The Memorial of St Justin, Martyr

Acts 18:23-28, Jn 16:23-28. The early Christians were committed to supporting and helping each other to know God better. In today's first reading Paul went about strengthening the faith of the local communities. A married couple, Priscilla and Aquila, befriended him and shared with him their deeper understanding of the Christian Way. Later, when Apollos decided to journey over the Aegean Sea to Corinth, the Church in Ephesus encouraged him to do so. Although Apollos did not have the full knowledge of the truth, but his passion and commitment to do what the Lord called him to do was truly remarkable. Jesus makes it clear to His disciples in today's Gospel, that He will reveal everything to everyone who is committed to God.

The Lord revealed His truth to His disciples by sending them the Holy Spirit, He explained the meaning of this truth, which was preserved through the Church, by the commitment of the disciples of the Lord. When the disciples went on with their missionary works, they stood up for the truth, even in the midst of opposition. Many of them had to suffer and endure persecutions because of their defense of those truths. They went to prison and were tortured, then martyred for their faith. Today, we celebrate the memorial of one of those many martyrs of the truth. Justin the Martyr was a renowned Roman martyr, who was among the early teachers of faith. He was an intelligent pagan that has great eloquence in knowledge and philosophy. He became a Christian when he encountered an old Syrian Christian man who opened his eyes and mind to the truth of God.

May the Lord mould our minds to strive after what is best and make our lives a constant model of the grace of God! Amen!! Good morning and Happy Weekend!!!