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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me before you.

If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own;

but because you do not belong to the world,

because my choice withdrew you from the world,

therefore the world hates you.”

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–  John 15:18-19 (JB)

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REFLECTION…

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Christ is persecuted,

till this very day!

Even in countries with deep Christian roots,

an aggressive form of secularism is emerging

to the exclusion of God, religion and virtue

from public life.

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Those seeking to stick to Christian principles

and who try to follow Jesus’ teaching,

are being increasingly rejected

and often scoffed at and insulted.

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The Christian who follows Jesus

tries to live in a manner which appears to go contrary to what society is doing.

This is why, often, those of us who do not go with the flow

are being regarded with disdain.

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However, in spite of growing provocation,

we must gladly stand up and be counted.

We must never be ashamed of the Gospel,

which is the wisdom and power of God.

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But we must also be loving and gentle

in our response,

and to be so, we need to be strong…in our faith!

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PRAYER…
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My Lord Jesus,
it is good to live in Your friendship

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Lord, make me realise

that being committed to You means

that I will be sharing all with You

for better and for worse;

in misunderstanding and contradiction,
as well as in joy and intimacy.

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Help me to rejoice

even when treated with indifference or ridicule

on account of You,
for it means that You are with me
and that You are my Lord forever.

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Lord, help me be a good Christian

by example,

and through restraint.

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Help me respond to any provocation and insults

with a loving and peaceful attitude.

Help me reflect You, my Lord.

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Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, I rejoice in Your friendship and Lordship forever!

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013.

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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Our moral life has its source in faith in God who reveals His love to us.

St. Paul speaks of the obedience of faith as our first obligation.

He shows that ignorance of God

is the principle and explanation of all moral deviations.

Our duty toward God is to believe in Him

and to bear witness to Him.

[CCC 2087]

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The first commandment

requires us to nourish and protect our faith with prudence and vigilance,

and to reject everything that is opposed to it.

[CCC 2088]

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