Tag: persecution

The hope of eternal life in the age to come. | Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

From the responsorial psalm: “Gather my faithful ones before me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” And the heavens proclaim his justice; for God himself is the judge. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (10:28-31, today’s readings)

Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age.”

Among what is given up in the present age for eternal life in the age to come, Jesus says that those who have given up this for his sake and for the sake of the Gospel will “receive a hundred times more now in this present age.” With this, there will be persecutions but “eternal life in the age to come.” In following him, Jesus teaches what it means to follow and not follow him: “But many that are first will be last, and the last will be first.” Jesus, Incarnate Word, is the fulfillment of the words of Sirach, who says, “For the Lord is one who always repays, and he will give back to you sevenfold.”

God, I hear in Peter’s declaration to Jesus the voice of one who has committed himself entirely: “We have given up everything and followed you.” Yet, Jesus calls out of Peter and all who follow him a greater sacrifice of praise that Sirach and the psalmist speak of. In your voice, the psalmist writes: “He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me.” Of all the good gifts you give me in turn to offer to you, there is no greater sacrifice of praise than to offer “the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ.” In praise, thanks, and adoration, Lord, I ask for the grace to do always what is pleasing to you. Jesus, I trust in you! Saint Casimir, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.”| Saturday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

From the responsorial psalm: “Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours; prosper the work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands!”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 9:43B-45)

While they were all amazed at his every deed, Jesus said to his disciples, “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

The events that Luke relates in the Gospel all take place in quick succession and include the feeding of the five thousand, the healing of people possessed by a demon, and the Transfiguration. Amazed witnesses to all of this, the disciples fail to understand what Jesus tells them about his coming passion and death. Yet, what they fail to understand Jesus asks them to pay attention to. Unaware of the martyrdom that some of the disciples would face, they are unable to reconcile that the Son of Man would be handed over to men. But in hanging on Jesus’ every word, they would remember that the crucified Christ, obedient to the Father even to death, would destroy death and rise triumphant to new life to save us.

God, help me understand what Jesus prepares me for as he speaks to the disciples. Although you call few to martyrdom, I want to take to heart the words of Jesus when he asks that I pay attention to what he is saying. In the world, there are plenty of people ready to hand over those who follow Jesus and the teachings of the Church. There are those who would persecute and kill missionaries who preach the Gospel. As Saint Lawrence said, who witnessed to the truth of the Gospel: “We have come to Japan only to preach faith in God and to teach salvation to little ones and to the innocent and to all the rest of the people.” God, help me understand persecution and suffering in light of rising to new life through Jesus Christ your Son. Shelter me, Lord; in every age, you have been our refuge. Saint Lawrence Ruiz, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to the Twelve: “Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.”

As Jesus prepares the Twelve for courage under persecution in proclaiming the Gospel, he strengthens them with his words and assures them of God’s assistance and sure hand. As Jeremiah says in the first reading, “But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.” Not once or twice does Jesus tell the apostles not to be afraid; three times he tells them. What there is to fear, he tells them, is this: “And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.” What, then, is there to fear when God goes before us?

God, help me call to mind your goodness throughout the day and give thanks for the strength you give to me when I am faint of heart. Give me the courage to acknowledge you in the name of your Son and proclaim loudly what he whispered in darkness to the apostles. “Do not be afraid,” Jesus says. Help me testify to you, Lord, who are truth itself.

From the Gospel acclamation: “The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord; and you also will testify.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W-KSOPWWBY

Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Jesus said to his disciples: “But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that he is going away to the Father but that it is to their advantage. He explains that the Holy Spirit will come to them and convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Holy Spirit will show the world that they are sinners, that he is the only way to righteousness, and that judgment has come upon the world because of sin. The Holy Spirit will also guide the disciples into all truth and teach them everything they need to know. Jesus’ departure is not a cause for grief but instead a cause for joy because it means that the Holy Spirit will come and be with them.

God, when the Holy Spirit comes, help me remember that as Jesus says, “he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation.” Because he has gone to you, I no longer can see Jesus but can now receive the Holy Spirit that he sent. Help me understand, Lord, that in the Holy Spirit nothing of Jesus is diminished. Instead, as the Son went to you, the fulfillment of his work on earth was accomplished. Grant me the grace to welcome the Holy Spirit as the one sent by your Son.

“I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord; he will guide you to all truth.” Help me today be guided by the Spirit of truth.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God.”

Jesus tells his disciples that he will send the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, to them. The Holy Spirit will testify about Jesus and help the disciples to be witnesses of Jesus’ life and teachings. Jesus also tells his disciples that they will be persecuted for their faith, but he tells them this to take courage in the help of the Advocate “so that,” as he says, “you may not fall away.” The Holy Spirit will be with them so that when their hour comes they may remember that he told them. As Jesus’ followers, we can expect to face persecution, but the Advocate is always with us to guide us and strengthen us through every challenge.

God, help me accept the full meaning of Jesus’ words “the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God.” The words leave little room for interpretation, and I don’t think he spoke these words only for them to be softened or taken euphemistically. Because of faith in Christ your Son, faithful witnesses of the Church have been and will be persecuted and killed. Keep me in your care, God, and through the Holy Spirit help me have the courage to profess my faith in love at whatever cost.

From the responsorial psalm: “The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord, and you also will testify.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist

John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.

Today’s Gospel reading describes an age-old clash between good and evil: John proclaims what is truthful, and Herod’s wife holds a deadly grudge. It sounds like the beginning of a murder mystery, an archetypal human story. Anybody can harbor this grudge to kill, if not literally, then certainly in spirit. Although Jesus doesn’t appear in this passage, what he said elsewhere in the Gospel applies: “And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.” The body survives what can devastate the soul, and there are those whose grudges mean to destroy the soul.

God, help me understand that I will encounter in my life people whose aim is to persecute me and other Christians because of you. Because I am Christian, there are people who mean to mistreat me. Against that, there is power that shines through in words and deeds inspired by the Holy Spirit. From the first reading, Saint Paul says, “I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.” It’s hard for me to imagine someone as tough and resilient as Saint Paul saying that he was afraid. But although he came in weakness and fear and trembling, he knew his strength was in the crucified and risen Christ and “with a demonstration of spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.”

Jesus, I know you are truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. How is it that the body given up to crucifixion is the body that becomes our Eucharistic food, your real presence? Against any doubt I might have in your real presence, it is no trick or deception that you are there before me. Stay with me today and shield all who are persecuted—body and soul—by the work of the Evil One because of your holy name.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

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