Reflection for Saturday October 17 Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr: Luke 12:8-12

Gospel: Luke 12:8-12

Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.

“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”
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Reflection:
Are we proud of our relationship with Jesus? Do we wear it like a badge of honor, unashamed to let others know that He is our Lord and Savior?

Of course, we would say that we are proud of our relationship with Jesus. However, our actions do not always reflect what we profess. There are times when we betray Him in exchange for the fleeting pleasures and temporary attractions of this world.

The sad truth is that our profession of love for Jesus is oftentimes nothing more than lip service. We may speak of our love for Him, pray to Him, and profess our faith, yet when temptation comes, we sometimes give in and choose worldly pleasures over Him.

When we are called to take a stand for Jesus, we may even deny Him through our words, decisions, and actions, just as Judas betrayed Him. How painful it is to realize that we can profess our love for Jesus with our lips while our hearts and actions tell a different story!

If we truly love Jesus, we must not be ashamed of our relationship with Him. More importantly, we must live out that love in our daily lives. Our faith must be seen not only in our prayers and words but also in the choices we make, the temptations we resist, the people we forgive, and the love we extend to others.

We must never trade our relationship with Jesus for the passing pleasures and attractions of this world. After all, what can this world offer us that compares with the priceless gift of knowing, loving, and following our Lord and Savior?

What would it profit us if we acquired everything we desired in this temporary world but, in the process, lost our relationship with the Lord? Worldly possessions may bring us comfort, pleasure, and recognition, but they cannot give us the lasting peace that comes from being close to God.

We must always remember that everything we possess is temporary. One day, we will leave our possessions behind, and whatever we have accumulated will no longer matter. What will truly matter is whether we have remained faithful to Jesus and allowed His love to transform our hearts.

But what about Jesus?

He remains faithful to us even when we stumble, fall, and struggle with our weaknesses. He is with us in good times and bad, in our sorrows and triumphs, and throughout our earthly lives and beyond. His love sustains us, His mercy welcomes us when we repent, and His grace gives us the strength to rise again whenever we fall. Even when we become distracted by the attractions of this world, Jesus continues to call us back to Him.

Let us, therefore, cherish our relationship with Jesus above everything this world can offer. Let us not be Christians in words alone, but in our actions, decisions, and the way we treat others. When temptation comes, may we choose Jesus. When our faith is tested, may we stand firm in Him. And when the world entices us with temporary pleasures, may we remember that nothing we gain is worth losing the peace and joy of being close to our Lord.

If Jesus remains faithful to us despite our weaknesses and failures, are we willing to remain faithful to Him—even when doing so means letting go of something we desire, resisting temptation, or standing for Him when it is difficult?— Marino J. Dasmarinas