Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 505
Lectionary: 505
King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his
lords,
with whom he drank.
Under the influence of the wine,
he ordered the gold and silver vessels
which Nebuchadnezzar, his father,
had taken from the temple in Jerusalem,
to be brought in so that the king, his lords,
his wives and his entertainers might drink from them.
When the gold and silver vessels
taken from the house of God in Jerusalem had been brought in,
and while the king, his lords, his wives and his entertainers
were drinking wine from them,
they praised their gods of gold and silver,
bronze and iron, wood and stone.
Suddenly, opposite the lampstand,
the fingers of a human hand appeared,
writing on the plaster of the wall in the king’s palace.
When the king saw the wrist and hand that wrote, his face blanched;
his thoughts terrified him, his hip joints shook,
and his knees knocked.
Then Daniel was brought into the presence of the king.
The king asked him, “Are you the Daniel, the Jewish exile,
whom my father, the king, brought from Judah?
I have heard that the Spirit of God is in you,
that you possess brilliant knowledge and extraordinary wisdom.
I have heard that you can interpret dreams and solve difficulties;
if you are able to read the writing and tell me what it means,
you shall be clothed in purple,
wear a gold collar about your neck,
and be third in the government of the kingdom.”
Daniel answered the king:
“You may keep your gifts, or give your presents to someone else;
but the writing I will read for you, O king,
and tell you what it means.
You have rebelled against the Lord of heaven.
You had the vessels of his temple brought before you,
so that you and your nobles, your wives and your entertainers,
might drink wine from them;
and you praised the gods of silver and gold,
bronze and iron, wood and stone,
that neither see nor hear nor have intelligence.
But the God in whose hand is your life breath
and the whole course of your life, you did not glorify.
By him were the wrist and hand sent, and the writing set down.
“This is the writing that was inscribed:
MENE, TEKEL, and PERES.
These words mean:
MENE, God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it;
TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting;
PERES, your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
with whom he drank.
Under the influence of the wine,
he ordered the gold and silver vessels
which Nebuchadnezzar, his father,
had taken from the temple in Jerusalem,
to be brought in so that the king, his lords,
his wives and his entertainers might drink from them.
When the gold and silver vessels
taken from the house of God in Jerusalem had been brought in,
and while the king, his lords, his wives and his entertainers
were drinking wine from them,
they praised their gods of gold and silver,
bronze and iron, wood and stone.
Suddenly, opposite the lampstand,
the fingers of a human hand appeared,
writing on the plaster of the wall in the king’s palace.
When the king saw the wrist and hand that wrote, his face blanched;
his thoughts terrified him, his hip joints shook,
and his knees knocked.
Then Daniel was brought into the presence of the king.
The king asked him, “Are you the Daniel, the Jewish exile,
whom my father, the king, brought from Judah?
I have heard that the Spirit of God is in you,
that you possess brilliant knowledge and extraordinary wisdom.
I have heard that you can interpret dreams and solve difficulties;
if you are able to read the writing and tell me what it means,
you shall be clothed in purple,
wear a gold collar about your neck,
and be third in the government of the kingdom.”
Daniel answered the king:
“You may keep your gifts, or give your presents to someone else;
but the writing I will read for you, O king,
and tell you what it means.
You have rebelled against the Lord of heaven.
You had the vessels of his temple brought before you,
so that you and your nobles, your wives and your entertainers,
might drink wine from them;
and you praised the gods of silver and gold,
bronze and iron, wood and stone,
that neither see nor hear nor have intelligence.
But the God in whose hand is your life breath
and the whole course of your life, you did not glorify.
By him were the wrist and hand sent, and the writing set down.
“This is the writing that was inscribed:
MENE, TEKEL, and PERES.
These words mean:
MENE, God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it;
TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting;
PERES, your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
Responsorial PsalmDN 3:62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67
R. (59b) Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Sun and moon, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Stars of heaven, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Every shower and dew, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“All you winds, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Fire and heat, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Cold and chill, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Sun and moon, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Stars of heaven, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Every shower and dew, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“All you winds, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Fire and heat, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
“Cold and chill, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.”
R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.
