>> A READING FROM THE BOOK OF GENESIS. ISRAEL SET OUT WITH ALL THAT WAS HIS. WHEN HE ARRIVED AT BEERSHEBA, HE OFFERED SACRIFICES TO THE GOD OF HIS FATHER ISAAC. THERE GOD, SPEAKING TO ISRAEL IN A VISION BY NIGHT, CALLED, JACOB! JACOB! HE ANSWERED, HERE I AM. THEN HE SAID: I AM GOD, THE GOD OF YOUR FATHER. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO GO DOWN TO EGYPT, FOR THERE I WILL MAKE YOU A GREAT NATION. NOT ONLY WILL I GO DOWN TO EGYPT WITH YOU; I WILL ALSO BRING YOU BACK HERE, AFTER JOSEPH HAS CLOSED YOUR EYES. SO JACOB DEPARTED FROM BEERSHEBA, AND THE SONS OF ISRAEL PUT THEIR FATHER AND THEIR WIVES AND CHILDREN ON THE WAGONS THAT PHARAOH HAD SENT FOR HIS TRANSPORT. THEY TOOK WITH THEM THEIR LIVESTOCK AND THE POSSESSIONS THEY HAD ACQUIRED IN THE LAND OF CANAAN. THUS JACOB AND ALL HIS DESCENDANTS MIGRATED TO EGYPT. HIS SONS AND HIS GRANDSONS, HIS DAUGHTERS AND HIS GRANDDAUGHTERS, ALL HIS DESCENDANTS HE TOOK WITH HIM TO EGYPT. ISRAEL HAD SENT JUDAH AHEAD TO JOSEPH, SO THAT HE MIGHT MEET HIM IN GOSHEN. ON HIS ARRIVAL IN THE REGION OF GOSHEN, JOSEPH HITCHED THE HORSES TO HIS CHARIOT AND RODE TO MEET HIS FATHER ISRAEL IN GOSHEN. AS SOON AS JOSEPH SAW HIM, HE FLUNG HIMSELF ON HIS NECK AND WEPT A LONG TIME IN HIS ARMS. AND ISRAEL SAID TO JOSEPH, AT LAST I CAN DIE, NOW THAT I HAVE SEEN FOR MYSELF THAT JOSEPH IS STILL ALIVE. ♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪ >> ♪ DEO GRATIAS ♪ >> THE SALVATION OF THE JUST COMES FROM THE LORD. >> THE SALVATION OF THE JUST COMES FROM THE LORD. >> TRUST IN THE LORD AND DO GOOD, THAT YOU MAY DWELL IN THE LAND AND BE FED IN SECURITY. TAKE DELIGHT IN THE LORD, AND HE WILL GRANT YOU YOUR HEART'S REQUESTS. >> THE SALVATION OF THE JUST COMES FROM THE LORD. >> THE LORD WATCHES OVER THE LIVES OF THE WHOLEHEARTED; THEIR INHERITANCE LASTS FOREVER. THEY ARE NOT PUT TO SHAME IN AN EVIL TIME; IN DAYS OF FAMINE THEY HAVE PLENTY. >> THE SALVATION OF THE JUST COMES FROM THE LORD. >> TURN FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD, THAT YOU MAY ABIDE FOREVER; FOR THE LORD LOVES WHAT IS RIGHT, AND FORSAKES NOT HIS FAITHFUL ONES. >> THE SALVATION OF THE JUST COMES FROM THE LORD. >> THE SALVATION OF THE JUST IS FROM THE LORD; HE IS THEIR REFUGE IN TIME OF DISTRESS. AND THE LORD HELPS THEM AND DELIVERS THEM; HE DELIVERS THEM FROM THE WICKED AND SAVES THEM, BECAUSE THEY TAKE REFUGE IN HIM. >> THE SALVATION OF THE JUST COMES FROM THE LORD. (ORGAN) >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES HE WILL GUIDE YOU TO ALL TRUTH AND REMIND YOU OF ALL I TOLD YOU ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ DOMINUS VOBISCUM ♪ >> ♪ ET CUM SPIRITU TUO ♪ >> ♪ LECTIO SANCTI EVANGELII SECUNDUM MATTHEUM ♪ >> ♪ GLORIA TIBI, DOMINE ♪ >> JESUS SAID TO HIS APOSTLES: BEHOLD, I AM SENDING YOU LIKE