The conviction that in the difficult moments of our life God is on our side.

He is who grants us the joy of his Kingdom, that stems

from a profound life we can already enjoy here,

and is our guarantee of eternal life: Whoever acknowledges me

before others I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 

  

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

 

Jeremiah 20:10-13

I hear

Many people whispering,

"Terror is all around!

Denounce him! Yes, denounce him!"

All my friends watch me to see if I will slip:

"Perhaps he can be deceived," they say;

"then we can get the better of him and have our revenge."

But the Lord, a mighty warrior, is with me.

 

My persecutors will stumble and not prevail; that failure

will be their shame and their disgrace will never be forgotten.

The Lord, God of Hosts, you test the just and probe the heart and mind.

Let me see your revenge on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause.

Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord and say:

he has rescued the poor from the clutches of the wicked!

 

Ps 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35 (14c) 

Lord, in your great love, answer me.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

 Romans 5:12-15

Therefore, sin entered the world through one man; and through sin, death;

and later on, death spread to all humankind, because all sinned.

As long as there was no law, they could not speak of disobedience,

but sin was already in the world. This is why, from Adam to Moses, death reigned among them,

although their sin was not disobedience, as in Adam's case – this was not the true Adam,

but foretold the other, who was to come. Such has been the fall, but God's gift goes far beyond.

All died, because of the fault of one man, but how much more does the grace of God spread,

when the gift he granted, reaches all, from this unique man, Jesus Christ.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊     

 Matthew 10:26-33

There is nothing covered that will not be uncovered. There is nothing hidden that will not be made known.

What I am telling you in the dark, you must speak in the light.

What you hear in private, proclaim from the housetops.

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but have no power to kill the soul.

Rather, be afraid of him who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

 

For a few cents you can buy two sparrows. Yet not one sparrow falls to

the ground without your Father knowing. As for you, every hair of your head

has been counted. Do not be afraid: you are worth more than many sparrows!

Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before

my Father in heaven. Whoever rejects me before others, I will reject before my Father in heaven.

  

Gospel Reflection ：

Lectio Divina  Let us not lose focus but call on God.

 

Read: Jeremiah calls on God for help when his enemies persecute him for proclaiming

the word of God and denouncing their unfaithfulness. He trusts God to save him.

In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul states that while sin entered the world through one man,

salvation came through the just man, Jesus Christ. In the Gospel,

Jesus assures his disciples that they are precious to God, as they are worth more than many sparrows.

 

Reflect: The Lord reminds his disciples not to fear what may happen in their lives while following Him.

They are loved by God, just as God cares for the sparrows in the field and counts the hairs on their heads.

Jeremiah expressed the same confidence in the Lord as he faced persecution during

his ministry as God's prophet. In our lives, too, as disciples of Christ, we encounter triais and difficulties.

We may lose courage along the way. But we are reminded today that God watches over each of us,

and we need not worry. When the journey feels heavy and tiring, let us not lose focus

but call on God. He who gave up His Son for us will not fail us.

 

Pray: Lord, help me to trust in you as the prophets did so that I may remain your faithful servant.

 

Act: Pray for the gift of a trusting heart.