GospelLK 21:12-19
Jesus said to the
crowd:
“They will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents,
brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
“They will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents,
brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
Meditation: "Not a hair
of your head will perish"
If
the gospel message is good news, then why do so many people treat Christians
with contempt and hostility for their beliefs and practices? Jesus warns his
followers that they will be confronted with wickedness, false teaching,
persecution, as well as the temptation to renounce their faith when it is put
to the test. The real enemy of the gospel is Satan, the powerful leader of the
fallen angels who rebeled against God. Satan opposes God's reign – his kingly
rule of peace and justice on the earth. Jesus calls Satan a
"murderer" and the "father of lies" (John 8:44). Satan not
only opposes God's rule, he seeks to destroy all who would obey God. Satan will
use any means possible to turn people away from God. He tempts people through
envy, deception, hatred, and fear to provoke hostility towards those who follow
the Lord Jesus Christ.
What
is Jesus' response to hostility and persecution? Love, forebearance, and
forgiveness. Only love can defeat prejudice, intolerance, hatred, and envy.
God's love purifies our heart and mind of all that would divide and tear people
apart. Knowing and loving God's truth is essential for overcoming evil. Jesus
tells us that we do not need to fear those who would oppose us or treat us
harshly for following the Lord Jesus. He promises to give us supernatural
strength, wisdom, and courage as we take a stand for our faith and witness to
the truth and love of Christ. The gospel is good news for the whole world
because it is God's eternal word of truth, love, pardon, and salvation through
his Son, Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus has won the victory for us through his
atoning death on the cross and his rising from the grave. That is why the
gospel has power to set people free from sin and ignorance, death and
destruction.
Jesus
tells his disciples that if they endure to the end they will gain their
lives – they will inherit abundant life and lasting happiness with
God. Endurance is an essential strength which God gives to those who put their
trust in him. Endurance is the patience which never gives up hope, never yields
to despair or hatred. Patience is long-suffering because it looks beyond the
present difficulties and trials and sees the reward which comes to those who
persevere with hope and trust in God. That is why godly endurance is more than
human effort. It is first and foremost a supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit
which enables us to bear up under any trial or temptation. Endurance is linked
with godly hope – the supernatural assurance that we will see God face to face
and inherit all the promises he has made. Jesus is our supreme model and hero
who endured the cross for our sake (Hebrews 12:2). "God shows his love for
us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
Jesus willingly shed his blood for us – to win for us pardon and peace with
God. Our joy and privilege is to take up our cross each day to follow the Lord
Jesus.
The
word "martyr" in the New Testament Greek means "witness".
The Book of Revelations says that "Jesus was the faithful witness ...who
freed us from our sins by his blood" (Revelations 1:5). Tertullian, a
second century lawyer who converted when he saw Christians singing as they went
out to die by the hands of their persecutors, exclaimed: "The blood of the
martyrs is seed." Their blood is the seed of new Christians, the seed of
the church. The third century bishop, Cyprian said: "When persecution
comes, God's soldiers are put to the test, and heaven is open to martyrs. We
have not enlisted in an army to think of peace and to decline battle, for we
see that the Lord has taken first place in the conflict." True martyrs
live and die as witnesses of the gospel. They overcome their enemies through
persevering hope and courage, undying love and forebearance, kindness,
goodness, and compassion.
God
may call some of us to be martyrs who shed their blood for bearing witness to
Jesus Christ. But for most of us, our call is to be 'dry' martyrs who bear
testimony to the joy and power of the gospel in the midst of daily challenges,
contradictions, temptations and adversities which come our way as we follow the
Lord Jesus. What will attract others to the truth and power of the gospel? When
they see Christians loving their enemies, being joyful in suffering, patient in
adversity, pardoning injuries, and showing comfort and compassion to the
hopeless and the helpless. Jesus tells us that we do not need to fear our
adversaries. God will give us sufficient grace, strength, and wisdom to face
any trial and to answer any challenge to our faith. Are you ready to lay down
your life for Christ and to bear witness to the joy and freedom of the gospel?
"Lord
Jesus Christ, by your atoning death on the cross you have redeemed the world.
Fill me with joyful hope, courage, and boldness to witness the truth of your
love for sinners and your victory over the powers of sin, Satan, and death."
 Costly Catholicism |
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Wednesday of the
Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
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Father Edward
McIlmail, LC
Luke 21:12-19
Jesus said to his disciples: "Before
all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand
you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before
kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving
testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I
myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be
powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents,
brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You
will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be
destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
Introductory Prayer: Jesus my Savior, thank you for another day
and another chance to grow in holiness with your grace. I love you and wish
to make you the true center of my thoughts, desires and actions.
Petition: Lord, help me face the difficulties of
practicing my faith day-to-day.