SHEEP IN THE MIDST OF WOLVES; SO BE SHREWD AS SERPENTS AND SIMPLE AS DOVES. BUT BEWARE OF MEN, FOR THEY WILL HAND YOU OVER TO COURTS AND SCOURGE YOU IN THEIR SYNAGOGUES, AND YOU WILL BE LED BEFORE GOVERNORS AND KINGS FOR MY SAKE AS A WITNESS BEFORE THEM AND THE PAGANS. WHEN THEY HAND YOU OVER, DO NOT WORRY ABOUT HOW YOU ARE TO SPEAK OR WHAT YOU ARE TO SAY. YOU WILL BE GIVEN AT THAT MOMENT WHAT YOU ARE TO SAY. FOR IT WILL NOT BE YOU WHO SPEAK BUT THE SPIRIT OF YOUR FATHER SPEAKING THROUGH YOU. BROTHER WILL HAND OVER BROTHER TO DEATH, AND THE FATHER HIS CHILD; CHILDREN WILL RISE UP AGAINST PARENTS AND HAVE THEM PUT TO DEATH. YOU WILL BE HATED BY ALL BECAUSE OF MY NAME, BUT WHOEVER ENDURES TO THE END WILL BE SAVED. WHEN THEY PERSECUTE YOU IN ONE TOWN, FLEE TO ANOTHER. AMEN, I SAY TO YOU, YOU WILL NOT FINISH THE TOWNS OF ISRAEL BEFORE THE SON OF MAN COMES. ♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪ >> ♪ LAUS TIBI, CHRISTE ♪ >> WHAT A VERY TELLING GOSPEL FROM CHAPTER 10 OF MATTHEW. JESUS PULLS NO PUNCHES. HE IS TELLING IT LIKE IT IS. TELLING IT LIKE IT WILL BE. BE READY. FOR THE PERSECUTIONS, THE TRIBULATIONS FOR STANDING UP FOR HIM AND ALL THAT HE STANDS FOR. TODAY'S GOSPEL FROM MATTHEW CHAPTER 10 PRESENTS US VARIOUS INSTRUCTIONS ON BEHALF OF JESUS ON THE BEHAVIOR THAT HIS DISCIPLES HAVE TO ADOPT IN THE EXERCISE OF THEIR MISSION WHICH JESUS SENDS THEM ON. THIS IS A MESSAGE FOR EACH 1 OF US IN THIS MODERN DAY AGE. SINGLE, MARRIED, WIDOW, WIDOWER, CONSECRATED RELIGIOUS, PRIESTS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS RELIGIOUS ORDER MEMBERS, DIOCESAN PRIEST. IT IS MEANT FOR ALL OF US. WHAT STRIKES MOST IN THESE INSTRUCTIONS REALLY ARE THE FREQUENCIES WITH WHICH JESUS REFERS TO THE PERSECUTIONS AND SUFFERINGS WHICH HIS LOVED ONES WILL HAVE TO BEAR. IN SHORT PERSECUTIONS AND SUFFERINGS WILL MARK THE LIFE OF JESUS'S DISCIPLES. JESUS CLEARLY WARNS THE DISCIPLES CONCERNING PERSECUTIONS. THE DISCIPLES SHOULD KNOW THAT PRECISELY BECAUSE THEY ARE HIS DISCIPLES, THEY WILL BE PERSECUTED. BUT THIS SHOULD NOT BE A REASON FOR WORRY BECAUSE A DISCIPLE SHOULD IMITATE THE LIFE OF THE MASTER AND SHARE THE TRIALS WITH HIM. THIS IS PART WITH DISCIPLESHIP. NOW JESUS TALKS TODAY ABOUT SUFFERINGS AND PERSECUTIONS THAT COME FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES ON YOU. LET ALONE THE SUFFERINGS AND PERSECUTIONS OR TRIBULATIONS THAT WE HAVE INTERIORLY. THAT WE HAVE TO CONTEND WITH. MAYBE AN ILLNESS. MAYBE A TERMINAL ILLNESS. HOW DOES THE DISCIPLE RESPOND TO THAT? REMEMBER JESUS'S EXAMPLES TODAY ARE FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES COMING UPON THE PERSON. IT IS STILL THE SAME MESSAGE. THE DISCIPLE WANTS TO BE LIKE THE MASTER WHO WAS PUT TO DEATH. SO NONE OF THIS SHOULD BE A REASON FOR WORRY. BECAUSE THE DISCIPLE