FEARLESS AND COURAGEOUS DISCIPLESHIP
First Reading: Jeremiah 20: 10-13
Second Reading: Romans 5: 12-15
Gospel Reading: Matthew 10: 26-33
* First reading is from the book of Prophet Jeremiah. In this passage Jeremiah expresses his anguish and pain. Even when surrounded by enemies and faced with terror from every side Jeremiah places his total trust in the Lord God. He is convinced that the Lord God is on his side.
*Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. In this passage Paul explains to the Christians in Rome that sin and death came through Adam the first man. However freedom and life came through Jesus Christ the second Adam.
"Fear not, you are of more value than many sparrows"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. In this passage Jesus invites His disciples to be fearless and courageous in the face of rejection and opposition.
The following points are mentioned:
1. Message of Jesus is not to be hidden but to be proclaimed openly - on the house tops.
2. Disciples should not be afraid of those who kill the body but be afraid of the one who can kill the soul.
3. Even a tiny sparrow is taken care of by God. We are of more value than many sparrows. If so, we should realize that God is in control of our lives and nothing happens without His knowledge.
4. Those who acknowledge Jesus and His message openly will be acknowledged by the heavenly Father. Hence fearless witnessing to Christ will make us worthy to receive eternal reward.
In order to respond wholeheartedly to Jesus's invitation needs great faith, courage and radical commitment. But He does not want His disciples to be members of a cowardly Church or a faithless community. He wants us to stand up and be counted for our faith.
" My job seems to be to go around picking up insults and corpses" - Bl. Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador.
"I really fear that most of those who call themselves Christians would go on almost as they do, if they believed Christianity to be nothing more than a fable" - Bl. Cardinal Newman.
"Keeping silent in the face of injustice is as DEADLY as the violence itself." - Jimmy Carter (Former President of USA)
First Reading: Jeremiah 20: 10-13
Second Reading: Romans 5: 12-15
Gospel Reading: Matthew 10: 26-33
* First reading is from the book of Prophet Jeremiah. In this passage Jeremiah expresses his anguish and pain. Even when surrounded by enemies and faced with terror from every side Jeremiah places his total trust in the Lord God. He is convinced that the Lord God is on his side.
*Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. In this passage Paul explains to the Christians in Rome that sin and death came through Adam the first man. However freedom and life came through Jesus Christ the second Adam.
"Fear not, you are of more value than many sparrows"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. In this passage Jesus invites His disciples to be fearless and courageous in the face of rejection and opposition.
The following points are mentioned:
1. Message of Jesus is not to be hidden but to be proclaimed openly - on the house tops.
2. Disciples should not be afraid of those who kill the body but be afraid of the one who can kill the soul.
3. Even a tiny sparrow is taken care of by God. We are of more value than many sparrows. If so, we should realize that God is in control of our lives and nothing happens without His knowledge.
4. Those who acknowledge Jesus and His message openly will be acknowledged by the heavenly Father. Hence fearless witnessing to Christ will make us worthy to receive eternal reward.
In order to respond wholeheartedly to Jesus's invitation needs great faith, courage and radical commitment. But He does not want His disciples to be members of a cowardly Church or a faithless community. He wants us to stand up and be counted for our faith.
" My job seems to be to go around picking up insults and corpses" - Bl. Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador.
"I really fear that most of those who call themselves Christians would go on almost as they do, if they believed Christianity to be nothing more than a fable" - Bl. Cardinal Newman.
"Keeping silent in the face of injustice is as DEADLY as the violence itself." - Jimmy Carter (Former President of USA)
No comments:
Post a Comment