beauty is an attribute of God.
And a whole treasury of beautiful paintings and statues and a history of great work.You know, I'm talking about like Giotto and Fra Angelico, Donatella.Who else?The Sistine Chapel, Da Vinci, Michelangelo. We have the best, the best in Catholic art.
And why are you choosing something that looks like it walked off of Sesame street?It's ridiculous.I don't understand who makes these decisions.
It's shocking really to say that this is going to be the church's mascot for the Jubilee, this silly looking creature.It doesn't even look fully human.It's weird.Anyway,
It could have been a beautiful rendition of one of the great paintings or statues that the church holds in her vast archive and collection of beauty.But no, it's going to be this little Luce thing, cultural mascot.I don't, I don't know.
Uh, I'm trying to find the weird thing at the bottom.I don't know what that is.I don't know.It's, you know, it's plastic, so it's. It's not of noble creation.
It's not, first of all, it's artificial, but like we could have had a beautiful marble rendition of something or, uh, an incredible painting.I don't know.And it also looks fairly androgynous, which is another problem I have with it.
But again, you know, it's not beautiful.It's not noble and it's not, uh, I don't think it gives glory to God.It's just. It looks like something that you'd find in the bottom of a playpen.So congratulations.Holy mother church.
You've, you've done it again.You've just dumbed down to the bottom denominator, what we can do to represent who we are.And that's just so sad, man.You just can't make it up.All right. Onto Bartimaeus, who actually is something that is wonderful.
He's a wonderful, noble, beautiful saint of God.All right.So just imagine for the next 10 minutes, we're going to talk about this guy.He's blind, fully blind, not partially fully blind.And sometimes, you know, we re we hear the scripture.
We don't really think about what does it mean to be blind 2000 years ago?Okay.He's, uh, He's sitting on the roadside, begging, and he hears that Jesus is walking by.He, you know, thank God he has his hearing.
And he immediately screams out, Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.And, you know, just a little tidbit about this Bartimaeus.He's the only person healed by Jesus that's recorded in the three gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
whose name is recorded, Bartimaeus, all the others, there's no name.This event is taking place 10 days before Jesus is crucified.So Jesus is very close to the end here and he's still working miracles.Now, what does it mean to be blind in this day?
Think about this. This poor guy, he's never seen the love in his mother's eyes looking at him.Think about walking in the road, in the streets of Jerusalem.He wouldn't see the pile of camel dung that he's going to step in because he can't see.
He can't see the ditches in the road that he's going to stumble over because he can't see.He doesn't see the low-hanging branch that's going to whack him in the head because he can't see. Angry dogs, all these things.
Uh, the beauty of the stars in the sky.He never saw any of this.So this is a hard life.You know, it's a hard life, particularly back then.There's no little scooters to jump in and race around town.Uh, so this man knows he needs Jesus.
This is the posture we should all have.We all need Jesus, whether we are blind or can see. Because there's something else that's worse than physical blindness, and that's spiritual blindness.Let me read to you from 2 Corinthians 4.
The God of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.The God of this age, that would be Satan, has blinded the minds of unbelievers.
Being spiritually blind is more dangerous than being physically blind, because being physically blind, you could actually wind up dead if you walk off a cliff accidentally.Being spiritually blind, you can lose salvation and heaven.
So it is more dangerous.You can wind up in hell and lose your eternal inheritance with Jesus.So that's the danger.The bigger danger of our generation is the spiritual blindness that's out there.
And, you know, we've all kind of met these people, you know, like I think I was talking about Tim Tebow the other day and the John 3.16 thing.Some people, you say, God so loved the world that he sent his only son.
And they kind of, they roll their eyes or they give you a shrug of the shoulders like, eh, it doesn't matter to me.Satan has blinded them.Satan has blinded them.
Now let's imagine, like Bartimaeus, you're at church this coming Sunday, and there's a big commotion outside.You hear crowds swelling outside the doors, and then they bust through into the Northex of your church and you hear them.
It's like, you know, hundreds of people coming in.Why?Because they're following Jesus.Jesus has returned and he's coming into your church and he's walking down the aisle.What do you do? What are you going to do?Are you going to sit there?
Are you going to stand up on the chair or the pew and kind of get a better look at him?Or are you going to kind of slink away because maybe the crowd is frightening coming into your church?
Or are you going to be like Bartimaeus and start screaming out, Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.I would hope we'd all be that guy.Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.
You know, and if you if you for whatever reason, maybe you're intimidated, maybe you're shy, maybe you're scared.He might have been all of those things, by the way.And he still did what he did because he knew this is my one shot.
This is my one shot at getting my sight and being restored, having my my body healed.So there's nothing that's going to stop this guy.And even when they tell him to sit down and shut up, he gets up and says it again.
And Jesus says, okay, come to me, which is kind of interesting because he is blind.Uh, so I guess there's a little more stepping out in faith, even there, you know, he has to jump up and find his way to Jesus, even amidst the crowd.
