This passage from Luke's Gospel, reminds me of the passage from Paul that lets us know that because we are "baptized into Christ's death, we will rise with him."
Luke's message must have been a comfort to those who were undergoing persecution. They knew that some of their friends and possibly family members had been persecuted or killed because they wouldn't worship the emperor as a god.
Luke is telling them that no matter what happens to them, God is there to welcome them into the Kingdom.
We have been given both the same promise and the same warning. We have a choice how we live. We can choose to remain faithful to the Lord, or go after the pleasures the world tempts us with.
I'm always happy when the summer television season is over in the US because the summer season has more programs about men and women offering their bodies for sale.
Now, I know that this is not how these programs are advertised, but what do the offer? They bring men and women together on a beach or in a house or some other place so that they can "find love." What they really do is promote using sex to attract someone.
This is love????? I don't think so!
My concern is the young people who watch these shows. What are they learning about love or even life for that matter? This is not real even if it's advertised as reality television!
Ask anyone who works in ministry how difficult it is to instruct the youth in the Gospel. Anyone who is trying to live a moral life, or is trying to raise their children to live a moral life is facing an enormous challenge.
It is important to keep witnessing the Gospel values and praying for our youth and reminding them that this life is temporary, and eternal life is just that, eternal.
