Saturday 25th April – Feast of St Mark, Evangelist

Reflection: 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 (Gospel Acclamation)

CHRISTIANITY: AN OVERWHELMING MESSAGE

The Christian faith and values has endured an incredibly great and ever new resistance from world powers in all spheres of human life right from its origin and even in our time. In our days, speaking against contraception, abortion and other “anti-life policies” and philosophies is a good way to win the unpopularity of the “modern-day” person. Titles ranging from ‘Ex-Catholic’ to ‘Atheist’ have become as fashionable as “Brazilian hair”. You might be drawn to wonder: “Why is there so much opposition to such a harmless way of life?” Saint Paul gives an answer in his first letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 1:23): “we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles”.

Christ’s message of unconditional love and forgiveness goes against human logic. The Church’s stance on morality does not hold water in our secular senate houses. Faith in unseen mysteries is regarded as foolishness. The devil goes on seeking souls to devour through sin and unbelief, yet our lives should represent Christ. In the midst of an increasingly secular world where truth is compromised, we are to stand up against these oppositions not by being judgmental or with spiritual pride but out of love and with a firm faith that seeks holiness of life.  (1 Pet 5: 8-9).

Dear friend, always remember that your Christian faith is a call from God and not just a choice you made. (1 Cor 1:24) Obey God’s call today in living as light of the world and salt of the earth (Mt 5: 13-16). You are born of God, overcome the world in faith (1 John 4:4).

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, reveal yourself to someone new today, as you make me a manifestation of your goodness. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 4 – Can we know the existence of God by our reason?

The world cannot have its origin and its destination within itself. In everything that exists, there is more than we see. The order, the beauty, and the development of the world point beyond themselves toward God. Every man is receptive to what is true, good, and beautiful. He hears within himself the voice of conscience, which urges him to what is good and warns him against what is evil. Anyone who follows this path reasonably finds God.

HIDE A TREASURE: “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:19 RSV-CE

Readings for Today: 1 Peter 5:5-14; Psalm 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17; Mark 16:15-20