Have you ever had a conversation with an atheist? Or with someone who belongs to another church or religion? As a priest, I have been challenged to defend my beliefs many times. And at times a conversation like that can be very constructive and valuable, especially when we are able to listen to each other, respect each other’s beliefs and learn about our religions. However, it is much more difficult to carry on a conversation with someone who is angry, who hates your religion, who won’t listen, or even wants to hurt you or accuse you of doing something wrong. It is always easier to react with anger instead of having patience. Most times we just want to scream back or say something inappropriate. Jesus reminds us today that His followers will be rejected, persecuted, or even killed. But we shouldn’t worry how to defend ourselves. Rather let the Holy Spirit speak through us, not our human words of anger, but the words of love. “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.”
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