Saturday of the Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Or Optional Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs
Or Optional Memorial of Saint Paul of the Cross

Luke 12: 8-12
Witnessing Christ in a hostile world

In today’s Gospel, Jesus prepares His disciples for their trials, urging them to stay faithful despite persecution. This message resonates strongly in today’s world, where many struggle with faith amidst personal, social, and global challenges. From wars to moral confusion, Christians are often pressured to compromise their beliefs. Yet, Jesus’ words remind us that we are called to be steadfast, even when faced with hardship.

Jesus speaks of two types of sins: words against the Son of Man, which can be forgiven, and blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which cannot. This “blasphemy” is a wilful, persistent rejection of God’s grace—a refusal to believe despite knowing the truth. While human weakness, like Peter’s denial of Christ, is forgivable when met with repentance, a heart that consistently denies God’s mercy closes itself off to forgiveness.

Luke’s Gospel reflects the early Christian community’s struggle to hold on to faith under persecution. Today, in a world increasingly hostile to Christian values, we face similar challenges. Whether through public pressure or personal trials, we are called to witness Christ not only with words but through the way we live our lives.

Jesus challenges us: are we willing to acknowledge Him as Lord in our daily lives? Do our conversations, emails, and social media posts reflect our faith? Are we using our words to glorify God in a world filled with noise? As St. Luke reminds us, we are to bear witness to Christ every day, trusting in God’s providential care as we navigate a world that often resists the message of the Gospel.

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