SHOULD IMITATE THE LIFE OF THE MASTER AND SHARE IN THE TRIALS WITH HIM. THIS IS PART WITH DISCIPLESHIP AS I SAID, A DISCIPLE IS NOT GREATER THAN THE TEACHER NOR A SERVANT GREATER THAN THE MASTER. IT IS SUFFICIENT FOR THE DISCIPLE TO GROW TO BE LIKE HIS TEACHER AND THE SERVANT TO GROW TO BE LIKE HIS MASTER. IF THE TEACHERS OF THE LAW REFERRED TO THE WORKS OF JESUS AS BEING FROM BEELZEBUL, THE PRINCE OF DEMONS, HOW MUCH MORE WILL THEY INSULT HIS DISCIPLES? IN OTHER WORDS THE DISCIPLE OF JESUS SHOULD BE WORRIED IF THERE ARE NO PERSECUTIONS. THAT IS WHEN THEY SHOULD BE CONCERNED. ANOTHER LESSON JESUS GIVES US TODAY THAT WILL BE EXTENDED INTO TOMORROW BECAUSE WE CELEBRATE THE PROPER READINGS TO ST. VERONICA TOMORROW ON THE FRANCISCAN CALENDAR, BUT TOMORROW'S GOSPEL FOR ORDINARY TIME FOR SATURDAY OF THE 14TH WEEK WILL GIVE US THE SAME THEME OF WHAT I AM TO SHARE. ANOTHER LESSON JESUS GIVES. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO TELL THE TRUTH. THOSE WHO PERSECUTE JESUS'S DISCIPLES PERVERT THE MEANING OF THE FACTS AND SPREAD CALUMNIES WHICH CHANGE TRUTH INTO LIES. BUT NO MATTER HOW GREAT THE LIE, THE TRUTH WILL TRIUMPH AT THE END AND WILL MAKE THE LIE CRUMBLED DOWN. THIS IS WHY WE SHOULD BE AFRAID WHEN, EXCUSE ME, NOT TO BE AFRAID WHEN THE TRUTH IS CHALLENGED BUT STAND UP FOR THE TRUTH. THE THINGS WHICH JESUS TAUGHT AND REVEALED AND WHICH ARE UPHELD BY HIS BRIDE THE CHURCH. EVERY DAY MEANS EVERY DAY IS A MEANS BY WHICH THE COMMUNICATION OF THE WORLD PERVERTS THE TRUTH AND WE HAVE TO BE READY TO STAND UP FOR THE TRUTH. ELSEWHERE IN THE GOSPEL, AGAIN INCLUDING TOMORROW, JESUS INSTRUCTS HIS DISCIPLES DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THOSE WHO KILL THE BODY, TORTURE, STRIKE OR CAUSE SUFFERING. THOSE WHO TORTURE THE BODY CAN INDEED KILL THE BODY BUT THEY CANNOT KILL LIBERTY AND THE SPIRIT IN THE BODY. SO THE TRUTH WILL BE ATTACKED. WE STILL STAND UP FOR IT. INSTEAD THE DISCIPLE SHOULD BE AFRAID THAT THE FEAR OF SUFFERING MAY LEAD THEM TO HIDE OR DENY THE TRUTH. THAT THE FEAR OF THE SUFFERING IN THE PERSECUTIONS AND TRIBULATIONS WILL LEAD THEM EVEN THROUGH A SLIPPERY SLOPE TO DENY THE TRUE AND THAT THIS WILL LEAD THEM TO OFFEND GOD, BECAUSE ANYONE WHO DRAWS AWAY FROM GOD RISKS BEING LOST FOREVER. SO IT IS A VERY TELLING GOSPEL TODAY AND AGAIN TOMORROW IN ORDINARY TIME GOSPEL FOR TOMORROW. IN SHORT DO NOT BE AFRAID TO BE THE WITNESSES OF JESUS AT THE END. JESUS SUMMARIZES EVERYTHING IN THIS SENTENCE. IF ANYONE DECLARES HIMSELF FOR ME IN THE PRESENCE OF OTHERS I WILL DECLARE MYSELF FOR HIM IN THE PRESENCE OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN, BUT THE ONE WHO INSTEAD WILL DISOWN ME IN THE PRESENCE OF OTHERS I WILL DISOWN HIM IN THE PRESENCE OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN. THOSE ARE