1. Persecution: Opposition from the world is the price we
pay for following Christ. No pain, no gain. Why should that surprise us? If
living the Gospel were easy, the entire world would be saints. But the Gospel
is demanding. It rubs against our fallen human nature. It demands of us — and
even makes us unpopular. Why? Because people who do good are a thorny
reminder to those who don´t. It shouldn´t surprise us that the neighbors look
down on us for having so many kids. Or that the guys in the dorm snicker at
us for living chastely. Or that the boss overlooks us for a promotion because
we wouldn´t donate to that pro-abortion group last Christmas during the
company fund drive. Do I realize that to be a Christian is to be persecuted?
2. No Defense: When Christ tells us not to prepare our
defense he´s not telling us to sit back and do nothing. Rather, he wants us
to use our talents for the Kingdom. Christ is inviting us to trust that
ultimately the victory of good over evil belongs to him. God has his time and
place for everything. In the meantime we are called to build the Kingdom
wherever we can — in our families, our offices, our schools, our communities.
How am I building the Kingdom in the areas around me?
3. Wisdom from Above: "I myself shall give you a wisdom in
speaking…" When we stay close to Christ in prayer and deed, he takes
over our lives little by little. And that´s good. Our selfishness fades. Our
heart grows. We die to ourselves. "He must increase; I must
decrease" (John 3:30). But we have to ask ourselves: Do we really believe
in the Gospel? Do we believe in it enough to use Christ´s words when we have
to respond to the nonbelievers around us? How often do we identify ourselves
as Catholic in public?
Conversation with Christ:Lord, you know it´s not easy to be seen as
your friend. People laugh at us — if they don´t feel sorry for us. They don´t
understand where we are coming from. Help me understand some of the
loneliness you must have felt when you went against the world´s standards.
Help me be faithful to you regardless of the cost.
Resolution: In conversation or in an e-mail I will use a
line of Christ’s wisdom from the Gospel.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, LUKE 21:12-19
(Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28; Psalm: Daniel 3)
(Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28; Psalm: Daniel 3)
KEY VERSE: "For I myself will give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute" (v 15).
READING: Jesus pointed out the eschatological signs (the doctrine dealing with the last things) that would precede his final coming (v 8-11). He indicated that the sign that would mark the daily life of every Christian was the "sign of the cross." Jesus' disciples must be prepared to testify to their faith in times of suffering and trial. They should not be fearful when facing their enemies, but trust in his divine presence to guide them. Though family and friends might abandon and betray them, Jesus would never leave those he loved. The martyrs who chose to suffer and die rather than deny their faith have given the supreme "witness" (Greek, martur) to the gospel.
REFLECTING: Do I pray for the persecuted Church around the world?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to rely upon your word amid the suffering of the world.
HANUKKAH BEGINS AT
SUNSET NOVEMBER 27
Many people think of Hanukkah as "the Jewish
Christmas," but two holidays have nothing to do with each other, except
that they're celebrated at roughly the same time of year. The Hanukkah
story involves a group of warriors led by Judas Maccabeus. In 164 BC they
drove the Syrians out of Israel and reclaimed and purified the temple, which
had been desecrated by King Antiochus IV. When the Maccabees retook the Temple,
the Jews found only enough oil left to light the menorah -- the eight branched
candelabrum -- for one night. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight nights,
long enough for a new supply to be prepared. The Temple was rededicated, and
the Jews celebrated the miracle with an eight-day festival (1 Mc 4:36-59).
Hanukkah is a minor feast, but it is nonetheless an opportunity to celebrate
Jewish heritage.
Give glory and eternal praise to him.
Give glory and eternal praise to him.It is easier to praise you, our living God, when things are going well. But when life becomes gloomy, when we feel let down or misjudged, or when someone sees us for the miserable beings we are, it is not so easy to give glory and praise to you. Often we blame you and hide our lack of effort, saying that it is your will that we do nothing, that the situation should just be accepted. We don’t forget that you promised to give us eloquence and wisdom when we find ourselves in a tight spot. But we know that you want us to ask for this and to seize every opportunity to bear witness to the Good News. Maybe we need a few shocks like Belshazzar had to fill us with humility.
November 27
St. Francesco Antonio Fasani
1681-1742
St. Francesco Antonio Fasani
1681-1742
Born in Lucera (southeast Italy), Francesco entered the Conventual
Franciscans in 1695. After his ordination 10 years later, he taught philosophy
to younger friars, served as guardian of his friary and later became
provincial. When his term of office ended, Francesco became master of novices
and finally pastor in his hometown.
