Friday, July 08, 2016
Friday, 14th Week in Ordinary Time
08 July 2016
Friday, 14th Week in Ordinary Time
Green.
Hos 14:2 –10 / Mt 10: 16 – 23.
Gospel Reading: Mt 10:16 - 23
Jesus said to his disciples "Look, I send you out like sheep among wolves. You must be clever as snakes and innocent as doves. Be on your guard with respect to people, for they will hand you over to their courts and they will flog you in their synagogues. You will be brought to trial before rulers and kings because of me, and so you may witness to them and the pagans.
"But when you are arrested, do not worry about what you are to say and how you are to say it; when the hour comes, you will be given what you are to say. For it is not you who will speak; but it will be the Spirit of your Father in you.
"Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child; children will turn against parents and have them put to death. Everyone will hate you because of me, but whoever stands firm to the end will be saved.
"When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next. For sure, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes."
Reflection
To be Christian nowadays does not seem to be as challenging as it was during the time of the early Church. Now nobody is incarcerated for being baptized. We do not risk confiscation of properties or becoming the food of wild beasts for being Christian.
But this time may be fast approaching. St. John Paul II said our generation was living in a 'culture of death.' Among many, there is now very little consideration for the values of Christianity, even in Christian countries.
According to Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, abortions in the world when she lived in was higher than casualties of war. Divorce is a normal solution for failed marriages. Couples do not readily accept many children; the wombs of many women have become cemeteries because of ligations, contraception and abortions.
The Church is considered archaic and unwilling to adapt with time to the changes in society, many people say. A family with many children is open to surprise, even ridicule. The wife who bears the injustice of her husband or vice versa is called a martyr in the derogatory sense. One who practices honesty at work is called stupid. Society is moving away from the values of Christianity.
The early Church grew in numbers despite tremendous persecution. Because the Holy Spirit was with it and led the Church alongside the history of man. The Spirit provided endurance, perseverance and sacrifice to the faithful. In every generation, charisms have arisen to strengthen our Church. In herself the Church carries a life that is more powerful than death. It is the life of Christ who is victorious over death.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 6:48 AM 
