Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
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Do not be afraid.
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October 10, 2011 Monday of the Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1 Rom 1:1-7
Reading 1 Rom 1:1-7
Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus,
called to be an Apostle and set apart for the Gospel of God,
which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,
the Gospel about his Son, descended from David according to the flesh,
but established as Son of God in power
according to the Spirit of holiness
through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him we have received the grace of apostleship,
to bring about the obedience of faith,
for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles,
among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ;
to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
called to be an Apostle and set apart for the Gospel of God,
which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,
the Gospel about his Son, descended from David according to the flesh,
but established as Son of God in power
according to the Spirit of holiness
through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him we have received the grace of apostleship,
to bring about the obedience of faith,
for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles,
among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ;
to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is a letter of Paul to a Church he did not found. He wrote it most probably from Corinth around the year 56AD. He was then about to go to Jerusalem and take funds to the Christians there. They were Jewish Christians and he had collected manly from his gentile converts. It was a show of Christian solidarity. Paul wanted the help of the Christians in Rome for his proposed journey to Spain to spread the Gospel there. Paul would eventually arrive in Rome a prisoner and we do not know if he ever made it to Spain. There would seem to have been many Jewish converts in Rome and so Paul is much milder when talking to them of the Law and Circumcision than he was in his letter to the Galatians. Notice how he calls himself "the slave of Jesus Christ". It is a slavery out of love. His love was so great that he had no will or life of his own. Everything was for Jesus Christ.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:1bcde, 2-3ab, 3cd-4
R. (2a) The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
Gospel Lk 11:29-32
While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,
"This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah.
Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
At the judgment
the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation
and she will condemn them,
because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here.
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation
and condemn it,
because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,
and their is something greater than Jonah here."
"This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah.
Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
At the judgment
the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation
and she will condemn them,
because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here.
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation
and condemn it,
because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,
and their is something greater than Jonah here."
Jonah was a prophet with weaknesses of his own. He disobeyed the command of God. He was a reluctant preacher and would prefer the Ninevites to perish than be saved. Yet when he preached the people of Nineveh repented because they recognized they were sinners. The message is important and not the messenger. Jesus, sinless Servant of Yahweh, preached but the Jews in their self-righteousness would not listen. He is wisdom in person but still they would not listen to his message. We listen to the preaching of Jesus constantly for every time the Scriptures are read in church Jesus speaks to us. Do we open our hearts to his Word and live our lives according to it? We may not be self-righteous like the Pharisees but do we take the Word of God seriously? Do you reflect daily on his Word and examine your life in accordance with it?
Tuesday of the Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
October 11, 2011
October 11, 2011
Reading 1 Rom 1:16-25
Brothers and sisters:
I am not ashamed of the Gospel.
It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes:
for Jew first, and then Greek.
For in it is revealed the righteousness of God from faith to faith;
as it is written, "The one who is righteous by faith will live."
The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven
against every impiety and wickedness
of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
For what can be known about God is evident to them,
because God made it evident to them.
Ever since the creation of the world,
his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity
have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made.
As a result, they have no excuse;
for although they knew God
they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks.
Instead, they became vain in their reasoning,
and their senseless minds were darkened.
While claiming to be wise, they became fools
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God
for the likeness of an image of mortal man
or of birds or of four-legged animals or of snakes.
Therefore, God handed them over to impurity
through the lusts of their hearts
for the mutual degradation of their bodies.
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie
and revered and worshipped the creature rather than the creator,
who is blessed forever. Amen.
I am not ashamed of the Gospel.
It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes:
for Jew first, and then Greek.
For in it is revealed the righteousness of God from faith to faith;
as it is written, "The one who is righteous by faith will live."
The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven
against every impiety and wickedness
of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness.
For what can be known about God is evident to them,
because God made it evident to them.
Ever since the creation of the world,
his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity
have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made.
As a result, they have no excuse;
for although they knew God
they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks.
Instead, they became vain in their reasoning,
and their senseless minds were darkened.
While claiming to be wise, they became fools
and exchanged the glory of the immortal God
for the likeness of an image of mortal man
or of birds or of four-legged animals or of snakes.
Therefore, God handed them over to impurity
through the lusts of their hearts
for the mutual degradation of their bodies.
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie
and revered and worshipped the creature rather than the creator,
who is blessed forever. Amen.
Paul will insist in this letter as in all his letters that we are saved by our faith in Jesus. Jesus alone has won us salvation and offers this to us as a gift. By accepting him as Lord and Saviour and repenting of our sins we receive is salvation as a free gift.
Paul says that if we reflect on the world with a pure and open mind then we will be able to recognize God as its Creator. ‘The wrath of God’ is an expression which reveals the absolute opposition God has to any form of evil. Evil and sin are abhorrent to God and is a rebellion against God. God cannot stand by unconcerned.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:2-3, 4-5
R. (2a) The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
Gospel Lk 11:37-41
After Jesus had spoken,
a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home.
