MY daily reflection and prayer:
Thursday, Desember 10, 2015
The Second Week of Advent
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. Matthew 11:11-15
Jesus Christ says, “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John; and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
THE Gospel today proclaims Jesus Christ who praises John the Baptist as the greatest person born. He is also the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
He is the greatest for he suffered violence for announcing that the kingdom of God was near. He was thrown into prison and then beheaded. And we know that since his martyrdom to the present times the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence and persecution. The blood of the martyrs throughout the ages bear witness to this fact.
But the source and the top of the martyrdom is Jesus Christ himself who shed his blood to redeem us from slavery to sin and Satan and the fear of death. He gives us the power of his Holy Spirit to overcome fear with faith, despair with hope, and every form of hatred, violence, jealousy, and prejudice with love and charity towards all, even those who want to destroy and kill us.
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist while worshipping Jesus Christ, we proclaim the joy of the Gospel of Christ even in the midst of suffering and violence. There we ask the spirit of martyrdom that we may bear testimony to the joy of the Gospel in the midst of daily challenges, contradictions, temptations and adversities.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, give us your spirit of martyrdom that we can love our enemies, be joyful in suffering, patient in adversity, pardon injuries, and show comfort and compassion to the hopeless and the helpless. Fill us with the power of his Holy Spirit and give us sufficient grace, strength, and wisdom to face any trial and to answer any challenge to our faith now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
