Our Venerable and God-bearing Father Euthemius the Great.
Hebrews 13:17-21; Luke 6:17-23.
Read Luke 6:17-23
“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy” (Lk. 6:23)! This is how Jesus tells us to respond when we are hated, excluded, reviled, and cast out as evil on account of Him. How many of us actually respond this way? We often seek the approval of others and want to be praised. We want to feel accepted by others, and we react poorly to being criticized and despised. As followers of Christ, we will not always be accepted by others or be treated with respect. However, we shouldn’t feel sad; we should rejoice! Our reward will be great in heaven for enduring these sufferings for the sake of Christ.
Jesus not only taught people and healed them of their diseases but also cast out any unclean spirits from them. Jesus heals not only physically but also spiritually. When people have faith in Jesus, power comes forth from Him and heals them. These healings weren’t isolated events in the past but continue even into the present day. Let us be willing to accept poor treatment for our faith in Christ. This same faith which might lead us to being rejected by men brings us healing and salvation in Jesus Christ.