Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Participation in Nation Building : A Christian Responsibility
Bible portion romans 12 :9-21The Greatest Act of Love
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep- Romans 12:14
Devotional Text
About a few years ago I was watching CNN and saw a story that caught my attention. The story was about a man whose grandmother has been killed by a woman. It had been 30 years since the murder. The news article talked about how the woman had been released from the jail and the person to pick her up was the grandson of the murder victim.
The two had become pen pals for twenty years, writing to his grandmother’s killer in prison. The grandson says that knowing his grandmother, she would have been horrified by the hatred her grandson had towards her killer and what had happened over the last couple of years. This personally shocked me because I would not have been capable of the redemption that he applied to the murderer of his grandmother.
In this simple yet profound verse, the Blessed Apostle St. Paul encourages us to respond to persecution with blessings rather than curses. It's a challenging command that goes against our natural instincts. When someone mistreats us, our immediate reaction may be to retaliate or hold bitterness in our hearts. However, Paul urges us to rise above these impulses and respond with blessings. The reason behind this directive is rooted in the transformative power of love. Blessing those who persecute us is a radical act of love that has the potential to break the cycle of hatred and bring about change. It doesn't mean we condone mistreatment, but rather, we choose not to respond in kind. By doing so, we reflect the love of Christ, who, in the face of persecution, chose to bless and forgive. This verse challenges us to examine our hearts and confront our natural inclinations. It prompts us to ask ourselves: Can we extend love to those who may not deserve it? Can we respond with kindness when faced with hostility? The answer lies in our willingness to follow Christ's example.
Prayer
Father, give us the strength to forgive those who have wronged us. Give those who have received forgiveness your gift of love
Thought for the Day
Even if all spiritual fathers, patriarchs, hierarchs, and all the people forgive you, you are unforgiven if you do not repent in action- St. Kosmas Aitolos
Roshan Varughese
Epiphany MTC, NY
About a few years ago I was watching CNN and saw a story that caught my attention. The story was about a man whose grandmother has been killed by a woman. It had been 30 years since the murder. The news article talked about how the woman had been released from the jail and the person to pick her up was the grandson of the murder victim.
The two had become pen pals for twenty years, writing to his grandmother’s killer in prison. The grandson says that knowing his grandmother, she would have been horrified by the hatred her grandson had towards her killer and what had happened over the last couple of years. This personally shocked me because I would not have been capable of the redemption that he applied to the murderer of his grandmother.
In this simple yet profound verse, the Blessed Apostle St. Paul encourages us to respond to persecution with blessings rather than curses. It's a challenging command that goes against our natural instincts. When someone mistreats us, our immediate reaction may be to retaliate or hold bitterness in our hearts. However, Paul urges us to rise above these impulses and respond with blessings. The reason behind this directive is rooted in the transformative power of love. Blessing those who persecute us is a radical act of love that has the potential to break the cycle of hatred and bring about change. It doesn't mean we condone mistreatment, but rather, we choose not to respond in kind. By doing so, we reflect the love of Christ, who, in the face of persecution, chose to bless and forgive. This verse challenges us to examine our hearts and confront our natural inclinations. It prompts us to ask ourselves: Can we extend love to those who may not deserve it? Can we respond with kindness when faced with hostility? The answer lies in our willingness to follow Christ's example.
Prayer
Father, give us the strength to forgive those who have wronged us. Give those who have received forgiveness your gift of love
Thought for the Day
Even if all spiritual fathers, patriarchs, hierarchs, and all the people forgive you, you are unforgiven if you do not repent in action- St. Kosmas Aitolos
Roshan Varughese
Epiphany MTC, NY