He entered and reclined at table to eat.
The Pharisee was amazed to see
that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal.
The Lord said to him, "Oh you Pharisees!
Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish,
inside you are filled with plunder and evil.
You fools!
Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside?
But as to what is within, give alms,
and behold, everything will be clean for you."
a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home.
He entered and reclined at table to eat.
The Pharisee was amazed to see
that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal.
The Lord said to him, "Oh you Pharisees!
Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish,
inside you are filled with plunder and evil.
You fools!
Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside?
But as to what is within, give alms,
and behold, everything will be clean for you."
The washing was not hygienic but a ritual to wash away “the sin” caused by touching the unclean. Jesus does not see sin as something external. Washing the body without ‘washing the heart’ is like cleaning a vessel externally while inside it stinks with rotting material. Our inner spirit must be consecrated to God in love. Then we will be full of justice and love for others, as God is. We hate to part with out material possessions because we love them and cling to them. ‘Where your treasure is, there is your heart’. Giving our treasures away to those in need purifies our heart of greed. We are able to love God and our brothers and sisters. Without a heart of pure love external religious practices, prayers and fasting have no value. To have a heart for God have you given away all you do not need.
Wednesday of the Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
October 12, 2011
October 12, 2011
Reading 1 Rom 2:1-11
You, O man, are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgment.
For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself,
since you, the judge, do the very same things.
We know that the judgment of God on those who do such things is true.
Do you suppose, then, you who judge those who engage in such things
and yet do them yourself,
that you will escape the judgment of God?
Or do you hold his priceless kindness, forbearance, and patience
in low esteem, unaware that the kindness of God
would lead you to repentance?
By your stubbornness and impenitent heart,
you are storing up wrath for yourself
for the day of wrath and revelation
of the just judgment of God,
who will repay everyone according to his works,
eternal life to those who seek glory, honour, and immortality
through perseverance in good works,
but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth
and obey wickedness.
Yes, affliction and distress will come upon everyone
who does evil, Jew first and then Greek.
But there will be glory, honour, and peace for everyone
who does good, Jew first and then Greek.
There is no partiality with God.
For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself,
since you, the judge, do the very same things.
We know that the judgment of God on those who do such things is true.
Do you suppose, then, you who judge those who engage in such things
and yet do them yourself,
that you will escape the judgment of God?
Or do you hold his priceless kindness, forbearance, and patience
in low esteem, unaware that the kindness of God
would lead you to repentance?
By your stubbornness and impenitent heart,
you are storing up wrath for yourself
for the day of wrath and revelation
of the just judgment of God,
who will repay everyone according to his works,
eternal life to those who seek glory, honour, and immortality
through perseverance in good works,
but wrath and fury to those who selfishly disobey the truth
and obey wickedness.
Yes, affliction and distress will come upon everyone
who does evil, Jew first and then Greek.
But there will be glory, honour, and peace for everyone
who does good, Jew first and then Greek.
There is no partiality with God.
We are responsible beings – we have to give a response for the free choices we make. God too has to give a judgement which is based on justice. Life is not a game. On the day he has to judge then God will do it giving just rewards regardless of the person. This just requital is called his wrath. God does not want to condemn but justice will oblige him to on the Day of the Lord. Meanwhile he takes delight in forgiving those who repent. We are saved by faith: accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour but the fullness of Salvation comes to those who persevere in good works. Without good works there is no salvation. our good works come from the Holy Spirit within us, given by Jesus when we wholeheartedly accept him. The way we treat others (our good works) is the way we treat God
Responsorial Psalm Ps 62:2-3, 6-7, 9
R. (13b) Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works.
Only in God is my soul at rest;
from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all.
Only in God is my soul at rest;
from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all.
Gospel Lk 11:42-46
The Lord said:
"Woe to you Pharisees!
You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb,
but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God.
These you should have done, without overlooking the others.
Woe to you Pharisees!
You love the seat of honour in synagogues
and greetings in marketplaces.
Woe to you!
You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk."
Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply,
"Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too."
And he said, "Woe also to you scholars of the law!
You impose on people burdens hard to carry,
but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them."
"Woe to you Pharisees!
You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb,
but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God.
These you should have done, without overlooking the others.
Woe to you Pharisees!
You love the seat of honour in synagogues
and greetings in marketplaces.
Woe to you!
You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk."
Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply,
"Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too."
And he said, "Woe also to you scholars of the law!
You impose on people burdens hard to carry,
but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them."
