Friday. [Rom. 9:6-19; Matt. 10:32-36, 11:1]

   Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in Heaven. Is it hard to confess the Lord? It is not hard at all. How hard is it to say, when necessary, that our Lord Jesus Christ is the only-begotten Son of God, and God, Who for us came to earth, was made flesh of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man, was crucified, suffered, was buried, arose on the third day, ascended into the heavens and sits at the right hand of God the Father, and again will come to judge the living and the dead—Who sent the Holy Spirit upon the holy apostles, who through His power established on the earth the Holy Church, which, teaching the truth and sanctifying through the mysteries, leads all of its faithful children to the heavenly kingdom along a sure path? We repeat all this every time we hear and read the symbol of faith. So imprint these truths in your heart, and be ready, not fearing any person, to show that one must believe thus and cannot be saved in any other way, preparing also to endure whatever comes to you as a result of this. Bar the lips of teachers of lies and blasphemers of Christianity with the word of truth, and you will receive what is promised by the Lord. You confess Him as God and Saviour before men, and He before God the Father will confess that you are His faithful follower and confessor.