Catholic Church teaches that there is truth in every religion and we, through our missionary activity, help people first of all to live good and morally upright lives, following the tenets of their religion, which is but coming from the same God. We are also duty-bound to bring them the good news of Jesus, our only Savior. Making people accept Christ is not our job, but it is the work of the Spirit of God. If and when the Holy Spirit touches them and transforms them, they accept Jesus. Our duty is to proclaim the good news by our words and our witnessing. Persecution is part of Church's growth, as Christ himslef had told us: "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, 'No slave is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours" (Jn 15:18-20). The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. Not a drop of blood shed by the simple, unknown Christans, the world over, even that of the unborn victims, will go unfruitful and unproductive. Wherever there is struggle, persecution and martyrdom, Church grows in leaps and bounds as the victims demonstrate their faith in the most powerful and courageous manner and as the Holy Spirti works there in miraculous ways. Let us keep praying so that their sufferings may be reduced, that they may have the courage to bear witness to Christ, and most importantly, that we may change our own lives and become better Christians, being inspired by them.
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