Saturday, August 1, 2020 - 17th week of Ordinary Time - Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 14, 1-12 - Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Dear Christians, the Church today celebrates St. Alphonsus Liguori, one of his virtues is that he volunteered to preach and proclaim Jesus to those who do not know him.

Thus, today's Gospel urges us to see and defend the truth that has been taught to us since our childhood. Because St. John the Baptist, telling the truth to Herod that he should not marry his brother Philip's wife, provoked the wrath of Herodias. The reason for this was the selfishness that drove this woman to ask without hesitation for the beheading of John the Baptist in prison, that is, the presence of John the Baptist, who proclaimed the truth, cast a shadow over her interests. She preferred to have him killed rather than listen to the voice of God.

Our present situation is not far from this, for many people, faced with the current crisis in our country, shamelessly take advantage of the situation to exploit their fellow men to the point of taking their own lives. True Christians look out for one another and always do what is right. In this case, Jesus wants to tell us Christians: whatever words or decisions you have authority over, do them with temperance so as not to endanger the lives of many people or even kill them directly. So ask God's Spirit to work in us to bring about just and lasting results.