"Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words... the Son of Man will be ashamed of..."
Mark 8:38
You’ll think I’m crazy to admit this, but sometimes I still think twice before blessing myself in public. There I am, dressed as a priest! Yet whether I’m offering grace before a meal or praying in the car, I still hesitate at times. What will others think of me? What am I afraid of? Will I be shamed by someone for being a Christian?
Jesus says in our Gospel today that whoever is ashamed of Him and his words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of. Today, I’m asking Jesus for greater confidence to pray in public—knowing that this simple gesture might cause someone to shame me, but it also might just provide encouragement to someone else in his or her faith.
Do I fear making the sign of the cross in public? If so, why?
Jesus, may I never fear being ashamed for your sake!
Today’s Reflection is by:
Fr. Connor Penn
Did you know...
Fr. Connor Penn is parochial vicar at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Clearwater. Ordained in 2020, Fr. Penn briefly studied journalism before entering the seminary. Fr. Penn grew up in Temple Terrace, attending Corpus Christi Catholic School and later Jesuit High School.
