Watched the movie "The Mission" — about the Jesuits in South America. A remarkable real story, with evidence of their work and influence in the world still today.
Inspiration for evangelism. Same challenges that Paul faced — and death by martyrdom. 🙏
The second evening at Mont-Saint-Michel. Le reads Romans 12:9-21 and watches The Mission. The Jesuits among the Guaraní. The music, education, community, the gospel. And the martyrdom when colonial powers destroyed what love had built.
Romans 12:14: bless those who persecute you. The Jesuits blessed their persecutors with their lives. Romans 12:21: overcome evil with good. The missions were the good. And when evil destroyed them — the good endured.
Le — born in Brazil — this is her continent's story. The Jesuits shaped the faith of the land Le was born into. The Word that reached Le traveled through centuries of sacrifice. Paul's letters too — written in prison, sealed with martyrdom — still transforming lives tonight at Mont-Saint-Michel. The living sacrifice endures. The good overcomes.
"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another."
"Que la charité soit sans hypocrisie. Ayez le mal en horreur; attachez-vous fortement au bien. Par amour fraternel, soyez pleins d'affection les uns pour les autres; par honneur, usez de prévenance réciproque."
Romains 12:9-10 · Louis Segond"Without hypocrisy." Anypokritos — unmasked, genuine. Le: it's real. The first word of the transformed life — the word Le lives.
"Abhor evil. Cling to good." Two movements, same intensity. The Jesuits clung to good. They abhorred exploitation.
"In honor giving preference." The competition is who gives the most. A race to the servant's place.
"Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality."
"Ayez du zèle, et non de la paresse. Soyez fervents d'esprit. Servez le Seigneur. Réjouissez-vous en espérance. Soyez patients dans l'affliction. Persévérez dans la prière. Pourvoyez aux besoins des saints. Exercez l'hospitalité."
Romains 12:11-13 · Louis Segond"Fervent." Zeō — boiling. Not lukewarm. One hundred and eighty-three entries — a fervent spirit.
Verse 12 — the Romans study in one verse:
"Rejoicing in hope" — Romans 5:2. "Patient in tribulation" — hypomonē from 5:3-4! "Continuing in prayer" — Romans 8:26.
Hope. Patience. Prayer. Three pillars. Le's daily rhythm.
"Given to hospitality." Philoxenian diōkontes — pursuing stranger-love. Le sharing with her friend — pursuing the opportunity to love.
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble."
"Bénissez ceux qui vous persécutent, bénissez et ne maudissez pas. Réjouissez-vous avec ceux qui se réjouissent; pleurez avec ceux qui pleurent. N'aspirez pas à ce qui est élevé, mais laissez-vous attirer par ce qui est humble. Ne soyez point sages à vos propres yeux."
Romains 12:14-16 · Louis Segond"Bless those who persecute you." The Jesuits — blessing their persecutors with their lives. Paul in prison writing grace.
"Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." Be present. Le — whose greatest testimony is the greatest gift is His presence — knows human presence mirrors divine presence.
"Associate with the humble." Le: I didn't graduate. The pilgrim associates with the humble — because she is one.
"Repay no one evil for evil. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
"Ne rendez à personne le mal pour le mal. Autant que cela dépend de vous, soyez en paix avec tous les hommes. Ne vous vengez point vous-mêmes, bien-aimés. Car il est écrit: À moi la vengeance, dit le Seigneur. Mais si ton ennemi a faim, donne-lui à manger. Ne te laisse pas vaincre par le mal, mais surmonte le mal par le bien."
Romains 12:17-21 · Louis Segond"Repay no one evil for evil." Revolutionary. The world says: get even. Paul: don't.
"As much as depends on you, live peaceably." Le left the apartment shiny. The Golden Rule. She did her part.
"Vengeance is Mine." God handles justice. The pilgrim handles peace.
"Overcome evil with good." The capstone. O mundo é insuportável. Evil is real. But evil does not get the last word. Good overcomes. Not by power. By love. By patience. By blessing. By feeding the hungry enemy.
Hypernikōmen meets overcome evil with good. More than conquerors — the weapon is goodness. The Jesuits knew it. Paul knew it. Le knows it. The mission endures. 🙏
"The Mission — inspiration for evangelism. Same challenges that Paul faced — and death by martyrdom. The good overcomes."
Le · Beauvoir, Route du Mont-Saint-Michel · September 9, 2026 · Love without hypocrisy, patient in tribulation, overcome evil with good — the mission enduresWithout Hypocrisy
Anypokritos — unmasked, genuine. It's real. The first word of the transformed life.
The Three Pillars
Rejoicing in hope. Patient in tribulation. Continuing in prayer. Romans 5 and 8 compressed into one verse.
The Mission
The Jesuits in South America. Same challenges as Paul. Martyrdom. But the mission endures. The good overcomes.
Overcome
Overcome evil with good. The weapon is goodness. More than conquerors.