You know, if you can't get up to see Jesus passing by because you can't think of a good reason, how about because we owe him everything.
If you don't want to jump up and ask for something, and we all need something, everybody's looking for something, then jump up to say, Jesus, thank you.Thank you for what you've done for me.
That would be equally pleasing to the Lord to have somebody just jump up and run to him just to say, thank you.Now, guess what?We can do this every day because his spirit dwells in us.
If you go into the church, you can sit before him in the tabernacle, or if he's exposed in adoration, And you can pour out your heart on what you need.Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.But you can also go before him to thank him.
Say, Jesus, Son of David, you've saved me from death.Thank you.And the other million things we could thank him for.And believe me, there's easily a million things.If you started to make a list, it would be endless.You know, the sun came up today.
I can breathe the air and it sustains me, the oxygen levels, the food, the running water, the hot water, the car that turns on when we push the button or turn the key.I mean, on and on and on and on.
OK, so today it would be good to pause today and tell Jesus you're grateful and then tell him why.About what?What are you grateful for?
You know, think about it, your parents, your brothers and sisters, your children, your cousins, your teachers, your priests over the years who've ministered sacraments to you.
The gift of our faith, you know, only one out of eight or seven on the planet has this faith.The vast majority do not have this faith and it is the greatest gift after himself is
this faith he's instilled and given us and imparted to us and left under the protection of his church.So there's a lot to be grateful for.So this poor guy, Bartimaeus, you know, he wasn't just blind.He's also destitute because he's begging.
He's also marginalized and sidelined because the people are trying to push him out of the way and tell him to stop bothering them. So we have to be like him and, again, cry out to Jesus, because it's the same Jesus who is merciful.
It's the same loving Jesus.It's the same forgiving Jesus.It's the same providential Jesus.It's the same Jesus that heals.It's the same guy.And we also have to be persistent.
And there's going to be times in your life when the people around you, just like the crowd around Bartimaeus, who won't understand what's happening,
And they might even tell you to be quiet, and sit down, and God isn't listening, and God doesn't care, and you really aren't important to Him, or to them, maybe.
And I can assure you of this, even if those around you aren't saying it, Satan and his minions will.They will.They'll be telling you these things.Why are you praying?Just be quiet.Your prayers don't do anything.Nothing is happening.Why do you fast?
on Fridays.That doesn't do anything.Why do you humble yourself like that?You look like an idiot.Why are you claiming that scripture?That doesn't do anything.Why do you get up every morning to pray?You should sleep in.You're tired.
Just go sit down and be quiet.Because God doesn't hear you.You aren't special.You're not a leader.You're a nobody.That's what Satan says to Jesus' people every single day.And some of them start to believe it. That's the sad part.
So I want to tell you, maybe I'm the first one to tell you this today.Just cry out all the more.Cry out all the more.Because Jesus is listening.He does love when we turn to him.He loves when we bring him our cares and concerns.
He loves when we praise him.He loves when we thank him.So cry out all the more to the Lord.That's the message today. And, you know, he answers our prayers.Sometimes it's not the answer we want, but he does answer.You know, sometimes it's, it's yes.
Sometimes it's no, sometimes it's not yet.You got to wait a little more.But I've even seen people get the answer they want and then they go their own way and forget about Jesus until they need something else.You know, that's not okay.
He's not looking for that relationship.He's looking for everything, to be all in, 100% in with God.That means we bring him our whole day.We spend the whole day with him.
Now, what we're doing, you could be washing dishes, but you're aware of God's presence.You could be folding laundry, but you're aware of God's presence, and you're inviting him into that moment.That's what he's looking for.
And when you have him with you the whole day, it actually changes your day, and you have a different day than the day that started out the moment you opened your eyes in the morning.
Because not only is God with you, and he's always with us, but now you're aware of his presence.And that changes everything.It really does.
You have nothing to fear when you know God's right there with you, particularly if you're continually turning everything over to him.What possibly could go wrong, right?Because even in the midst, this is how the martyrs were martyred so beautifully.
They had no fear of death. They had no fear of death because death for them was gain.So we have to get to that same point because, you know, at some point we're all going to die.
I actually said this on an interview and somebody challenged me and said, I think in the creed it says he will come to judge the living and the dead.So some people will be alive.All right, fine.
If you're holding out that that's going to be you, good luck because that's putting all your eggs in a very precarious basket.No. Adopt the idea that you're going to die, and there's nothing to fear in it.
There's nothing to fear in death if you're living your life bonded to the Lord and giver of life.Okay?That's that.And we're out of time, so thank you for tuning in, and make sure you thank Jesus today, and watch what he does for you.
You can't outgift Jesus.He's more generous than anybody on this planet. May Almighty God bless you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.Amen.This is Father Dan signing off.
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