Yesterday, the Church celebrated the Solemnity of Christ the King. Today, we read about the four Jewish young men who trained three years to enter the service of the King of Babylon (see Dn 1:5). Likewise, Jesus trained His twelve apostles, 72 disciples, and other followers for a period of three years. Many of us trained for our profession in school for twelve years, and in college for at least another four years. How much time are we spending to train to serve Christ the King?
Can you devote three years to train to serve the greatest King, Jesus Christ? To do this training, we need to change our diet, much like Daniel, Mishael, Hananiah, and Azariah (Dn 1:12). They ate only vegetables consistent with the Jewish diet, and gave up all other foods. The best addition to our training diet is "a daily portion of food and wine from the royal table" (Dn 1:5), that is, Bread and Wine from Heaven, the Holy Eucharist (see Jn 6:55-56).
Can you do the same ten-day test (Dn 1:14-15) as these four young men? Attend Daily Mass for ten consecutive days. After ten days of a new training diet, Daniel, Mishael, Hananiah, and Azariah "looked healthier and better fed" than anyone around them (Dn 1:15). Give up any gluttony and devotion to the foods of the world, and allow the Eucharist to have its holy and transforming effect in your life.
| PRAYER: | Father, give me the desire to change anything in my life to train to serve King Jesus. |
| PROMISE: | "I assure you, this poor widow has put in more than all the rest." –Lk 21:3 |
| PRAISE: | Pious tradition tells us St. Cecilia courageously faced her martyrdom. She is the patron of musicians. "Sing to Him, sing His praise, proclaim all His wondrous deeds" (Ps 105:2). |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College