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Do not fear persecution

Gospel
Matthew 10:16-23
The Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Remember, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves.
    ‘Beware of men: they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the pagans. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you. ‘Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name; but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved. If they persecute you in one town, take refuge in the next; and if they persecute you in that, take refuge in another. I tell you solemnly, you will not have gone the round of the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.’

Reflection
Being Christ disciple comes with a price, persecution. Many will think persecution is about being thrown into prison because of our faith. However there is a subtle persecution where our faith are challenged by people who want us to follow the way of the world. How do we overcome this challenge?

Let us pray
Lord Jesus you said thou shall not put the Lord your God to the test. May we not put you to the test as we defend our faith.

Amen





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