Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-93) - Everything indeed is for you

Dearest Goddaughter,

Today is the Feast of Saint James, Apostle. He was the first apostle of the Lord to die a martyr's death.

This passage from the first reading describes the life that we, as Christians and followers of Christ, are called to live as to become authentic witnesses of the Gospel.

We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained;

perplexed, but not driven to despair;

persecuted, but not abandoned;

struck down, but not destroyed;

always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus,

so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.

It is a daily dying to our old self and old ways so that our Lord Jesus Christ can renew us to be the person that God created us to be. It is certainly a challenge to live this calling because, as the saints and holy men and women of God experienced before us, we will suffer persecution, be struck down, left perplexed, and be afflicted in various ways as we follow the Way of the Cross of Christ.

However, we are strengthen by our Lord in the Eucharist, who "did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." Therefore, we cannot be destroyed because God sustains us. Our hope is in our Eucharistic Lord so we do not succumb to despair. If we cling to him, especially during difficult moments in our lives, then we will know that He never will abandon us. Most of all, with faith, we know and believe in our hearts that the life of Jesus, the Spirit of God dwells in us and gives us the courage to love as Jesus loves.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 2 Cor 4:7-15 and Mt 20:20-28 (see below).

. . .

The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons

and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.

He said to her,

"What do you wish?"

She answered him,

"Command that these two sons of mine sit,

one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom."

Jesus said in reply,

"You do not know what you are asking.

Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?"

They said to him, "We can."

He replied,

"My chalice you will indeed drink,

but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give

but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."

When the ten heard this,

they became indignant at the two brothers.

But Jesus summoned them and said,

"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,

and the great ones make their authority over them felt.

But it shall not be so among you.

Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;

whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.

Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served

but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."