26-Dec-16

Gospel MT 10:17-22
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts
and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake
as a witness before them and the pagans.
When they hand you over,
do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death,
and the father his child;
children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”
Reflection:
As believers in Jesus Christ, we are called to spread the Good News that Christ gave His life to make known, God's love and forgiveness toward all of His children.
Our message of a loving God may be rejected by those who view God as punishing and judgmental.
But, we do not have to "worry" about being scripture scholars or always having the right answers to convince others.
For Jesus tells us, "......do not worry about how you are to speak
or what you are to say.
You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak
but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."
When talking to others about God, I often whisper to myself, "Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful."
It is then that a calmness comes over me and I remember: it is not up to me to have all the answers.
My role is to have the courage to be present as a vessel for the Holy Spirit to speak through.
"Be stout of heart and put your trust in God alone." - - Unknown