ACTS 16:1-10

Paul reached also Derbe and Lystra where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him, and Paul wanted him to come along with him. On account of the Jews of that region, Paul had him circumcised, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they traveled from city to city, they handed on to the people for observance the decisions reached by the Apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem. Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number. They traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian territory because they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit from preaching the message in the province of Asia. When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them, so they crossed through Mysia and came down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision. A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." When he had seen the vision, we sought passage to Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.

JOHN 15:18-21

Jesus said to his disciples: "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me."

Living in today’s world frequently demands our compliance to its standards. Unfortunately, many of our civilization’s standards do not correspond with the standards of the Gospels such that we are brought to conflict with others, if not ourselves.

We as Christians are at times condemned for our principles of love and sharing. Many of us fall out of faith because our personal world frowns on trust and compassion. Perhaps there is even pressure to succeed at another one’s cost. The crab mentality dominates. We therefore need Jesus to help us. It is a great comfort that God, through the presence of the Trinity, is behind us in our endeavor as Christians to change the world toward the standards of Christ.

Let us constantly assess our spiritual lives to ensure that we do not fall into the traps of today’s worldly standards. Let us pray for Jesus’ guidance in our search for Love and Truth.

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Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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