STRONG WORDS. THOSE WORDS ARE COMING FROM JESUS HIMSELF. THOSE ARE VERY TELLING WORDS. KNOWING THAT WE ARE IN GOD'S HANDS AND THAT GOD IS WITH US AT EVERY MOMENT WE HAVE THE NECESSARY COURAGE AND PEACE TO RENDER WITNESS AND BE DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST. AGAIN WHAT OUR BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION SUSTAINED BY REGULAR EUCHARIST AND RECONCILIATION AND HOLY CONFESSION WHETHER ONE BE SINGLE OR MARRIED OR IN CONSECRATED LIFE OF SOME SORT AND EVEN IF ONE BE A VALID CANDIDATE FOR THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK WHICH WE RECEIVED WHILE SUFFERING OFFERING ALL FOR THE SAKE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND HIS GOSPEL TRUTH. SO A FEW PERSONAL QUESTIONS. IN REGARDS TO DISCIPLESHIP WHAT MAY YOU BE AFRAID OF AND WHY? HAVE YOU EVER BEEN PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF YOUR COMMITMENT TO ANNOUNCE THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD WHICH JESUS ANNOUNCED TO US? STANDING UP FOR PARTICULAR REVEALED TRUTH? PERSECUTION IS NOT COMFORTABLE. THAT SHOULD BE NO SECRET. THERE CAN BE MANY SMALL PERSECUTIONS THROUGHOUT A DAY. WHAT ARE SOME OF MINE? WHAT ARE SOME OF YOURS? DO YOU EVER DENY JESUS IN LITTLE THINGS TO MAKE YOUR LIFE MORE COMFORTABLE AND NOT MAKE TROUBLE? SO WITH LOVED ONES OR FRIENDS OR WITH COWORKERS? DO YOU DO THIS MOSTLY OUT OF SHAME OR EMBARRASSMENT OR FEAR? OF NOT WANTING TO STIR ANYTHING UP. ALL THINGS IN CHARITY. ALL THINGS IN CHARITY. BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE TO NOT BE AFRAID TO GIVE THE TRUTH. TODAY IS THE OPTIONAL MEMORIAL ON THIS JULY 9 OF ST. AUGUSTINE ZHAO RONG AND HIS COMPANIONS. THIS GROUP OF 120 MARTYRS INCLUDES 33 EUROPEAN MISSIONARIES AND 87 CHINESE RANGING IN AGE FROM 9 YEARS OLD TO 76 YEARS OLD. THEIR COLLECTIVE WITNESS OVER 3 CENTURIES IS 1 OF GREAT COURAGE AND JOY AMID CRUEL TORTURES. FOR EXAMPLE 14-YEAR-OLD ANNA WANG WAS THE LAST OF A GROUP OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN TO BE CUT DOWN BY NATIONALIST REBELS ON JULY 22, 1900. SMILING SHE FACED THE REBELS AND SAID THE DOOR OF HEAVEN IS OPEN TO ALL, EVEN TO ALL OF YOU. JESUS, JESUS, JESUS. 9 YEARS OLD. JUST BEFORE HER DEATH. SHE WAS CANONIZED WITH THE OTHER CHINESE MARTYRS BY POPE JOHN PAUL II ON OCTOBER 1, 2000. INCIDENTALLY THE FEAST DAY OF ST. THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS, WHO WE ARE HONORING IN A WAY THIS MONTH DURING THE MONTH OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD BECAUSE WE ARE HONORING THE HOLY FACE WHICH ST. THERESE HAD SUCH A PROFOUND LOVE FOR. PERHAPS I CAN ASK THEM TO ZOOM IN ON THAT IMAGE OF THE HOLY FACE. BUT THESE 120 CHINESE MARTYRS WERE CANONIZED ON HER FEAST DAY. WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? BECAUSE