Division is not of God
Sponsored
Catholic365 is sponsored by
Road to Purity
Massachusetts Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira has created one of the greatest classified document leaks in American history. It has endangered military servicemen and women overseas, ruptured trust from our nation’s allies, and provided propaganda and valuable war information to Russia. However, during his last chat conversation with those in the chat group (where this entire debacle started), he mentioned God and prayer. What are we to make out of someone who talks about God and prayer considering such a horrible crime.
“Guys, it’s been good. I love you all,” Teixeira said to the chat group, according to Fox News. “I never wanted it to get like this. I prayed to God that this would never happen. And I prayed and prayed and prayed. Only God can decide what happens from now on.”
It is true that prayer changes things and we are, as Christians, called to pray for Teixeira as well. We know God has a plan and purpose for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11). We also are convinced, based on Sacred Scripture, that God allows the consequences of our sins and actions to take place. Decisions have consequences and this young man, at the age of 21-years-old, made a terrible decision which has severe consequences.
Many people use the “I prayed” phrase when times are hard. They accuse God of not listening or answering their prayers. They claim God does not care when their prayers are not answered the way they want. Remember, God’s answered prayer may very well be “no” to our requests. He will answer. He always answers. It just may be a different answer than what we want to hear or desire to happen.
Whether we are angry at him, have compassion on him, or just do not care about the situation at all, we are Christians. We are to be the hands and feet of Christ and as we come up on Divine Mercy Sunday, we are to pray for his soul. Pray for his life. Pray that he surrenders to God and begs for mercy. We are to seek the redemption of his soul through prayer and not spew out the venom of condemnation and hate upon him.
“Lord Jesus, you sacrificed your life as the sacrificial lamb upon the cross of Calvary for the redemption of our souls. Your mercy extends to all who seek it and desire it. It is not your will for any to perish, but for all to receive eternal life through your blood that flowed down the cross and soaked into the ground. I ask, Almighty God, that you draw Jack Teixeira into a state of heartfelt repentance, and you shower your grace and mercy upon him when he comes to you. I know, Eternal Prince of Peace, that his family is suffering as well, and I pray for peace and grace to rain down from your throne upon them. Draw them close to you, Christ Jesus. Lord protect them from any retaliatory actions from those who are angry about this.
I trust that your mercy endures forever and that, although the acts he has committed are grievous and place many lives in danger, that you protect those lives which are endangered by this leak and surround them with your holy angels and saints. His life too, Lord Jesus, has dignity, value, and worth and I pray that he will see just how valuable he is to you. He will surrender in humility to the love you poured out during your passion for his redemption. I pray that he will see he still has value because you gave him, and all of us, value with your life.
Lord, I ask, and trust, that you will minimize the danger of these leaks and ask that you protect this country. Lord, have mercy. Jesus, I trust in you.”
Amelia Monroe Carlson graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism. Being raised as a Methodist during her early years, it was not until she entered college where she began to take her faith seriously. She was baptized as a Southern Baptist in Muscle Shoals, AL and began immediately serving in international missions and in the church.
During college, she became the Co-founder of an International Ministry, where she spent time traveling and speaking to church groups and in large conferences. She authored a Bible study and traveled abroad on mission work. She sat on the Mid-South Interfaith Conferences in Mississippi, where she defended the faith and discussed beliefs with leaders of various religions.
After a business trip to Washington D.C., where she was introduced to a former Baptist who converted to the Catholic Church, she was placed on a journey to enter into the Catholic Church.
Amelia is a military wife and currently residents with her husband and daughter in Tennessee. She is a nine time award winning journalist, receiving press awards for various categories including investigative journalism, best news coverage, and best single feature. It is her desire to help Catholics, particularly Cradle Catholics, see the beauty in their faith which converts see and appreciate the fullness of truth which the Church has held and guarded throughout history. It is her desire all Catholics fall as much in love with Jesus as she is, and love the Church to a greater capacity than they could imagine.
Amelia taught PRE for 4-6 grade at St. Mary Catholic Church in Bolivar, Tennessee from 2014-2016. She served as Youth Director at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville, Tennessee in 2017-2018. She now teaches 7th grade (1st year Confirmation) PRE class at St. Philip. She's also a writer and frequent podcast guest on Our Warpath.
She has a strong devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Francis de Sales, St. Padre Pio and St. Maximilian Kolbe.
To contact Amelia for speaking inquiries at conferences, retreats, or parishes contact her via social media on Facebook (Amelia Monroe Carlson), Twitter (@2_catholic ) or send a text to: (731)518-6923.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ameliamcarlson
Twitter: @2_catholic (Catholic ministry account)
Twitter personal account: @ameliamcarlson
