The man of sin

The apostle Paul issued a warning about the spirit of the AntiChrist that would infiltrate the Church.

In his epistle to the Thessalonians, speaking about the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth, he writes, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). He then proceeds to explain this “falling away” or apostasy from the Truth in greater detail.

The apostle Paul writes that it will involve the revealing of “the man of sin...the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God” ( 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

Some man is going to put himself in the place of God, effectively claiming to be God—and people will believe him. Why? Because: “The coming of the lawless one according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the Truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-11).

The “man of sin,” posing as divine, will be performing supernatural acts with the help of the Devil, deceiving all those who have rejected the Lord Jesus Christ and setting himself up to the worshipped by the world.

Edmonton is a welcoming city of many cultures and a home to people who speak more than 100 different languages, all of which are vital to preserving culture and identity. In tandem with International Mother Language Day, the City of Edmonton launched a very exciting pilot project that champions diversity, equity and inclusion for staff and all Edmontonians. Effective immediately, all multilingual City of Edmonton employees can wear a language identifier pin (provided and customized by the City) that will help newcomers and ESL Edmontonians receive the support and services they need from CoE staff who speak their mother languages.

I received my very own language identifier pin that indicates that I speak Punjabi and Hindi, and will wear this with pride as I endeavor to support all diverse Edmontonians in tangible ways. I have my own special connection to the languages I speak, and this connection keeps me rooted to principles of family, heritage and community. I know this feeling is shared by many fellow ESL speakers, and I want them to feel welcomed, included and supported here in Edmonton. I was pleased to see these pins all around City Hall during the International Mother Language Day event, and know that this small step towards inclusion will help foster a sense of belonging and comfort for many newcomers and multilingual community members who call Edmonton home.

Like that matters most. Brethren, Jesus loves short prayers but with sincerity of intentions and the purity of our heart. When you pray make it short, precise and concise.

The City of Edmonton continues to prioritize anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion, and Council and I are deeply committed to leveraging the Anti-Racism Strategy and our continued efforts to make our city a safer and more welcoming place.

Together, we diverse Edmonton for all of us.

Fr. Jhack Diaz

How to pray

Matthew 6:7-15

Prayer is not a multiplication of words. It is not a formula for vocal recitation nor a vain repetition and litany of petitions because our Father already knows our needs before we ask. Prayer is not all about what we want but what God’s will is for us. Jesus teaches us today that it is neither the amount of words nor the time we spend but the act of faith

Second, when we pray let us avoid being seen. Pray in private. Pray in secret! Do it between you and God. The Scribes and Pharisees wanted the people to think that they were pious and close to God, so they made it their practice to pray in such a way as to be seen by men. They went into the synagogues and made a show out of their prayers. This is hypocrisy! Their intention was to please the crowd, not the Lord.

Moreover, time spent in prayer is never wasted. You will never regret the time you spend with God. In this season of Lent, let us strengthen our relationship with God through prayer. Let me end my reflection with these 3S: When you pray, make it SHORT. Second, be SPECIFIC in your prayer request to God. Hit the nail right on its head. Finally, be SINCERE with your petitions. Friends, never doubt the power of prayer!

Blessings, Fr.

Jhack

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