What sort of father would the Heavenly Father be if He did not warn ahead of time those children of His who are the wheat, of what to expect of us who sincerely believe that we are in the END OF THE AGE and find ourselves confused at the presence of a weedy environment with His Son's Church? Whatever words Jesus spoke, come forth from the Father under the influece of the Spirit. Our Father in Heaven is surely concerned for each one of the faithful as are also the Son and the Spirit, not leave unmentioned, the most esteemed Daughter, the Mother of Jesus, the Spouse of the Holy Spirit, and our Mother Mary.
It is to the advantage of the enemy to have the faithful beset by confusion. It would be in this state that would make it difficult, if not impossible, for them to recognize the wolves in sheep's clothing, the hirelings, the false prophets, the false christs.
We have been gifted with the faith. We are asked to live our faith. Jesus often chided His disciples for their lack of faith. On the other hand, He praised those who manifested a strong faith. Jesus and Mary, in our own day, are making it so clear how important it is fosr each of us to maintain ourselves in faith. We are asked to pray the our faith within us be strengthened. Our Mother pleads that we pray with the heart so that our prayer would be a prayer of faith. We are asked by her to turn to the Holy Spirit for guidance. It is the Holy Spirit Who gives the increase of faith when such an increase is sincerely requested.
Our faith teaches us the importance of obedience. Obedience can be genuine and complete only when we live a life fostered by a lively faith, a living faith, a vibrant faith. The enemy is making every effort to get us out of the heart and into the head to introduce chances for confusion and a weakening of faith.
In order to survive in faith, in order to remain faithful to Jesus and to His Visible Head on earth, it is imperative that we remove ourselves abruptly from all confusion, clutch to our faith and move on and not fall victim to the condition as did Lot's wife. We must surge ahead, giving loving service to the physically and spiritually needy, ever clinging to the Vine as we are buffeted by strong amoral winds, and put ourselves into the loving care of our Heavenly Father and envelop ourselves within the mantle of our Blessed Mother. Thus we could walk step by step, day by day, unafraid, enemies to the left and right of us, confidently making our way along the path set out for us - the path which leads to salvation.