The Scepter in My Heart: Vigilance in Recognizing Christ’s Authority
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
Genesis 49:2, 8-10
Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob, listen to Israel, your father. Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down to you. Judah is a lion’s whelp; you have grown up on the spoil, my son. He crouches, he lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who would dare rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute is brought to him, and he receives the homage of the peoples.
Grace Prayed For
The grace of submission and awe, enabling me to fully surrender the “scepter” of my life to Jesus, the Lion of Judah, and to live under His gentle yet sovereign rule, thereby receiving and radiating the reign of peace.
Reflection
“The scepter shall not depart from Judah… until tribute is brought to him, and he receives the homage of the peoples.” This passage is the promise of Kingship—not of earthly power, but of divine, unstoppable, restorative rule. My vigilance this Advent must be focused on recognizing this King who has already arrived, yet whose reign I must prepare for within my own heart. I must ask: Is the scepter of my life—the center of my authority and devotion—held by Jesus, or by my own fears, desires, and pride?
Jesus, the Lion of Judah, has shown me His love by taking up that scepter to conquer not me, but my enemies: sin, death, and despair. His hand, placed on the “neck of my enemies,” means I am set free. He crouches and lies down like a lion, not in passivity, but in the majestic rest of one who has secured the victory. This profound and intimate love—the love of the Triune God that rescues and restores—calls me to assemble and listen to my Father’s voice.
This King’s reign is meant to be acknowledged in the deepest sanctuary of my being. When I truly allow Jesus to take up the scepter in my heart, the love that flows from the Father and is breathed by the Spirit is no longer contained. It shines forth as a compelling witness to the world. My preparation is allowing the Lion of Judah to tame the rebellious parts of my soul. My witnessing is simply showing the peace, hope, and freedom that come when a King has received the homage of a willing heart. This divine homage—my humble surrender—is the core of my Baptismal mission, partnering with the victorious King to restore the world by first being restored myself.
Daily Evangelization and Baptismal Mission
Proclamation: By choosing humility and patience over reaction, I am showing the world that my inner life is being tamed by a King. This prepared heart offers a powerful, attractive witness of Gospel-centered peace, showing others the freedom found in allowing Christ to conquer their personal “enemies.”
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Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post