ST. THERESE IS THE PATRONESS OF MISSIONS. A 24-YEAR-OLD CLOISTERED CARMELITE NUN IN FRANCE WHO ONCE SHE ENTERED THE CLOISTERED WALL AT AGE 15 NEVER SAW OUTSIDE OF THE WALL AGAIN. YET SHE IS THE PATRONESS OF THE CHURCH'S UNIVERSAL MISSION ACTIVITY ON EARTH. YES. BECAUSE SHE PRAYED SO MUCH FOR THE MISSIONS. I THINK JOHN PAUL II NOW SAINT HIMSELF DEEMED IT FITTING WE COULD SAY TO CANONIZE THE 120 CHINESE MARTYRS ON THE FEAST DAY OF ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX. SPEAKING OF JOHN PAUL II HE SAID THIS REGARDING THE LAITY AND THE CHURCH AND MISSIONARY ACTIVITY. AND VOCATION OF THE LAITY. HE SAID THERE ARE ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS WHICH NO ONE CAN AVOID. WHAT HAVE I DONE WITH MY BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION? IS CHRIST TRULY THE CENTER OF MY LIFE? DO I MAKE ROOM FOR DAILY PRAYER? DO I MAKE ROOM FOR MONTHLY CONFESSION? DO I LIVE MY LIFE AS BOTH A VOCATION AND A MISSION? VOCATION COMES FROM THE LATIN INFINITIVE - - WHICH MEANS TO CALL. SO GOD HAS CALLED ALL OF US. EACH 1 ACCORDING TO HIS OR HER STATE AND LIFE. MISSION MEANS TO BE SENT. SO WE ARE CALLED AND SENT OUT AND JOHN PAUL IS ASKING DO I LIVE MY LIFE AS BOTH A VOCATION AND MISSION? HE CONTINUES THE VOCATION AND MISSION OF THE LAY FAITHFUL CAN BE UNDERSTOOD ONLY IN THE LIGHT OF A RENEWED AWARENESS OF THE CHURCH WHICH IS IN THE NATURE OF A SACRAMENT. THAT IS SHE IS A SIGN AND INSTRUMENT LIKE THE 7 SACRAMENTS ARE. THIS IS WHY THE CHURCH SOMETIMES IS REFERRED TO AS THE SACRAMENT OF SALVATION - NOT THAT SHE IS A SACRAMENT LITERALLY LIKE THE OTHER 7. BUT THAT SHE IS A VEHICLE, A SIGN AND INSTRUMENT WE SAID THAT THE CHURCH IS A SACRAMENT OF SALVATION, LOWERCASE 'S' IF YOU WILL. SHE IS THE VEHICLE BY WHICH WE RIDE IN ON OUR WAY TO SALVATION, AND OF COURSE THE CHURCH GIVES US THE SACRAMENTS. SHE IS A SIGN AND INSTRUMENT SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS A SACRAMENT OF SALVATION. OF COMMUNION WITH GOD AND OF UNITY AMONG ALL MEN. AND OF ONE'S PERSONAL DUTY TO ADHERE TO THE CHURCH MORE FIRMLY. TODAY MORE THAN EVER JOHN PAUL II SAYS, IT IS NECESSARY FOR ALL CHRISTIANS ENLIGHTENED AND GUIDED BY FAITH TO KNOW THE CHURCH AS SHE IS IN ALL OF HER BEAUTY AND HOLINESS DESPITE HER WOUNDED MEMBERS, SO THAT THEY CAN LISTEN TO HER AND LOVE HER AS THEIR MOTHER. THIS IS WHY WE REFER TO THE CHURCH AS HOLY MOTHER CHURCH. HOLY MOTHER CHURCH. AT THE THRESHOLD OF THE 3RD MILLENNIUM JOHN PAUL SAID GOD CALLS BELIEVERS ESPECIALLY THE LAYPEOPLE TO A RENEWED MISSIONARY ZEAL. MISSION IS NOT TO BE AN APPENDIX TO THE CHRISTIAN VOCATION. NO. THE CHRISTIAN VOCATION BY ITS VERY NATURE IS A VOCATION TO THE DAILY APOSTOLATE. THE WORD APOSTLE SHARES THE SAME ROOT AS APOSTOLATE. APOSTLE IS ONE WHO IS SENT BUT SPECIFICALLY FOR AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE. THIS IS WHY THE 12 APOSTLES ARE PRECISELY CALLED APOSTLES. THEY HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE. JOHN PAUL CONTINUES, AN EVANGELICALLY MATURE PERSON OR COMMUNITY IS MOTIVATED BY INTENSE MISSIONARY ENTHUSIASM WHICH SPURS HIM TO BEAR WITNESS TO CHRIST IN EVERY SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXT. BEAUTIFUL WORDS. EVANGELICALLY MATURE PERSONS OR COMMUNITY IS MOTIVATED BY INTENSE MISSIONARY ENTHUSIASM WHICH SPURS HIM OR HER TO BEAR WITNESS TO CHRIST IN EVERY SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL CONTEXT. THEN HE ENDS WITH THIS. I LOVE IT. LAITY, THE CHURCH NEEDS YOU AND IS COUNTING ON YOU. THE PROMOTION AND DEFENSE FOR THE HUMAN PERSON'S DIGNITY AND RIGHTS, TODAY MORE THAN URGENT THAN EVER, DEMANDS THE COURAGE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ENLIVENED BY THE FAITH, CAPABLE OF SELFLESS LOVE AND DEEPLY COMPASSIONATE, RESPECTFUL OF THE TRUTH ABOUT MAN MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD AND DESTINED TO GROW TO THE FULL STATURE OF CHRIST JESUS THE HEAD. BEAUTIFUL QUOTATION ON BEHALF OF THE LAITY FROM JOHN PAUL II. SO DESPITE THE PERSECUTIONS WHICH ARE VERY TELLING IN MATTHEW 10 WE CONTINUE THE GOOD FIGHT OF THE FIGHT OF FAITH. WE TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS, THE THREE-TIERED REALITY OF THE 3 GROUPS THAT COMPRISE THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS - THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT IN HEAVEN, THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH MILITANT STILL LIVING ON EARTH AND THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH SUFFERING IN PURGATORY. AND THERE IS THIS REAL COMMUNION GOING ON, THIS REAL COMMUNION GOING ON, US TO THEM, THEM FOR US. THE COMMUNION GOING ON. THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH MILITANT, THINK OF YOUR CONFIRMATION, YOUR CONFIRMATION MADE YOU A WHAT OF CHRIST? A SOLDIER OF CHRIST. SO WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT ROOTS US AND ALL OF THESE REALITIES THAT I HAVE TALKED ABOUT UP UNTIL THIS POINT? THE PERSECUTIONS THEMSELVES AND THE FACT THAT WE KEEP GOING FORWARD, THE FACT THAT JOHN PAUL SAYS ALL OF THESE BEAUTIFUL THINGS THAT I JUST SHARED WITH YOU ON MISSION AND VOCATION AND THE LAITY? THE CHIEF THING IS THE WORD. THE WORD OF GOD. WHY READ THE BIBLE? WHY TAKE UP 15 MINUTES EARLY EACH DAY TO READ IT? HOPEFULLY LONGER BUT I WILL GIVE YOU 15. WHY GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT TROUBLE? AFTER ALL SLEEPING AND REST IS BETTER THAN READING, RIGHT? WELL, BEFORE YOU CLOSE THE BOOK ON GOD'S BOOK HERE'S 10 GREAT REASONS TO READ THE BIBLE. I CAME CROSS THIS ONLINE AND I THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD. READING THE BIBLE SHOWS