Jesus says to the disciples: "Do not be afraid little flock, for it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Lk 12: 32) It was the case then and it is the same now. The disciples are a "little flock." The number of Christians around the world numbers about two billion however, especially in countries as secularized as New Zealand, those who practise the faith seem to be a very small flock indeed. Surrounded by an indifferent society and the rampant effects of abortion, divorce, suicide, drug abuse, poverty, inequality, racism, etc we can often feel not only small but also fearful. Will we have enough priests? How can we pass on the faith to the next generation? How will we pay for the upkeep of our church buildings, especially those that are earthquake prone? What about Islamic terrorism? The answer of the Gospel is to trust in the Father. It has pleased him, the ineffable Majesty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, to look kindly on those who follow his Son. We do not need to win the Kingdom through our own efforts. The Father has seen fit to give it to us. What we need to do is love him in return for his love and obey his commandments.
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