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The Violent Bear It Away: Family Reflection Video

The Violent Bear It Away: Family Reflection Video

Why pray?

Can aggressive prayer be … good?

Jesus says today the “violent will bear it away.” There have been two ideas about what he meant here, one saying the Kingdom of God is under siege by those against it; the other says he is praising those who remain spiritually vigilant, fighting hard enough to make it to heaven.

Gaining admission to the Kingdom of Heaven is the most important vocation we have in our earthly life. Living in a way that welcomes Christ, whether it be slow-moving or aggressive is the first step.

What do you think? Is the Kingdom of God on hold or being filled with the militant?

Let us pray today that our souls be redeemed and we follow Jesus’s lead.

About Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C.

Father Wilfred J. Raymond, C.S.C. (Father Willy), a native of Old Town, Maine, is the eighth of 12 children. He joined the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1964 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1971. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Stonehill College in 1967 and a master’s in Theology from the University of Notre Dame in 1971. He served in ministry at Stonehill College (1979-1992), Holy Cross leadership (1994-2000), National Director of Family Theater Productions, Hollywood (2000-2014), and President of Holy Cross Family Ministries (2014-2022). In addition to English, he is conversant in French and Spanish. He remains a diehard fan of the Boston Red Sox, even though he has served as Chaplain for the Los Angeles Dodgers.