US GOD'S CHARACTER AND WHO GOD IS. THE BIBLE IS OUR SOURCE FOR ANSWERS TO OUR QUESTIONS ABOUT GOD. READING THE BIBLE TEACHES US TO IMITATE GOD. BE PERFECT AS MY HEAVENLY FATHER, IS PERFECT JESUS TELLS US. READING THE BIBLE HELPS US DISCOVER OUR NEXT STEP. OUR NEXT STEP WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE. WITH HOME, FAMILY LIFE, FRIENDSHIPS. NUMBER 4, READING THE BIBLE KEEPS US FROM SIN. IT HELPS US UNDERSTAND THE REALITY OF SIN. WANTING TO SHUN SIN BOTH VENIAL AND MORTAL. 5, READING THE BIBLE HELPS US TO RENEW OUR MINDS SO THAT WE CAN KNOW GOD'S HOLY WILL FOR US. NUMBER 6. READING THE BIBLE ALLOWS US TO BE CERTAIN WHAT GOD SAID. IT IS HIS DIVINE WORD. IT IS DIVINELY INSPIRED. READING THE BIBLE ALLOWS US TO RECEIVE THE DESIRES OF OUR HEART. WANTING TO DRAW CLOSER TO GOD SHOULD BE NUMBER 1 ON THAT LIST. READING THE BIBLE IS HOW WE LEARN ABOUT THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. READING THE BIBLE GIVES US COURAGE. AND 10. READING THE BIBLE HELPS US TO BE FRUITFUL. THE IMPORTANCE OF SACRED SCRIPTURE TO ROOT US AND GROUND US IN THESE TRUTHS, THESE TRUTHS OF MATTHEW CHAPTER 10 ABOUT PERSECUTIONS AND TRIBULATIONS AND THE TRUTHS OF JOHN PAUL II THAT HE JUST SHARED WITH US SO BEAUTIFULLY. I ALSO CAME ACROSS THIS AND THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD. IT IS SIMPLY TITLED THE BIBLE VERSUS YOUR CELL PHONE. I END WITH THIS. THE AUTHOR IS ANONYMOUS. AT LEAST ALL THAT I COULD FIND. THE AUTHOR SAYS THIS, I WONDER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE TREATED OUR BIBLE LIKE WE TREAT OUR CELL PHONE? WHAT IF WE CARRIED IT AROUND IN OUR POCKET OR PURSE ALL DAY LONG? THE BIBLE. WHAT IF WE TURNED BACK TO GET IT WHENEVER WE REALIZED WE FORGOT IT? WHAT IF WE FLIPPED THROUGH IT SEVERAL TIMES A DAY? BY THE WAY THAT SEVERAL TIMES A DAY IS 262 TIMES A DAY FOR THE CELL PHONE. FOR THE AMERICAN ADULT. AN AVERAGE OF 262 TIMES EACH DAY. WHAT IF WE USE THE BIBLE DAILY TO RECEIVE TEXT MESSAGES? WHAT IF WE TREATED IT LIKE WE JUST COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT IT? WHAT IF WE GAVE IT TO OUR KIDS AS GIFTS? WHAT IF KIDS WERE THRILLED WITH THIS GIFT AND LOVED TO USE IT DAILY? MULTIPLE TIMES. WHAT IF WE USED IT THE BIBLE, AS WE TRAVELED? FIND OUT WHERE ROADMAPS IN LIFE. WHAT IF WE USED IT DAILY FOR WORK? WHAT IF WE USED IT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY? I WONDER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE TREATED OUR BIBLE LIKE WE TREAT OUR CELL PHONE? SO WHERE IS YOUR BIBLE RIGHT NOW? WHERE'S YOUR CELL PHONE RIGHT NOW? UNLIKE YOUR CELL PHONE, YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR BIBLE SERVICE BEING DISCONNECTED BECAUSE JESUS HAS ALREADY PAID THE PRICE OF THE BILL FOR YOU IN FULL. IT IS YOURS THERE FOR THE ASKING. GOD BLESS YOU.
