Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on Lukewarmness, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 28 October – If they kept My Word, they will also keep yours. John 15:20

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

“The servant is not greater than his Master. If they kept My Word, they will also keep yours. ” – John 15:20

REFLECTION – “Just as those, who have been trained in agriculture cut up the land with the plough and then, bury the seed in the furrow and do not rely any further on their own skill but rather, leave the rest to the power and favour of God — I mean the germination of the seed which is buried in the earth and nourishing it, up to perfect fruit, — so too, I think, the interpreter of the noblest truths ought only to sow the Word and leave the rest to God.

The Saviour, therefore, gives His advice in this matter to His disciples as a medicine, for lack of spirit and a cure for listlessness. For, He says, do not ever choose to shy away from continuing to teach, even if some of those, who have once been admonished, should nullify the teaching that has been given to them. Rather, finding that even My Words are often not received by many, do not strive to surpass My reputation. Instead, follow in My footsteps and do not become discouraged!” – St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) Bishop, Father and Doctor of the Church – (Commentary on the Gospel of John, 10)

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 "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, I BELIEVE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PERSECUTION, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 28 October – “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me first.”- John 15:18

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

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me first.”- John 15:18

REFLECTION –“I rejoice with you greatly in our Lord Jesus Christ, that you welcomed the copies of true love [Ignatius of Antioch and his companions]…who were encumbered with saintly chains, which are the diadems of those, truly chosen by God and our Lord. And I rejoice because the deep root of your faith, which has been renowned from early times, still lasts and bears fruit to our Lord Jesus Christ, Who for our sins, endured even facing death and Whom “God raised, releasing Him from the throes of death” (Acts 2,24). “Though you have not seen Him, you believe with unutterable, triumphant joy” (1Pt 1,8)… “He who raised Him from the dead will raise us also” (2Cor 4,14), if we do His Will and live by His Commands and love what He loved… Let us be imitators of His endurance and, if we suffer for His sake, let us glorify Him. For He set us this example Himself and this is what we have believed.

So I beg you all, to obey the message of uprightness and to exhibit all endurance, such as you saw with your own eyes, not only in the blessed Ignatius and Zosimus and Rufus but also, in others of your number and in Paul himself and the rest of the Apostles, being assured, that all these “have not run in vain” (Gal 2,2) but in faith and uprightness and, that they are in the place that they have deserved with the Lord, with and for Whom they suffered. For they did not “love the present world” (2Tm 4,10) but Christ, Who died for us and was raised up by God for our sakes.”- St Polycarp (69-155) Apostolic Father, Bishop and Martyr – Letter to the Philippians, 1-2, 8-9

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. ThroughJesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).