The Pharisees were so religious, yet Jesus does not approve of them. Fasting, saying prayers and observing the law was their life. But why were they doing this? Were they interested in what God thought of them.? St. Paul will say, I am not concerned about what men think of me. It is what judgement the Lord makes that counts. God is interested in a life of justice, of doing what is right towards people, of love for others and service. How many of us are faithful to church but do not practice justice and love in our lives? How many of us love to have the seats of honour and positions of power and authority in the Church only to satisfy our egos. It is not our external membership or our position in the Church but a religion of internal dedication, mercy, humility and love that God wants.
Thursday of the Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
October 13, 2011
Reading 1 Rom 3:21-30
Brothers and sisters:
Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,
though testified to by the law and the prophets,
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ
for all who believe.
For there is no distinction;
all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.
They are justified freely by his grace
through the redemption in Christ Jesus,
whom God set forth as an expiation,
through faith, by his Blood, to prove his righteousness
because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed,
through the forbearance of God?
to prove his righteousness in the present time,
that he might be righteous
and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
What occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out.
On what principle, that of works?
No, rather on the principle of faith.
For we consider that a person is justified by faith
apart from works of the law.
Does God belong to Jews alone?
Does he not belong to Gentiles, too?
Yes, also to Gentiles, for God is one
and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith
and the uncircumcised through faith.
Now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,
though testified to by the law and the prophets,
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ
for all who believe.
For there is no distinction;
all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.
They are justified freely by his grace
through the redemption in Christ Jesus,
whom God set forth as an expiation,
through faith, by his Blood, to prove his righteousness
because of the forgiveness of sins previously committed,
through the forbearance of God?
to prove his righteousness in the present time,
that he might be righteous
and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
What occasion is there then for boasting? It is ruled out.
On what principle, that of works?
No, rather on the principle of faith.
For we consider that a person is justified by faith
apart from works of the law.
Does God belong to Jews alone?
Does he not belong to Gentiles, too?
Yes, also to Gentiles, for God is one
and will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith
and the uncircumcised through faith.
Paul declares that all of us are sinners and stand condemned but God in hi mercy forgives our sins if we believe in Jesus, His Son. To believe is not just to accept that Jesus is God but to accept him as Lord – to obey his commands – and accept him as Saviour and so receive his forgiveness with a grateful heart. Salvation has not come through our good works whether they are prayer, fasting or helping others but through the merciful forgiveness of God. We have then no right to boast that we have ‘earned’ heaven by our good lives.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 130:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6ab
R. (7) With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.
Gospel Lk 11:47-54
The Lord said:
"Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets
whom your fathers killed.
Consequently, you bear witness and give consent
to the deeds of your ancestors,
for they killed them and you do the building.
Therefore, the wisdom of God said,
"I will send to them prophets and Apostles;
some of them they will kill and persecute?
in order that this generation might be charged
with the blood of all the prophets
shed since the foundation of the world,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah
who died between the altar and the temple building.
Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!
Woe to you, scholars of the law!
You have taken away the key of knowledge.
You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter."
When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees
began to act with hostility toward him
and to interrogate him about many things,
for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.
"Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets
whom your fathers killed.
Consequently, you bear witness and give consent
to the deeds of your ancestors,
for they killed them and you do the building.
Therefore, the wisdom of God said,
"I will send to them prophets and Apostles;
some of them they will kill and persecute?
in order that this generation might be charged
with the blood of all the prophets
shed since the foundation of the world,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah
who died between the altar and the temple building.
Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!
Woe to you, scholars of the law!
You have taken away the key of knowledge.
You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter."
When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees
began to act with hostility toward him
and to interrogate him about many things,
for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.
Not all Pharisees were bad but there were those who deserved the rebukes that Jesus gives. They may well have been the vocal ones in opposition to him. The Gospel is however not a history but a message for the believers of Jesus. Jesus demands that we be internally dedicated to God. It is not enough to go to church, on pilgrimages and be active members of the parish. Jesus demands a new heart which is sincere before God and man. He demands that our hearts be full of love for God. This love will manifest itself in love and service for others. We help others find the Kingdom by the lives we lead. We must be consciously the light of the world, not to attract attention to us but to God. Evangelisation is to share our experience of Jesus. Have you a burning desire to bring people to Jesus?
Friday of the Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
October 14, 2011
October 14, 2011
Reading 1 Rom 4:1-8
Brothers and sisters:
What can we say that Abraham found,
our ancestor according to the flesh?
Indeed, if Abraham was justified on the basis of his works,
he has reason to boast;
but this was not so in the sight of God.
For what does the Scripture say?
Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
A worker's wage is credited not as a gift, but as something due.
But when one does not work,
yet believes in the one who justifies the ungodly,
his faith is credited as righteousness.
So also David declares the blessedness of the person
to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven
and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not record.
What can we say that Abraham found,
our ancestor according to the flesh?
Indeed, if Abraham was justified on the basis of his works,
he has reason to boast;
but this was not so in the sight of God.
For what does the Scripture say?
Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
A worker's wage is credited not as a gift, but as something due.
