Inspirations at your Fingertips!

Ending violence John 10:31-42 "There is terror from every side," says the first reading for today.  Even in the gospel, the Jews want to stone Jesus to death. But in the end, the Lord will triumph. He is also showing us why there is violence and how violence can be counteracted with the power of the Lord. There is violence simply because people do not know Christ and his ways.  They don't recognize him as God's only Son.  Secondly, they don't recognize his works as coming from God the Father.  They simply don't recognize him as One with the Father.  When we encounter violence with other people, notice any of these three things lacking.  However, the Lord will triumph with people who know Jesus, follow His will, and produce the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, and peace, among others. Let's pray for the conversion of this world.  Consequently, violence will end.

Remedies to violence Matthew 10:17-22 A day after Christmas and we are exposed to violence: the death of Stephen and the warning of Jesus.  It shows us that this is the world Jesus entered and saved from sin.  It would entail also the offering of his life.  This is our Christmas as well. In the face of violence and in front of non-God-fearing people, the best remedies are trust in the Lord, commitment to serve him, and perseverance in faith. Trust in the Lord because when the time comes, it is the Lord who will speak through us. Be committed to serve him despite all odds, so that when we face our accusers, we can face them with clear consciences. Last but not the least, persevere in faith; in time, we will reap the fruits of this perseverance: the conversion of our brothers and sisters.