Thursday June 29, 2023

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“Our lives are billboards that display Jesus to the people around us who know that we call ourselves Christians.”

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Good News Reflection for:

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
June 29, 2023

Today’s Prayer:

My Lord Jesus, give me the experience of You that I need so much. May it root in me the full conviction of who You are. May Your Holy Spirit be in my life, the engine to announce Your Name to all nations. Amen.

Subscribe to Today’s Saint Quote & Prayer:
gnm.org/SaintQuotes/

Today’s Readings:

Acts 12:1-11
Ps 34:2-9
2 Tim 4:6-8, 17-18
Matthew 16:13-19
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062923-Vigil.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-june-29-2023-day

Who do you say Jesus is?

Who do you say Jesus is? This is the question posed to each of us in today’s Gospel reading, not only for our own spiritual growth, but also because our lives are billboards that display Jesus to the people around us who know that we call ourselves Christians.

Consider what you’re advertising when you need Jesus to rescue you from an unhappy situation. In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter is rescued by an angel. In the responsorial Psalm we declare: “The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.” Does your behavior say to others that this is true for everyone?

Which (if any) of the following does your behavior advertise that Jesus is?

[ ] A Limited Human Being. Friends and family have let you down, so of course Jesus will too. You rely only on your own resources, because you don’t really believe you can depend on Jesus.

[ ] A Cosmic Force. Because Jesus ascended to heaven, he doesn’t get involved in your everyday, earthly concerns. You don’t ask for his help while driving and wondering which route to take, or when selecting the day’s clothing or choosing the right purchases.

[ ] A Magic Genie. Rub him the right way, and he’ll grant your wish with a snap of his almighty finger. You perform religious rituals perfectly and say the “right” prayers, and when nothing happens, you think it’s because you didn’t pray rightly.

[ ] Santa Claus. Give Jesus your wish list and make sure you’re a good girl or boy so that he brings you whatever you want. You try to winhim over by volunteering for parish ministries and talking a lot about religious things using Christian buzzwords.

[ ] A Marshmallow. He’s always soft; he understands why you sin and therefore it’s okay to do it again. You rarely see a need for the Sacrament of Confession, and if you actually examine your conscience, you rationalize away your guilt.

[ ] A Punisher. Jesus is watching your every move, waiting for you to do something wrong so that he can punish you. You assume that you’ll never be good enough to please God. You think you don’t deserve to have fun or to receive good things.

[ ] The Embodiment of Love. When you picture Jesus, he is smiling. He knows you intimately and cares about you totally. Because he loves you whether you deserve it or not, you proceed through hardships like he’s already working a plan that will make everything turn out good. Your positive attitude shows others that you’re blessed because of him, no matter what happens.

Who do you say Jesus is?

For more on this, watch our video, “Do You Know How Important You Are to Jesus?” @ https://gnm-media.org/know-important-jesus/

© 2023 by Terry A. Modica

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