“Don’t pay attention to their whispers! They are unimportant and harmful, and their only purpose is to rob you of your peace and confidence.” (Inner Word)
Here we focus on false and erroneous thoughts that may arise from our hearts or be “whispered” to us by the powers of evil. Even rumors or negative thoughts others have about us can affect us indirectly and cause anxiety.
Hb 10:32-36
Reading corresponding to the memorial of St. Januarius
But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on the prisoners, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised.
Today the church commemorates Saint Gennaro, Bishop of Benevento. During the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian, he was thrown to the wild beasts together with his deacon Festus, the lector Desiderius and some other Christians. As the beasts did not harm him, he was finally beheaded. To this day, the so-called “miracle of Saint Gennaro” is repeated every 19th January in Naples: the relic of his blood, normally a mass of dried blood preserved in a glass ampoule, becomes completely liquid.
