The Sign We Seek is in Plain Sight

Men have always sought signs of God's power on earth. This not only comes from the desire to know the truth, which God has written on the hearts of all Men, but because we also hope for His protection. After all, we often find ourselves in dangerous times with each century's passing. In 2015, the world once again finds being struck viciously by militant Islam. In the past, our ancestors in faith would not yield to the aggressive tactics of the Mohammedan, from the years of the Crusades to the individual sieges in Eastern Europe which would have otherwise grated access to Rome itself!

Today, however, too many who claim to be Christian make themselves content with the idea that Islam is a "religion of peace." This is in spite of the fact that many of the crimes we abhor hearing of from the Middle East, Europe, and even in America, are done in the name of Islam or Muhammad. From their supporters we hear "Sharia is inevitable" and "Islam will dominate the world!" Do not despair, though. To the literary mind, as well as one which understands the Holy Scriptures and teachings of the Church, there is always hope to be found as these threats assail us. Even merely examining the iconic symbols of the three Abrahamic Faiths shows where we can find hope abundant.

Star of David

• The star illuminates the night sky, and so did Judaism serve as a tiny beacon of light amidst the darkness of the pagan nations ruling the world at the time.
• To the Jews, it had been prophesized that from the House of David the Messiah of Israel would arise. Just as the stars come again each night, the prophecy of the Messiah was a constant reminder of God's promise of salvation for Jerusalem when Israel seemed within sight of being lost.
• When Jesus was born, the Star of Bethlehem shone more brightly than any other star in the night sky, illuminating to those who would welcome the Messiah where he was born. This signified the fulfillment of Judaism and the beginning of Man's more full reunion with God.

The Cross

• During the time of Rome, the cross was seen as only a sign of torment, the ultimate punishment and a warning of Rome's power to its enemies. Seeing even a bare cross would summon to the mind only agony and suffering.
• When Jesus willingly gave Himself up for those who did not even love Him, that sign of ultimate punishment was transformed into the most powerful sign of love and God's power over even death.
• Since then, the Church has continually made this singularly powerful object, the centerpiece and example of what it means to follow God: accept any suffering it entails, give even your own life in the service of souls, and live as an example of God's ultimate love for Man.

The Crescent Moon and Star

• 600 years after Jesus instituted His Church on Peter the Rock, Muhammed came forth, as if from nowhere, claiming he was God's last prophet, "chosen by the Archangel Gabriel." In this regard, we can be reminded that not all starlight comes from stars which live.
• In its teachings, Islam melded together Arabic customs with approved teachings and heresies from both Christianity and Judaism. In the same way, the crescent moon is only a visible fraction of what circles the Earth.
• Lastly, and ultimately, both the moon and star yield to the Sun at the coming of the dawn. For all its vanity in trying to establish a permanent reign in the world, Islam can never truly show the fullness of God, or conquer Christ's Church, for not even the darkest terrors of Hell can prevail against it.

Remember this when you see the next story relating to ISIS and other acts by militant Islam: The Cross beams through all of time as a sign of God's ultimate victory over evil.* And just as Our Lady of Guadalupe stood triumphant over the crescent moon, so should Christendom turn to her in prayer. She aided the Church at Lepanto, and she will continue to give her aid to our persecuted brothers and sisters, as well as those who defend them.

As a special note, I reiterate that we should love our Muslim brothers and sisters, as Christ asks us to love our neighbor. Not all of them are responsible for, or even approve of, the death and destruction we constantly hear of, and for this we are grateful. However, since Jesus, who is God, established only one Church for the salvation of souls, we must not keep such a gift only to be shared with one another, or only try to bring back our Jewish and Protestant brethren, but encourage our Muslims neighbors to come to the fullness of God's revealed Truth, and denounce all counterfeit religions which keep them from it. (1 John 4:1-3)