It is comforting to know that among the things that are the same always is: Jesus Christ. The first reading from the Letter to the Hebrews tells us: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday; today, and forever." This is said in the context of a measure for living – Christian people ought always to live as though the Jesus of history was their very real and reliable companion: because he is. And so we must love continually, be hospitable, mindful of prisoners and the ill-treated as if we were imprisoned or ill-treated because we too "are in the body" – we too share their humanity.
Let married life be honored as it is given by God who authored it; let your life be free from love of money.
Be content with what you have. And do not worry: "I will never forsake you or abandon you." If you live this way – you will feel and experience the reality of the presence of Christ who does live now, forever; and who is the same always!
The gospel passage tells us of one who believed in Jesus, who was willing to live for Jesus and to die for him – his cousin, John the Baptist. In the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist we see the power and the presence of Christ and of his Spirit shining through human weakness in bearing witness to the realities of God and the glory of God the Father! We thank John for believing that he would enjoy a blessed tomorrow with his Lord, after enduring the trials of the day! The same can be true of us!
Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart, and yield a harvest through perseverance.
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