It is 25th 2019. We celebrate the memorial of Saint Gregory VII, pope and Saint Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, virgin. The readings are from Acts 16:1-10; and the Gospel from John 15:18-21. Whenever the opportunities seem to shrink around, we go into negativity. But if we believe and to listen to the voice of God, we will realize the enormous possibilities to go beyond what we can visualise. God plans and proposes greater things for common good always. If we collaborate with God, we will always find a way to the vision and mission at hand. No matter who rejects and opposes our willingness to evangelise and work for the Lord still work and respond to the Holy Spirit. More the road-blocks, the adversities, and rejection we face, we become internally strong to do the best for the Lord. The missionary zeal is greater than the heat of jealousy, resistance and persecution. However unsuitable the conditions, and circumstance, still the message of Christ can permeate beyond our limitations. With the power and promptings of the Holy Spirit we can encounter and enshrine the message of the Gospel even amidst a fragile and vulnerable human conditions, secretly and selfishly motivated milieu and faulty human judgements and decisions. We are taught in the first reading to be open to the voice and guidance of the Holy Spirit to expand and set out for new journeys for Christ. The Apostles were preparing for the second missionary journey to venture with firm principles and compromises of convenience for the sake of the Gospel. We all need to be led by the Holy Spirit to succeed and win souls for God. The responsorial Psalm praises, “Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.” (Ps. 99:1). The Gospel prepares us to face the worst not to run away from it. Rejection, abuse, persecutions are bound to happen during the evangelisation. The foreseeable persecution and rejection must not allow us to compromise to the abusers. “Servants are not greater than their master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.” (Jn.15:20). The door of salvation is opened for all. Lumen Gentium 16.1 teaches us to include the poor of good will telling, “Those also can attain to salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience. Nor does Divine Providence deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God and with His grace strive to live a good life. Whatever good or truth is found amongst them is looked upon by the Church as a preparation for the Gospel.” May our openness and goodness be greater than the enmity and persecution we need to face. We need to lean on the consoling presence of the Holy Spirit to embrace everyone for Christ. May you have a good day. God bless you.