Posts Tagged ‘speaking up for the truth’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: May 1, 2025 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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It is too often a challenge not to stand up for His Truth spoken through us. We either water down the truth or might choose to skip it altogether to avoid confrontation or discomfort all around. But what did Jesus say? “You know the truth and truth will set you free.” For we are certain that obedience to God comes before obedience to men.

The Holy Spirit has been given us without reserve and so we must testify to the truth of Christ. For we bear witness to the risen lord who dwells in us. Amen alleluia

Saint Joseph the Worker pray for us…



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First reading
Acts 5:27-33


We are witnesses to all this, we and the Holy Spirit

When the officials had brought the apostles in to face the Sanhedrin, the high priest demanded an explanation. ‘We gave you a formal warning’ he said ‘not to preach in this name, and what have you done? You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and seem determined to fix the guilt of this man’s death on us.’ In reply Peter and the apostles said, ‘Obedience to God comes before obedience to men; it was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus, but it was you who had him executed by hanging on a tree. By his own right hand God has now raised him up to be leader and saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins through him to Israel. We are witnesses to all this, we and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.’
    This so infuriated them that they wanted to put them to death.






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Gospel
John 3:31-36


The Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything to him

John the Baptist said to his disciples:

‘He who comes from above is above all others;
he who is born of the earth is earthly himself
and speaks in an earthly way.
He who comes from heaven bears witness to the things he has seen and heard, even if his testimony is not accepted; though all who do accept his testimony
are attesting the truthfulness of God, since he whom God has sent speaks God’s own words:
God gives him the Spirit without reserve.
The Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything to him. Anyone who believes in the Son has eternal life, but anyone who refuses to believe in the Son will never see life: the anger of God stays on him.’


On Today’s Gospel

Posted: April 20, 2021 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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I used to love this proverb, ‘Speech is silver, silence is golden.’ Yes this helped me on many occasions when used together with ‘choose  your battles.’  However if I am truly a disciple of Christ, can I keep silent when souls are at stake? Even though I know that by speaking up, I would most certainly be ‘stoned’!

Can I keep silent…….? When my teenage son or daughter brings someone  they are sexually attracted to, home with them to stay over behind closed doors? When someone I know is contemplating abortion? When someone close to me is committing adultery with another? When my children refuses to go to the church?

Let me choose to look heavenward Lord Jesus to see Your glory! As I obey Your Holy Will to speak Your truth through the power of the Holy Spirit. And if I am thereafter scorned, mocked or put to death literally or otherwise. Lord Jesus into Your hands I commend my Spirit. For I know You will raise me up on the last day! Amen Alleluia!

First reading

Acts 7:51-8:1 ·

‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’

Stephen said to the people, the elders and the scribes: ‘You stubborn people, with your pagan hearts and pagan ears. You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Can you name a single prophet your ancestors never persecuted? In the past they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, and now you have become his betrayers, his murderers. You who had the Law brought to you by angels are the very ones who have not kept it.’

    They were infuriated when they heard this, and ground their teeth at him.

    But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. ‘I can see heaven thrown open’ he said ‘and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ At this all the members of the council shouted out and stopped their ears with their hands; then they all rushed at him, sent him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses put down their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul. As they were stoning him, Stephen said in invocation, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and said aloud, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them’; and with these words he fell asleep. Saul entirely approved of the killing.

Gospel

John 6:30-35

It is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven

The people said to Jesus, ‘What sign will you give to show us that we should believe in you? What work will you do? Our fathers had manna to eat in the desert; as scripture says: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’

    Jesus answered:

‘I tell you most solemnly,

it was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven,

it is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven,

the true bread;

for the bread of God

is that which comes down from heaven

and gives life to the world.’

‘Sir,’ they said ‘give us that bread always.’ Jesus answered:

‘I am the bread of life.

He who comes to me will never be hungry;

he who believes in me will never thirst.’