Good News Inspiration for Daily Life

Bulletin Insert for August 23, 2020.

Description: Reflection for the 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time shows that when Jesus ordained Peter to become the rock upon which he would build his Church (Matthew 16:13-20), he made a promise. The gates of hell, he said, speaking of the netherworld that belongs to the principalities and powers of darkness (see Ephesians 6), “shall never prevail against it.”

Jesus did not say that hell would never win battles against the Church. He said that the gates of hell would not win. Of course they won’t; gates don’t attack! Gates protect. Gates hold inside their boundaries whatever has been enclosed by a fence or wall. Do you know anyone who’s been imprisoned by their sins? Or by hellish circumstances?

Christians are not called to take a defensive posture against attacks and encroachments from evil-doers. Christians are called to take the offensive – we are called to attack the very gates of hell, knock them down, and conquer the devils that are trying to drag people into their kingdom of misery and eternal death. What Jesus did 2000 years ago to free people from evil he still does today through you and me.

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Ideas for use: Bulletin insert for for the 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time, youth groups, parish staff meeting, ministry meetings, adult faith formation, SCCs, RCIA, etc.

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