Tag: john 15:19

Posted in "Follow Me", AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CATHOLIC Quotes, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 28 October – “If God is for us, who is against us?”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 28 October – “The Month of The Most Holy Rosary and The Holy Angels” – The Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles – Ephesians 4:7-13 – John 15:17-25 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“You are not of the world … I have chosen you out of the world, therefore, the world hateth you.” – John 15:19

REFLECTION – “All good and faithful Christians but above all, the glorious Martyrs, can say: “If God is for us, who is against us?” (Rom 8:31) The world conspired, peoples plotted in vain, princes formed a league against them (Ps 2:1); people invented new torments and formulated incredible forms of torture. They were covered with disgrace and deceitful accusations, they were locked into unbearable dungeons, their flesh was wracked with nails of iron, they were massacred by the sword, they were thrown to wild beasts, given to the flames and these Martyrs of Christ, called out: “If God is for us, who is against us?”

The whole world is against you and you say: “Who is against us?” But the Martyrs answer: “What does this whole world matter to us, since we are dying for the One by Whom the world was made?” Thus, may the Martyrs say and say again and may we hear it and say it with them: “If God is for us, who is against us?” They may let their fury loose, they may revile us, accuse us unjustly, heap calumny upon us; they may not only kill us but torture us. What will the Martyrs do? They will repeat: “But surely, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.” (Ps 54:4). … But if the Lord is the upholder of my life, how can the world harm me? … It is He Who will also restore my body … “The hairs of our head are all numbered.” (Lk 12:7) … So let us say – let us say with faith, let us say with hope, with a heart on fire with love: “If God is for us, who is against us?!” – St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermon 334 for the Holy Martyrs).

PRAYER – O God, Who has given us a way of coming to know Thy Name through Thy blessed Apostles Simon and Jude, grant us to honour their everlasting glory, by becoming more holy and to become more holy by honouring it. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on ANGELS, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on THE WORLD, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 28 October – ‘ … Let us fight the good fight with brave hearts and solid faith!’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 28 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles – Ephesians 4:7-13, John 15:17-25 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“If you had been of the world, the world would love its own but because, you are not of the world, I have chosen you out of the world, therefore, the world hateth you.” – John 15:19

REFLECTION – “Our Lord’s Will is that we should rejoice and leap for joy when we are persecuted (Mt 5:12) because, when persecutions come, it is the, crowns are given for faith (cf Jas 1:12), it is then, Christ’s soldiers prove themselves, then the heavens open to their witness. We are not employed in God’s force only to think of quiet, running away from service when the Teacher of humility, patience and suffering, has Himself provided the same service before us. What He taught, He first of all, carried out and if He exhorts us to stand firm, it is because He Himself suffered before us and on our behalf.

If we are to take part in competitions in the stadium we exercise and train ourselves and think ourselves highly honoured if, before the eyes of the crowd, we have the happiness of receiving the prize. But here is a trial which is both noble and outstanding in another way, in which God watches us – His children – take part in the combat and Himself gives us a heavenly crown ( 1 Cor 9:25). The Angels watch us too and Christ comes to our aid. So let us arm ourselves with all our might; let us fight the good fight with brave hearts and solid faith!” – St Cyprian (200-258) Bishop of Carthage, Martyr, Father of the Church (Letter 56).

PRAYER – O God, Who has given us a way of coming to know Thy Name through Thy blessed Apostles Simon and Jude, grant us to honour their everlasting glory, by becoming more holy and to become more holy by honouring it. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).