The good news is that the bad news is not the last word. St. Paul says “it is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God”, which is what the Good News is all about. Paul was rejected by some, who persuaded the people this Gospel was untrue, resulting in him being stoned and thrown out seemingly as a corpse. But lo and behold he gets up revived to continue the journey in proclaiming God’s Kingdom. We too should keep our eyes fixed on Jesus who endured the cross and now is seated with God. Can my comfortable armchair Christianity lead to such glory? Is it not uncomfortable and overwhelming struggles the gateway to supernatural realms? The psalm sums it up beautifully. “The glorious splendor of your reign will be known to all generations”. Tertullian, an early church father said that “the blood of martyrs is the seed of the church”. We spring up in greater numbers when we are mown down for our faith. Ironical but true.

PRAYER: Abba Father, may we, though like lambs among wolves, fearlessly proclaim that your Kingdom has come. Amen.