
A Gospel according to Mt 10:17-22
Jesus said to his Apostles:
“Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”
REFLECTION
"Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans."
This week we have celebrated a number of martyrs of the Church: St. Cecilia, Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro, St. Andrew Dũng-Lạc, etc.
Some were priests and some lay people. They came from every social and economic background with totally different temperaments. However, the one thing they had in common was their love for Christ.
Because of this love, they risked and lost their lives while helping and catechizing the people around them.
The way of their martyrdom varied, but it ended with their forgiveness towards their captors, and their subsequent execution.
At least right now, in our society, we might not be executed for professing our faith. But if we dare not to lie to ourselves or to others we will most likely be "cancelled'. Criminalized for stating the truth. It is a different kind of martyrdom, and yet, the same.
In a family who is the person that becomes marginalized? The one that says the truth and tries to help another family member overcome an aberrant behavior? Or the one that "supports" and even cheers this family member's progressive ways?
It is hard to say the truth. It is even harder to say it in a loving but firm way. In the way that Jesus would have said it. I do not know if when the time comes, I will be able to say the truth. I hope I do. So I pray to the Holy Spirit so He can help me uphold the truth in the way God would want me to.
COME, HOLY SPIRIT By St. Augustine Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful; And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created; And, You shall renew the face of the earth. Breathe into me, O Holy Spirit; That all my thoughts may be holy. Move in me, O Holy Spirit; That my work, too, may be holy. Attract my heart, O Holy Spirit; That I may love only what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit; That I may defend all that is holy. Protect me, O Holy Spirit; That I always may be holy. Let us pray: O God, * who by the light of the Holy Spirit, * did instruct the hearts of the faithful, * grant that by the same Holy Spirit * we may be truly wise * and ever enjoy His consolations. * Through Christ, Our Lord. * Amen.
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