Thursday August 29, 2024

You are called to be the presence of Christ wherever you are and in everything you do.

Good News Reflection for:

Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist
August 29, 2024

Today’s Prayer:

I praise You and thank You, Lord Jesus, because You spared nothing to save us and to give us abundant life. I want to receive this gift with all my heart! Amen.

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Today’s Readings:

1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Psalm 119:97-102
Mark 6:17-29
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082924.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-august-29-2024

Why doesn’t God protect us from all harm?

In today’s Gospel reading, God fails to protect John the Baptist. Was it because John didn’t pray for protection? He probably did! So why was he killed if not because God abandoned him? Perhaps he had strayed from God’s will? No. Herod killed him while John was doing the Lord’s work.

Based on this, we might surmise that working for God is not safe. It sure seems so whenever we take an unpopular stand on the truth. And I could tell you lots of personal stories about sufferings that happen because of my commitment to work deeply in ministry, which I’m pretty sure are temptations to quit doing ministry. (Don’t worry; such temptations only drive me to work for God with greater determination.)

I can imagine myself marching up to Almighty God, hands on my hips, saying, “Well? How about it? Why didn’t You protect me from ___ and ___? Where were You? How can You promise protection and then let me down? What do You have to say for Yourself, huh?”

However, as in every struggle, every persecution, and every emotional or spiritual earthquake, we have to humbly assume that there’s something about the Bigger Picture that we can’t yet see, something we can’t yet understand. Eventually, in this life or the next, God will reveal it and we will go, “Ahhhhhhhhh.” And John the Baptist in heaven will nod his head and say, “It was all worth it.” And we will agree.

In the meantime, instead of asking “Where are You, God? Why are You letting this happen to me?” we should ask, “Which is more important: protection from suffering or doing what God wants me to do for the sake of the salvation of others?” (Note: I am not suggesting that we allow an abusive person to continue suppressing us; such abuse must be stopped or fled; we’re helping no one if we allow it to continue.)

Another way to word this question is: “Which is more important: my physical comfort or the world’s spiritual discomfort?”

Let’s be honest. We prefer to feel comfortable. We avoid situations that might result in persecution. We tend to be people-pleasers instead of God-pleasers, so that others will like us and approve of us.

Ever since I gave my heart to the Catholic Church in 1977, I’ve devoted my daily life to working for Christ’s kingdom on earth. Could I not also devote my sufferings and even my death to his kingdom? I pray that God will grant me the opportunity, even in death, to help others discover the fullness of his love, and I pray that, until then, I will be filled with his grace so that I can ignore my desire to be comfortable.

If you make a similar request, you’ll discover that your life is much more meaningful and your death — even if it’s by martyrdom — is no longer fearsome.

Reflect further on this with our WordByte called: “Are you being persecuted for speaking the truth?” @ https://wordbytes.org/passion-spirituality/persecuted/.

© by Terry A. Modica, Good News Ministries

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