5 July 2023 - Only By Grace Reflections
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TOPIC: HOW WILL YOU RESPOND WHEN CHRIST MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE?
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First Reading: Genesis 21: 5, 8-20a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 34: 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
Alleluia: James 1: 18
Gospel: Matthew 8: 28-34
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus once again cures suffering people by casting out evil spirits which had possessed them. But the amazing thing is that when they saw Jesus, they pleaded with Him to leave their region despite the magnitude of the miracle. Maybe it was the loss of the pigs, or maybe it was the kind of fearsome authority that Jesus projected as one who judges and casts out evil. We do not understand why some believe and some do not. But they did not want Him there among them.
There is something to be said about people who became so used to living in misery that any change to alter their state is something to be feared and avoided.
Evil is a reality that many take for granted or even deny its existence. The Vatican document titled,“The Christian Faith and Demonology” states, “Being founded upon the teaching of the New Testament, the Liturgy directly echoes this teaching when it declares that the life of the baptized is a combat, conducted with the grace of Christ and the power of his Spirit against the world, the flesh and demonic beings.” Let us fight evil with Him who is all-powerful, whose very name makes the devil flee.
This is the 1179th installment of our CFC contemplation series focusing on the daily liturgical readings.
[NOTE: As we continue to pray for Bro Bong Arjonillo’s healing and recovery, let us listen to our brother Raymond Bucu, Head of the CFC Gateway Evangelization Programs, as he brings us today's reflection.
All the regular reflections are between 3-7 minutes long, enough time for us to ponder what God's message is for us individually and to pray that
