Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said:“Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophetsin the same way. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”

~Luke 6:20-26

In today’s Gospel, I am gripped by reality. I will admit the Lord truly has sheltered me… I work in a beautiful Catholic School, write for a wonderful Catholic Company, Missio Dei *wink wink*, and have a parish that offers regular confession, Latin mass, and A parish that is like family. We are a group of like-minded individuals that practice our beautiful Catholic Faith every day of every second of our lives, while we battle the “Woke” ideals of the society around us. I am blessed, the Lord has orchestrated my life in such a way I do not deserve. Now though this is all true, we have not been left without our persecution. You, Me, and our brothers and sisters in Christ are being faced with not only the daily trials and tribulations of the day but persecution inflicted upon us.

The days of persecution are not behind us. They are not only the stories you read of the martyrs, and of times “past”, but those current and being lived today.

Persecution may not always seem as direct it appears in forms such as,

1. Abortion (A woman’s choice?).

2. Promotion of Homosexuality in schools to children of all ages! (Just trying to be loving and inclusive?).

3. The suppression of the Latin Mass (tying to unify the Church?).

And times where it is just as it appears,

1. Murder.

2. Destroying/ Vandalizing statues, Churches, or religious institutions.

3. interrupting mass or sacred events with propaganda or political agenda (Mothers day protest that occurred).

4. Christians being banned on Social Media or demonetized.

My brothers and sisters, we are living in trying times!

• Let us, be poor, not of spirit but of worldy things.

• Let us, be hungry, so that we may be satisfied through Christ in Eucharist.

• Let us, weep, for the souls that have departed this world and those who turn against God.

• Let us also, Rejoice!

For there is hope, just as the lord said you will be hated because of My name. Let us find comfort in the hatred of the evil one. For it means, we are doing something right.

These days of persecution may be grim and at times one might question if it is all worth it. It is clear in today’s gospel that, Yes it is all worth it! “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!”

Let it be, when your feet hit the floor Satan says, “ugh! There are up!” Let all the persecution only draw you closer to the Lord’s love, grace, and mercy. Because it is ONLY through Him that you will be able to return to his loving embrace! Be Blessed and Rejoice!!!

Jesus I Trust in You (In Te Confido Iesu).

J+M+J