In his
various ministries, he was loving, devout and penitential. He was a
sought-after confessor and preacher. One witness at the canonical hearings
regarding Francesco’s holiness testified, "In his preaching he spoke in a
familiar way, filled as he was with the love of God and neighbor; fired by the
Spirit, he made use of the words and deed of Holy Scripture, stirring his
listeners and moving them to do penance." Francesco showed himself a loyal
friend of the poor, never hesitating to seek from benefactors what was needed.
At his
death in Lucera, children ran through the streets and cried out, "The
saint is dead! The saint is dead!" Francesco was canonized in 1986.
Comment:
Eventually we become what we choose. If we choose stinginess, we become stingy. If we choose compassion, we become compassionate. The holiness of Francesco Antonio Fasani resulted from his many small decisions to cooperate with God’s grace.
Eventually we become what we choose. If we choose stinginess, we become stingy. If we choose compassion, we become compassionate. The holiness of Francesco Antonio Fasani resulted from his many small decisions to cooperate with God’s grace.
Quote:
During his homily at the canonization of Francesco, Pope John Paul II reflected on John 21:15 in which Jesus asks Peter if he loves Jesus more than the other apostles and then tells Peter, "Feed my lambs." The pope observed that in the final analysis human holiness is decided by love. "He [Francesco] made the love taught us by Christ the fundamental characteristic of his existence, the basic criterion of his thought and activity, the supreme summit of his aspirations" (L'Osservatore Romano, vol. 16, number 3, 1986).
During his homily at the canonization of Francesco, Pope John Paul II reflected on John 21:15 in which Jesus asks Peter if he loves Jesus more than the other apostles and then tells Peter, "Feed my lambs." The pope observed that in the final analysis human holiness is decided by love. "He [Francesco] made the love taught us by Christ the fundamental characteristic of his existence, the basic criterion of his thought and activity, the supreme summit of his aspirations" (L'Osservatore Romano, vol. 16, number 3, 1986).
LECTIO: LUKE
21,12-19
Lectio:
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Lord,
increase our eagerness to do your will
and help us to know the saving power of your love.
You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
increase our eagerness to do your will
and help us to know the saving power of your love.
You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel reading - Luke 21,12-19
Jesus said to his disciples: 'You will be seized and persecuted;
you will be handed over to the synagogues and to imprisonment, and brought
before kings and governors for the sake of my name -and that will be your
opportunity to bear witness.
Make up your minds not to prepare your defence, because I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict.
You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relations and friends; and some of you will be put to death. You will be hated universally on account of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost.
Your perseverance will win you your lives.
Make up your minds not to prepare your defence, because I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict.
You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relations and friends; and some of you will be put to death. You will be hated universally on account of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost.
Your perseverance will win you your lives.
3) Reflection
• In today’s Gospel, which is the continuation of the discourse
begun yesterday, Jesus lists the different signs to help the communities to
place themselves in the events and not to lose faith in God, nor the courage to
resist against the attacks of the Roman Empire. We will repeat the first five
signs mentioned in yesterday’s Gospel:
1st sign: the false Messiahs (Lk 21, 8);
2nd sign: war and revolutions (Lk 21, 9);
3rd sign: nations which fight against other nations, a kingdom against another kingdom (Lk 21, 10);
4th sign: earth quakes in different places (Lk 21, 11);
5th sign: hunger, plagues and signs in the sky (Lk 21, 11);
The Gospel of yesterday ends here. Now, in today’s Gospel another sign is added:
6th sign: the persecution of Christians (Lk 21, 12-19).
• Luke 21,12. The sixth sign is the persecution. Various times, in the few years which he lived among us, Jesus had warned the disciples that they would be persecuted. Here, in the last discourse, he repeats the same warning and makes them know that the persecution has to be taken into consideration in discerning the signs of the times: “You will be seized and persecuted, you will be handed over to the Synagogues and to imprisonment, and brought before kings and governors, for the sake of my name”. And of these, apparently very negative warnings, Jesus had said: “Do not be terrified for this is something that must happen first, but the end will not come at once”. (Lk 21, 9). And the Gospel of Mark adds that all these signs “have only begun, this is the beginning of the birth pangs!” (Mk 13, 8). Now, the birth pangs though being very painful for the mother are not a sign of death, but rather of life! They are not a reason to fear, but rather to hope! This way of reading the events brings peace to the persecuted communities. Thus, reading or hearing these signs, prophesized by Jesus in the year 33, the readers of Luke of the years 80 could conclude: “All these things already take place according to the plan foreseen and announced by Jesus! Therefore, the history has not escaped from God’s hand! God is with us!"
