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Homily of the Day
July 14, 2017

In the Gospel reading Jesus forewarns his disciples about the cost of discipleship: As followers of Jesus and witnesses to Christ and his message, they would be hated, arrested, brought to trial, persecuted and even put to death because they were followers of and believers in Jesus. Jesus assured them of God’s help.

Indeed from the beginning the Apostles and the Christians were hated, arrested and persecuted and even put to death because they were Christians.

The Acts of the Apostles (Acts 6: 8- 15; 7: 1 -60) tells us about St. Stephen, the first martyr for Christ, who died in witness of his faith in the Lord Jesus. The Greek word martyr originally meant witness: today we call martyrs those who suffered or died for what they believed or stood for. All of us are called to be “martyrs,” witnesses to Jesus. As witnesses we should be ready to be ridiculed and hated, persecuted and even put to death: with God’s grace and the assistance of the Holy Spirit, may we remain faithful witnesses, “martyrs.”


34 posted on 07/14/2017 9:08:04 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 33, Issue 4

<< Friday, July 14, 2017 >> St. Kateri Tekakwitha
 
Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30
View Readings
Psalm 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40 Matthew 10:16-23
Similar Reflections
 

GETTING READY TO DIE

 
"At last I can die, now that I have seen for myself that Joseph is still alive." —Genesis 46:30
 

Simeon prayed: "Now, Master, You can dismiss Your servant in peace" (Lk 2:29). Simeon was ready to die because he had seen Christ.

St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was ready to die because shortly before his death he saw "an opening in the sky, and the Son of Man standing at God's right hand" (Acts 7:56).

Death is knocking at the door. Jesus also stands at the door of our lives and knocks (Rv 3:20). If we open the door, see Jesus, and give our lives to Him, we are ready to die and to live.

Jesus promised: "Blest are the single-hearted for they shall see God" (Mt 5:8). To see Jesus is not a matter of the eyes but of the heart (see Eph 1:18). When we see Jesus to be our Lord, Savior, and God, then we have a new life, a life stronger than death.

See Jesus. Love Jesus. Live in Jesus. Die in Jesus. Live forever in Jesus.

 
Prayer: Father, enlighten "the eyes of my heart" (Eph 1:18, our transl).
Promise: "When they hand you over, do not worry about what you will say or how you will say it. When the hour comes, you will be given what you are to say. You yourselves will not be the speakers; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you." —Mt 10:19-20
Praise: St. Kateri was baptized at age twenty and died at age twenty-four, attending Mass every day.

35 posted on 07/14/2017 9:10:12 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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