A challenging week...

I found this past week to be full of news that should concern all Christians:

Plan B to be sold over the counter to girls as young as 15, as mandated by a federal judge...

Another state ratifies same-sex marriage, as mandated by the legislature and signed into law by a governor...

The Gosnell murder trial continues, the killing of babies who were born alive, and nary a word by any mainstream media...

The defense department floats a trial balloon about punishing servicemen who proclaim themselves Christian...

A Catholic Bishop is attacked by radical topless feminists with water...

A Catholic diocese in Ohio is threatened with cyber terrorism for firing a Catholic school teacher who admits to living with an unmarried partner...

In New Orleans, after making many great pro-life strides, Archbishop Aymond tells us now that a huge planned parenthood facility(meaning abortion mill) is set to open in the Crescent City...

You know I could probably find even more to list but that is enough for now.  This can be daunting, even for the faithful Christian.  For most of us it is easy to feel defeated with each passing day as anti-Christian rules and regulations pass.  Perhaps in feeling challenged by all of this we too may experience anger and want to lash out at those who seem happy with promoting a culture of death.

Pope Francis this past week reminded us to meet these challenges, and those who promote them, with love.  Yes, love.  We must NOT remain silent and we must NOT sit by and do nothing, but we must NOT hate, must NOT slander or react always with anger and vitriol.

Today our Gospel reading, using the very words of Jesus, reminding us that if the world hates us, if the world hates our faith, if the world hates God's will, remember it hated me first.  Yes, Jesus was indeed hated by his enemies and betrayed by those who confessed him as friend & brother.  And Jesus tells us that like him, the world will hate us too.  When I think about all my federal government, especially this administration has done to be anti-Christian, I am reminded that generations of governments and kings and princes and armies have come against the Church; yet still she stands.

All the things I mentioned above, and oh so much more, must be addressed and not swept under the rug, but they must be met with love and the truth must be spoken out, loudly, in love.

Stay strong, bear one another, encourage each other, and trust in God.  And pray, pray without ceasing!