<div dir="ltr">
Friends, in today’s Gospel<b><span style="background-color:rgb(208,224,227)">, Jesus promises that divine aid will assist us in
defense of persecution</span><span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)">. From the earliest centuries into modern times, <span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">
the Church, especially when it shows itself clearly,</span> has been
persecuted.</span></b><br><br>Do you know the principle that <b><span style="background-color:rgb(217,234,211)">if someone brings bad
news people will “<span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)">kill</span> the messenger”?</span></b> In some ways, <b><span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)">that’s why</span></b> <b><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">the
Church</span><span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"> is persecuted.</span></b> <b><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">We bear the message of a new world.</span><span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)"> And the old
world never likes<span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"> </span></span><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">that message</span></b>,<b><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"> which threatens</span></b> <b><span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)">it.</span></b> <b><span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)">Therefore, the
instinct to kill </span><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">the messenger </span><span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)">kicks in.<span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"> </span></span><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">The Church</span></b> <b><span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)">will be persecuted
as long as</span></b> <b><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">it speaks the words—the liberating words—of
Jesus Christ.</span></b><br><br><b><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">So, what shall we do? How should we live </span><span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)">during
this period?</span></b> <b><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">Listen to the Lord: </span><span style="background-color:rgb(208,224,227)">“When they take you before synagogues
and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your
defense will be . . . . For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that
moment what you should say.”</span><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"> We have a simple job during the in-between
times. We announce the Gospel with courage. Why? Because we’re speaking
with the authority of the Lord. And</span></b> <b><span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)">the power of the old world </span><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)">cannot </span><span style="background-color:rgb(234,209,220)">overcome</span><span style="background-color:rgb(255,242,204)"> us</span></b>.
</div><div id="DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2"><br><table style="border-top:1px solid #d3d4de"><tr><td style="width:55px;padding-top:13px"><a href="http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail" target="_blank"><img src="https://s-install.avcdn.net/ipm/preview/icons/icon-envelope-tick-green-avg-v1.png" alt="" width="46" height="29" style="width: 46px; height: 29px;"></a></td><td style="width:470px;padding-top:12px;color:#41424e;font-size:13px;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;line-height:18px">Vírusmentes.<a href="http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail" target="_blank" style="color:#4453ea">www.avg.com</a></td></tr></table><a href="#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2" width="1" height="1"></a></div>