Friday October 20, 2023

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“If we’re not being persecuted by anyone, we’re not speaking the truth loudly and boldly enough.”

Good News Reflection for:

Friday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint Paul of the Cross, priest
October 20, 2023

Today’s Prayer:

I want to fix my eyes on You, my savior, my rock and my stronghold. Give me the grace to trust Your love fully, and may my lips and my heart give the same message: Jesus Christ is The Lord. Amen.

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

Today’s Readings:

Romans 4:1-8
Ps 32:1b-2,5,11 (with 7)
Luke 12:1-7
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102023.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-october-20-2023

Dare to speak the truth

What truths are you whispering about behind closed doors because you’re afraid to make them known publicly? Are you afraid of the repercussions? Have you been told to keep silent by someone who’s frightened you?

Perhaps you’re not afraid but you simply do not have the opportunity to be heard by those who need to learn the truth.

Sometimes the fear is: “What if I don’t ever get to say it?”

Any fear can be very unsettling. It robs us of the peace that God has given us. But in today’s Gospel reading, Jesus says: “Fear nothing!”

His first promise in this scripture is a good fear-buster. He assures us that we can rely on God to reveal whatever truth needs to come out into the open. We can pray: “Lord Jesus, You are the light of the world. Expose the truth in Your holy light so that the people who need to know about it will become aware of it. Use the circumstances and the other people in their lives to make the truth plainly obvious to them.”

Life is so much easier when God chooses to reveal difficult truths through others, so we won’t have to face rejection and persecution, right? Yet he tells us not to be afraid to expose the truth. Yes, we might experience hardships from it, but we should not be afraid of that. What we should fear are the consequences of remaining silent when God gives us something to say.

For the sake of my readers who live in countries where persecution against Christianity is very strong, let us all join in prayer right now for their protection as they worship Jesus and serve his kingdom. I praise God for allowing me the opportunity to share these Good News Reflections with them, especially when they do not have Bibles, churches, priests, or freedom to share their faith publicly. The support I receive for my ministry enables me to continue providing the Good News to them.

The second promise that Jesus gives us in this scripture is another fear-buster. We are so very, very important — precious! — to God that he will always take good care of us, no matter how bad or scary a situation gets. Even if we become martyrs for the faith, our murderers cannot claim any victory over us. If their persecution makes daily life difficult, we will become more aware of Jesus, more aware of our how connected we are to his trials and his redemptive passion. If they kill our bodies, our souls are embraced by God and we immediately enjoy eternal rewards in heaven.

Do not be afraid! From persecution comes greater holiness than we would otherwise achieve. Persecution is not fun, but it’s the mark of a real Christian. If we’re not being persecuted by anyone, we’re not speaking the truth loudly and boldly enough.

For more on the topic of this subject, watch our Video, “Be not afraid” @ https://gnm-media.org/be-not-afraid/

© 2023 by Terry A. Modica

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