Peter praying at Gathering

Peter Herbeck and Tim Green pray at the 2017 Gathering.

This post originally appeared in Renewal Ministries’ June 2017 newsletter, which you can view here.

In Peter Herbeck’s talk on To Have the Light of Light at Renewal Ministries’ 2017 Gathering, he discussed how an intense “battle for human souls” is taking place in the world around us.

“The reason God is disappearing from the horizon is that humanity is pushing Him away,” he said. “The predominant way of looking at the human person today is with self-creative freedom—my identity becomes my own achievement.”

This demand to re-define humanity has extended to the family—which is where the Blessed Mother told Sr. Lucia the final battle would occur. Peter quoted Cardinal Robert Sarah: “Today we’re witnessing the next stage of building a utopia without God. It says children don’t need mothers and fathers. It denies human nature and wants to cut off an entire generation from God.”

Peter also discussed the dangerous trend toward the development of artificial intelligence and the increase of technology use in our world. He said, “We are already cyborgs—half human, half machine.”

“The darkness is going to keep ratcheting up, but the light is going to get brighter as we keep saying ‘yes’ to Jesus. We were made to give glory to God,” he explained. “We need to keep contending, standing, and witnessing to the truth. Expect opposition. The Lord wants you to be all you can be, and that only comes through trials and difficulties. In this world, you will have tribulation. Jesus said, ‘If you have tribulation, be of good cheer.’ He has overcome the world!”

Peter added, “Engage the Master’s mission with everything (you’ve) got. He asks, ‘Are you willing to let go of security? How radical are you willing to become in responding to Me?’ Simplify your life. Fast. Pray. Give your time and money to the pursuit of souls for Christ. The Lord is purifying and empowering His Church, so we can be a light to the nations. We have to pray the Lord will cast fear out of our lives.”