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Gospel Reading for July 11, 2025 – Matthew 10: 16-23
POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Jesus said to his Apostles: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But 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. When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”
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The first Christian martyr, St. Stephen, was stoned to death after delivering a powerful defense of his faith before the Jewish Sanhedrin. It is said that as he was dying, he even prayed for forgiveness for his persecutors (Acts 7: 60). The apostles had their own share of persecutions, some of which led to their deaths. Many missionaries suffered too, for the Faith. Our very own St. Lorenzo Ruiz, chose to die for the Faith. He was hanged upside down over a pit. One can imagine the excruciating pain they had to bear and their courage to face death.
We wince from a small wound and even with just a prick of the needle. In comparison, their pain was many, many, many times over and yet they were able to bear it. It is not possible without the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Nowadays, especially in countries where Christianity is recognized, the persecutions will not be physical as the martyrs had to go through. The persecutions will be from non-believers: atheists, agnostics, satanists, and even within the circle of our family and relatives. The Holy Spirit will give us the courage so we may remain steadfast in our faith. The Holy Spirit will give us all we need to live life the way Christ did, and be the lamp that will illumine the darkness in our part of the world.
Let us ponder on this song written by Beatrice Verdi and Christine Yarian, IN OUR SMALL WAY –
Maybe you and I can’t do great things;
We may not change the world in one day;
But we still can change some things today
in our small way.
Empty words are not enough;
Where there’s hurt we’ll be a crutch;
When there’s thirst we’ll fill each other’s cup;
Because we care we love enough to share.
In despair we’ll be the hope;
And the prayer that frees the soul;
We’ll be there to share each lonely road;
Because we love, I know;
We care enough.
Just a little time is all it takes;
What a difference just a smile can make, you’ll see;
Love is all we need.
Maybe you and I can’t do great things;
We may not change the world in one day;
But we still can change some things today
in our small way.