But when one does not work,
yet believes in the one who justifies the ungodly,
his faith is credited as righteousness.
So also David declares the blessedness of the person
to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven
and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not record.
We have sinned. There is no way that we can cancel the sin. Nothing we do is capable of paying just restitution to God against whom we sin. But God through his Son Jesus gives us a free remission of our sins. By or faith in Jesus we are declared righteous by God with our sins forgiven. It is a free gift. It is not like the wages of a worker which he receives out of justice for the work he has done.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 32:1b-2, 5, 11
R. (see 7) I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.
Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,
in whose spirit there is no guile.
Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,
in whose spirit there is no guile.
Gospel Lk 12:1-7
At that time:
So many people were crowding together
that they were trampling one another underfoot.
Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples,
"Beware of the leaven'that is, the hypocrisy'of the Pharisees.
"There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness
will be heard in the light,
and what you have whispered behind closed doors
will be proclaimed on the housetops.
I tell you, my friends,
do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but after that can do no more.
I shall show you whom to fear.
Be afraid of the one who after killing
has the power to cast into Gehenna;
yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.
Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?
Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows."
So many people were crowding together
that they were trampling one another underfoot.
Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples,
"Beware of the leaven'that is, the hypocrisy'of the Pharisees.
"There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness
will be heard in the light,
and what you have whispered behind closed doors
will be proclaimed on the housetops.
I tell you, my friends,
do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but after that can do no more.
I shall show you whom to fear.
Be afraid of the one who after killing
has the power to cast into Gehenna;
yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.
Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?
Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows."
The crowds are following Jesus to Jerusalem in their thousands. What they were seeking? They were not his disciples. They didn’t understand his message of the Cross and of suffering for all who want to follow him. He turns and speaks with his disciples. The Pharisees are implacable opponents and because of their mentality there can be no truce. Jesus once again condemns their hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is to pretend to be what one is not. It is in the context of hypocrisy that Jesus proclaims that everything will one day be revealed. Can I stand upright when all is revealed? Jesus speak of fear five times. We are not to fear men. At most they can only kill our bodies. They can’t touch ‘us’. We are not to fear Satan either, but resist him in faith. We are to fear the One who gives the final judgement on our lives.
Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church
Saturday October 15, 2011
Saturday October 15, 2011
Reading 1 Rom 4:13, 16-18
Brothers and sisters:
It was not through the law
that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants
that he would inherit the world,
but through the righteousness that comes from faith.
For this reason, it depends on faith,
so that it may be a gift,
and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants,
not to those who only adhere to the law
but to those who follow the faith of Abraham,
who is the father of all of us, as it is written,
I have made you father of many nations.
He is our father in the sight of God,
in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead
and calls into being what does not exist.
He believed, hoping against hope,
that he would become the father of many nations,
according to what was said, Thus shall your descendants be.
It was not through the law
that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants
that he would inherit the world,
but through the righteousness that comes from faith.
For this reason, it depends on faith,
so that it may be a gift,
and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants,
not to those who only adhere to the law
but to those who follow the faith of Abraham,
who is the father of all of us, as it is written,
I have made you father of many nations.
He is our father in the sight of God,
in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead
and calls into being what does not exist.
He believed, hoping against hope,
that he would become the father of many nations,
according to what was said, Thus shall your descendants be.
God made the promise to Abraham not as a result of Abraham’s keeping of the Law. There was no Law then. It was purely out of the goodness and plan of God. Abraham believed the Word of God and this pleased God. By accepting in faith the Word spoken to us by Jesus we are the children of Abraham. All God’s blessings depend on our faith in Jesus.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 105:6-7, 8-9, 42-43
R. (8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
Gospel Lk 12:8-12
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I tell you,
everyone who acknowledges me before others
the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.
But whoever denies me before others
will be denied before the angels of God.
"Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,
but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
will not be forgiven.
When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities,
do not worry about how or what your defense will be
or about what you are to say.
For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say."
"I tell you,
everyone who acknowledges me before others
the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.
But whoever denies me before others
will be denied before the angels of God.
"Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,
but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
will not be forgiven.
When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities,
do not worry about how or what your defense will be
or about what you are to say.
For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say."
We must have no fear in publicly acknowledging our faith in Jesus. Our salvation depends on publicly professing Jesus as Lord and Saviour. It is hypocrisy to hide our faith. God is active in the world bringing salvation through Jesus. If a person calls his work, which is manifestly from God, from the Devil he sins against the Spirit. He knowingly rejects the salvation which brings forgiveness. God is always ready to forgive but the person has cut himself off from the source of salvation. The Christian life is life in the Spirit. The children of God are lead by the Spirit at all times. He is the source of their power and wisdom to witness to Jesus even in extreme circumstances. We are not then to worry. Do you experience the courage given you by the Spirit in your Christian life among non believers.
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