FRIDAY OF THE SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Mark 8:34—9:1) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mk 8:34)

FIRST READING - Genesis 11:1-9

A reading from the Book of Genesis

The whole world spoke the same language, using the same words.

While the people were migrating in the east,

they came upon a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there.

They said to one another,

"Come, let us mold bricks and harden them with fire."

They used bricks for stone, and bitumen for mortar.

Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city

and a tower with its top in the sky,

and so make a name for ourselves;

otherwise we shall be scattered all over the earth."

The LORD came down to see the city and the tower

that they had built.

Then the LORD said: "If now, while they are one people,

all speaking the same language,

they have started to do this,

nothing will later stop them from doing whatever they presume to do.

Let us then go down and there confuse their language,

so that one will not understand what another says."

Thus the LORD scattered them from there all over the earth,

and they stopped building the city.

That is why it was called Babel,

because there the LORD confused the speech of all the world.

It was from that place that he scattered them all over the earth.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Mark 8:34—9:1

From the Gospel according to Mark

Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,

"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,

take up his cross, and follow me.

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,

but whoever loses his life for my sake

and that of the Gospel will save it.

What profit is there for one to gain the whole world

and forfeit his life?

What could one give in exchange for his life?

Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words

in this faithless and sinful generation,

the Son of Man will be ashamed of

when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

He also said to them,

"Amen, I say to you,

there are some standing here who will not taste death

until they see that the Kingdom of God has come in power."

FRIDAY OF THE SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Mark 8:34—9:1)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

In today's Word of God, God the Father calls on all of His children to abandon all things of this world and follow Him.

And always remember one thing: God the Father is the only One who can bring eternal life to mankind. God the Father is the only One who can bring souls and bodies into the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven, and can also cast both bodies and souls into the eternal burning fire of hell.

God the Father teaches His children one thing: when following Him and attaining the glorious happiness of His Kingdom, we will have to face the difficulties and challenges that He sends.

However, those who know how to obey His will in both small to large matters and know how to submit to and love God the Father above all things will find the challenges and difficulties that come our way very gentle and serene.

We must follow the example of the life of Jesus Christ, who completely obeyed the will of God the Father and was faithful to Him at all times and in all places.

All the things that God the Father sent Him to earth to carry out the plan of salvation for mankind, He did exactly as God the Father taught with love.

So Now, all children of God the Father, let us follow the obedience of Jesus Christ to God the Father and do all things that please Him. That means obeying God the Father in all places and at all times, even when we face difficulties, trials, and sufferings of both body and soul.

But whoever perseveres to the end will be saved!

As the Word of God teaches us today, whoever follows God the Father must courageously bear witness to Him right here on earth. We must courageously resist the temptations of Satan and proclaim the Holy Name of God the Father before all of humanity, before our brothers and sisters. Especially, we must proclaim the Holy Name of God the Father before Satan, for Satan does not want humanity to proclaim and glorify the Holy Name of God the Father.

God the Father's warning to all mankind is that when someone is cowardly and does not dare to courageously proclaim God the Father's love in this new era for all to know, that person is foolish, for they have displeased God the Father.

God the Father calls on all His children who are still living in this world to courageously proclaim the Holy Name of God to all humanity so that our brothers and sisters can also enjoy the light and salvation of God the Father. We must courageously live the love that God the Father teaches us right here on earth in the midst of an evil generation, amidst the very cunning temptations of Satan.

God the Father calls on all humanity to courageously proclaim the Holy Name of God the Father before all the powers and authorities of this world. Then, when attaining the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven, He will proclaim that person before the entire court of Heaven.

In today's Word of God, God the Father calls on all His children to return to Him! Do not stray from His love anymore, do not disobey the will of God the Father, do not be cowardly in following Satan's temptations, but be courageous in faith and loyal to God the Father, overcome the obstacles and challenges He sends, and resist the temptations of Satan.

All those who are walking in the plan of God the Father in this new era must have the courage to profess His love by spreading His salvation through the activities of the Holy Spirit.

There is the Realistic Word of God that teaches us directly, there are Angels who descend to earth to become humans to accompany humanity. And also there are Satans who have the opportunity to repent and return to God the Father.

Thanks be to God. Amen.