The Holy Priest-Martyr Theodotus of Ancyra (284-305)
Apostles’ Fast
Read
Romans 8:22-27; Matthew 10:23-31
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
In the wake of the legalization of abortion in Ireland, many of us feel like the wind has been punched out of us. Here is a place that stood as one of the few last Christian bastions against the strong pressures of the secular dehumanizing darkness of abortion. The darkness seems to be growing at an unstoppable rate and a return to civilized respect for life seems like a near impossibility. It’s easy for Christians to lose hope and allow fear to dominate our life. We can easily become afraid of the world at what seems like a losing battle.
In today’s Gospel lesson Jesus reminds us that we are not to fear those who persecute the church and are only able to kill the body. For life is far greater than just what we see here and now. And the power of God is unmatched by the prince of this world. For the power held by the prince of this world is not comparable to the One who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell—that is God. We must only fear the One who has ultimate authority. Fear of God is based on awe and reverence for He is ’a consuming fire’ (Hebrews 12:29). Fire gives light, warmth, but also purifies all impurities. God holds the ultimate power and all diabolical acts will be brought to the light of His judgement. Justice will prevail and life will shine forth out of the darkness. We move forward in the fight for life with confidence that light and life will ultimately prevail no matter how dark it may become.