For me, being silenced or not being given the opportunity to speak is one of the greatest acts of oppression we can be subject to. Often times, certain voices drown out the voices of others. Often times, our voice of Christian witness gets drowned out in society. We pray that the Holy Spirit give us the courage to speak the truth, even when the backlash is oppression and anger.
From the US Bishops’ website:
Pray: That the Holy Spirit would give us the courage to bear witness to the truth of the Gospel, even in the face of social and legal pressure.
Reflect: We must stand up for the civil right to be free from government coercion. At the same time, we Christians must be mindful that our freedom comes from Christ, and so we are always free when we remain in Christ. When a government attempts to force us to violate our consciences, we must witness to the truth. A state that coerces the conscience of its citizens radically oversteps its proper boundaries. Rather than resist as a revolutionary, the Christian bears patient witness to the truth, even if that witness leads to punishment. The martyrs are great examples of this. The key to martyrdom is witness to truth. In this respect, we are all called to be martyrs.
Act: Start speaking up today! Reflect on how to respectfully engage in conversation about religious freedom. Share with others why religious freedom is good for all people.
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