Why go through so much grief, facing opposition, oppression and persecution? All in the name of Jesus, our faith? Isn’t the real question though, can we live a lie? Rather a life of lies? So what is the truth then?
The Truth has come to set us free. From sin, inner turmoil, anxieties, depression, fear, loneliness even death. The Truth has come to prepare us for eternal life with our ever loving Father. Jesus brings new life, new hope, Peace and Love.
The Holy Spirit teaches and guides in all truth and armed we can withstand and defend against the blows of the often cruel, sharp even loose tongues.
Do we then go seeking out all those who would challenge our faith? Seeking Martyrdom? NO… Martyrdom if it ever comes to that, should be a result of our love, of our faith in Christ; not a cause. Let us be wise as serpents, faultless and harmless as doves. Amen
GOSPEL
Matthew 10:16–23
Jesus said to his Apostles:
“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But 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 of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and Spirit 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. When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”
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