My Dearly Beloved in Christ;

As we continue in joyful thanks to God for the gift of the new Pontiff; His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, today’s f irst reading taken from the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 14: 21-27 recounts the missionary exploits of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas. Their missionary adventure among the inhabitants of Derbe, Lystra, Iconum and Antioch brought them a mixed bag of admiration and praise but not without the rejection, persecution and stoning that followed shortly after.

Nevertheless, they were not deterred by the pains of rejection and persecution, rather “They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” (Acts. 14:22). Thus, it almost goes without saying that Christians would have to undergo some form of trials, tribulations, rejection, opposition and persecution before they receive the crown of eternal glory.

As reported by the Little Sisters of the Poor, at one daily Mass in 2016, the late Pontiff; Pope Francis said:
There are bloody persecutions, like being torn to pieces by wild beasts to the delight of the audience in the stands or being blown up by a bomb at the end of Mass and there are ‘velvet-gloved’ persecutions that are ‘cloaked in politeness’: the ones that marginalize you, take your job away if you fail to adapt to laws that ‘go against God the Creator.’ Persecution, I would say, is the daily bread of the Church.

Christians while undergoing these hardships and persecutions for the sake of the Gospel and its kingdom must overcome the temptation to return tit for tat. During his first homily as Pope in the Sistine Chapel, former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost; now Pope Leo XIV said: ‘It is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied’.

However, if Christians can bear these sufferings joyfully like the early disciples did (cf. Acts. 5:41), they quickly become opportunities for Christian witnessing to Christ and the Gospel. This is the point Jesus makes in today’s Gospel reading when he gives us a new commandment to love one another as He has loved us. He concluded by saying: This is how all will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another (John 13:35).

Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that because love is the strongest force. As the Talmud tells us; “There are 10 strong things. Iron is strong, but fire melts it. Fire is strong, but water quenches it. Water is strong, but the clouds evaporate it. Clouds are strong, but wind drives them away. Man is strong, but the clouds evaporate it. Clouds are strong, but wind drives them away. Man is strong, but fears cast him down. Fear is strong, but sleep overcomes it. Sleep is strong, yet death is stronger. But loving kindness survives death.” Let love lead!

Peace be with you!

Fr. Samuel Aliba

BACK TO LIST