The Lord has spoken so many times about His everlasting love and devotion to us. If we are always focused on this then we will surely emerge victorious in all our battles in this life. God knows each one of us in a very special way even before we were born. This truth should make us realize that none of us came to life by accident or chance. We have all been called for a mission and a purpose in life. If we live life embracing this truth at all times then we can be assured that our Creator and God who is a loving Father to all of us would see us through whatever it is that we are going through right now. Amen. Hallelujah!
Book of Jeremiah 1,17-19.
...They will fight against you, but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.
Our God is incomparable for He loves us with a love greater than any other. In God we find the most secure and safest shelter. Let us constantly build our confidence in God who never fails. There is really nowhere else to go but to Him alone. By just looking back at our past and present we can only come up with just one thing which is God is constantly at work and in charge of our lives for as long as we live. The mention of being called even from a mother’s womb, is one of the symbols of God’s words. The Word that reaches to the ends of the earth, penetrates the hearts of people and able to separate soul and spirit. It should be our duty to spread God’s Word.
The Principles of Catholic Evangelization
1. Live the gospel-use words only when necessary. Walk the talk
2. Challenge others by one's example and lifestyle
3. Uphold true values. People first than profit. Embrace peace and justice. A Capitalist value works differently, it upholds profit at all cost.
4. Open our hearts to the saving power of God. From a distance foolishness and wisdom look alike but if we come closer we'll find that foolishness is an open mouth and wisdom is an open mind. In evangelization we need to approach it in a manner of discovery with an element of surprise rather than deciding which means we already have an idea of it. In discovery, God brought us to where we are although not fully revealing but trusting. We discover God and the wonders of His wisdom.
5. Build community
6. Identify and really call injustice as injustice. Accept and handle the truth. Sometimes the closer we are to power the farther we become to truth.
7. Work for a better society. Life is a gift from God but what we make of it is our gift to God.
To top it all, we need to realize that God is the Primary Agent of Evangelization. It is not about us but about God. He is the Chief Architect of it all. Amen. Hallelujah!
Psalm 71:1-2, 3-4a, 5ab-6ab, 15, 17
R: I will sing of your salvation.
1 In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2 In your justice rescue me, and deliver me; incline your ear to me, and save me...On you I depend from birth; from my mother’s womb you are my strength...My mouth shall declare your justice, ...
Today we celebrate the Memorial of the martyrdom of John the Baptist. When we are under pressure, do we stand up for what is right or we just go with the crowd because everyone else is doing it? We must ask the Lord to grant us the wisdom and the courage to do what is pleasing in His sight even if the world laughs at us. We, too, are called and challenged to imitate John the Baptist’s courageous act of witnessing —not necessarily in the form of a bloody beheading, of course. Today’s Christian martyrdoms are certainly more of a subtle and sophisticated kind. But perhaps, they are just as compelling and exigent — as when our moral principles are tested in our workplaces, or when our senses are bombarded by sexually suggestive images, or when we are scandalized by the bad examples of our leaders and celebrities, and so on." We all have our own personal Herod, Salome and worst our Herodias tendencies in life. Only we ourselves know these and what specific aspect it is in our lives. Unless we acknowledge them, firmly reject and stand up against it instead of yielding to it then we are no better than any of them. We must be aware of our stubbornness when we insist on doing things our way. Which reminds me of how we dress up, we sometimes insist on wearing something even if it doesn't fit us just because it is the "in" thing. The same way with our life we end up looking foolish when we insist on keeping up with the latest trend and fashion that this world offers when the only thing that is well fitted for us is to always wear the clothes of Jesus which is fashioned in the passion of the cross. We have to be the best dressed Christian. Amen. Hallelujah!
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 6,17-29.
...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...
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