BEADS OF JOY 07-13-18
“They Persecute You”
©2018 James Dacey, Jr. OFS
My Friends,
Today’s Gospel: Matthew 10:16-23 (Coming Persecutions)
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel, before the Son of man comes.”
Reflection:
Are you ready, willing and able to withstand any form of persecution? The road ahead for Christians… could be grim. Jesus told his disciples in today’s gospel that they will be, “sheep in the midst of wolves;” Jesus has always been completely open and honest with his disciples about coming persecutions. Let us look at another scripture where Jesus speaks… Warning us:
Matthew 24:7-14 “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
Are you going to be able to accept hardship and suffering in serving our Lord Jesus Christ? The road ahead maybe an uphill battle. We have Jesus on our side, we have His Word, we have the Eucharist. We must be strong, and we must do all we can to help encourage one another to remain strong. Even if we must die because of our faith and love for Him, so be it; better to die with Him than without Him.
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Your Identity in Christ
Pondering these thoughts today: This isn’t an easy reflection for many to accept or understand. I stand before you in full conviction of my faith. Nothing in this world will ever come before me, or derail me, from believing and loving Jesus first. We must have courage and faith, that God’s plan is greater than our own fears. He knows what we are feeling, He knows what we are fearing. But He also know that we love Him and that’s what truly matters.
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LOVE YOU GUYS !!!!
Your brother in Christ Jesus
And His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr OFS
Today is Friday: We pray the Sorrowful Mysteries:
The Sorrowful Mysteries
1. Agony on the Garden (Sorrow for sin) –Matt 26:36-46
2. Scourging at the Pillar (Purity) –Mark 15:1-16
3. Crowning with Thorns (Moral Courage) –Matt 27:27-31
4. Carrying of the Cross (Patience) –Mark 15:20-22
5. The Crucifixion (Perseverance) –Luke 23:33-46
Thank you Lord for loving us so much…
Rosary Man Jim’s Sorrowful Reflection: http://beads-of-joy-blog.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-sorrowful-mysteries_11.html
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