“Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” (Matthew 1: 12a)

Good news: what is it?  The word "gospel" means good news.  It is the good news of Jesus and about Jesus; that God is with us, that God loves us, that life always comes out of the deaths we experience.

A mom recently told me some good news.  Her daughter has not been able to participate in gym class.  The girl has been “benched” with another girl who is considered “different”.  The second girl is someone who has been excluded and made fun of by some of the other kids.  It was shared with the mom of the girl who was benched that she has been talking with and playing games with the different girl.  Some other kids make fun of her now because she has befriended and been kind to the different girl.  THIS IS GOOD NEWS at least in God’s eyes!  How blessed is this girl for doing something good even when it is not popular, even when she is persecuted and insulted for doing the right thing!  The Lord tells us that ‘she is blessed!’    

This is the good news about how God can work in each of us when we allow Him to work in us.  This is the good news of how each of us can be holy in our daily situations.  Jesus calls us blessed for doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do.  Let’s ask the Lord for His love and grace as we live out our daily lives.

Fr. Andy Prachar