Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own. — Psalm 33:12

Mass Readings: Ephesians 1:11-14 / Luke 12:1-7 

Be Not Afraid 

Today’s Gospel encourages the disciples to persevere amid whatever hardships they encounter. How appropriate that this Gospel be read on the feast of the North American martyrs! These brave men endured various tortures and mutilations for the sake of spreading the Gospel. 

In light of their sacrifice, I feel pretty puny when I shy away from some snide remark about me working for the Church. I wonder how God feels when I let those human fears overshadow His divine promise of protection, the same promise that emboldened the North American martyrs to face death. I do hope that, over time, I’ll be able to share in the their zeal and never be ashamed. In the meantime, I hope to take small steps to trust more in God’s loving care. 

Prayer: North American Martyrs, please pray for an increase in my faith.