The Incarnation and the Exultation: An Advent Devotional Introduction - Friday, Third Week of Advent – A Servant’s Song of Praise
To the Ends of the Earth: Legacy – Week 2, Day 5 – We Live in the City of God
Photo by Serkan Yanık on Unsplash
Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God!
His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation,
is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
the city of the great King.
Within her citadels God
has shown himself a sure defense.
As we have heard, so have we seen
in the city of the LORD of hosts,
in the city of our God,
which God establishes for ever.
Psalms 48:1–3, 8
Through the storms of life, believers can take comfort that in the future we will enter the eternal City of God. No matter how much we struggle, God promises us that the violence and chaos of life will give way to eternal life in a city so beautiful and so secure, that we will never worry or experience sin or sadness again.
Even now on earth, Catholics experience the City of God within the Church. She is our beautiful refuge from the struggles of life, a fortress of righteousness and joy, the source of our nourishment in the sacraments. We can be assured that she will stand from now until the time when Our Lord comes again to judge the living and the dead. In her we see the victory that is ours in Christ, and we can share this Good News with generations to come.
Questions for reflection
How does this vision of our heavenly Jerusalem help you to live in freedom today?
What is the most beautiful aspect of the Catholic Church that gives you comfort and peace?
What are you passing on to future generations of believers to give them the hope of heaven?
Praying with Scripture
For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Heb 11:10)
You can learn more about the To the Ends of the Earth Series HERE
You can watch and listen to this devotion HERE
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About the Author
Mark C. McCann is an author and Ministry Consultant with more than 30 years of writing and ministry experience. He has published articles for a number of Catholic magazines and websites including St. Anthony Messenger, Emmanuel Magazine, Liguorian Magazine, Catholic Stand, the Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. He recently published the 4-volume Catholic men's devotional, To the Ends of the Earth, as well as the 2021 Advent Daybreaks devotional and 2022 Lenten Daybreaks devotional with Liguori Publishing. He has also released his End Times novel series, Jacob's Dream: The Vision and Jacob's Dream: The Final Battle. He was a radio host and producer for 8 years at a Connecticut Christian radio station and has worked as a Catholic religion teacher/campus minister and a parish youth minister. He has also served the Norwich, CT Diocese as a Youth Ministry Director and Family Life Director. He currently lives in Connecticut with his Proverbs 31 wife, where together they have brought up three incredible children. He strives each day to live out his call to be a man of words. You can learn more about Mark and his writing at www.wordsnvisions.com.