• Luke 21, 13-15: The mission of the Christians during the time of persecution.Persecution is not something fatal, neither can it be a reason for discouragement or for despair, but it should be considered as a possibility offered by God, in a way that the communities may carry out the mission of witnessing to the Good News of God. God says: “That will be your opportunity to bear witness. Make up your minds not to prepare your defence because I myself shall give you eloquence and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict”.
By means of this affirmation Jesus encourages the persecuted Christians who lived anguished. He makes them know that, even if persecuted, they had a mission to carry out, that is: to give witness of the Good News of God and thus be a sign of the Kingdom (Ac 1, 8). The courageous witness would lead the people to repeat what the magi in Egypt said before the signs and to have courage like Moses and Aaron: “The finger of God is here” (Ex 8, 15). Conclusion: if the communities should not be worried, if everything is in God’s hands, if everything was already foreseen, if everything is nothing more than birth pangs, then there is no reason to worry.
• Luke 21, 16-17: Persecution even within the family. “You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relations and friends, and some of you will be put to death; you will be hated universally on account of my name”. Persecution does not only come from outside, from the Empire, but also from inside, on the part of one’s own family. In one same family, some accepted the Good News, others did not. The announcement of the Good News caused divisions within families. There were even some persons, who basing themselves on the Law of God, denounced and killed their own relatives who declared themselves followers of Jesus (Dt 13, 7-12).
• Luke 21, 18-19: the source of hope and of resistance. “But not a hair of your head will be lost. Your perseverance will win you your lives!” This final observation of Jesus recalls the other word which Jesus had said: “But not a hair of your head will be lost!” (Lk 21, 18). This comparison was a strong call not to lose faith and to continue righteously in the community. And this also confirms what Jesus had said on another occasion: Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it, but anyone who will lose his life for my sake will save it” (Lk 9, 24).
1st sign: the false Messiahs (Lk 21, 8);
2nd sign: war and revolutions (Lk 21, 9);
3rd sign: nations which fight against other nations, a kingdom against another kingdom (Lk 21, 10);
4th sign: earth quakes in different places (Lk 21, 11);
5th sign: hunger, plagues and signs in the sky (Lk 21, 11);
The Gospel of yesterday ends here. Now, in today’s Gospel another sign is added:
6th sign: the persecution of Christians (Lk 21, 12-19).
• Luke 21,12. The sixth sign is the persecution. Various times, in the few years which he lived among us, Jesus had warned the disciples that they would be persecuted. Here, in the last discourse, he repeats the same warning and makes them know that the persecution has to be taken into consideration in discerning the signs of the times: “You will be seized and persecuted, you will be handed over to the Synagogues and to imprisonment, and brought before kings and governors, for the sake of my name”. And of these, apparently very negative warnings, Jesus had said: “Do not be terrified for this is something that must happen first, but the end will not come at once”. (Lk 21, 9). And the Gospel of Mark adds that all these signs “have only begun, this is the beginning of the birth pangs!” (Mk 13, 8). Now, the birth pangs though being very painful for the mother are not a sign of death, but rather of life! They are not a reason to fear, but rather to hope! This way of reading the events brings peace to the persecuted communities. Thus, reading or hearing these signs, prophesized by Jesus in the year 33, the readers of Luke of the years 80 could conclude: “All these things already take place according to the plan foreseen and announced by Jesus! Therefore, the history has not escaped from God’s hand! God is with us!"
• Luke 21, 13-15: The mission of the Christians during the time of persecution.Persecution is not something fatal, neither can it be a reason for discouragement or for despair, but it should be considered as a possibility offered by God, in a way that the communities may carry out the mission of witnessing to the Good News of God. God says: “That will be your opportunity to bear witness. Make up your minds not to prepare your defence because I myself shall give you eloquence and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict”.
By means of this affirmation Jesus encourages the persecuted Christians who lived anguished. He makes them know that, even if persecuted, they had a mission to carry out, that is: to give witness of the Good News of God and thus be a sign of the Kingdom (Ac 1, 8). The courageous witness would lead the people to repeat what the magi in Egypt said before the signs and to have courage like Moses and Aaron: “The finger of God is here” (Ex 8, 15). Conclusion: if the communities should not be worried, if everything is in God’s hands, if everything was already foreseen, if everything is nothing more than birth pangs, then there is no reason to worry.
• Luke 21, 16-17: Persecution even within the family. “You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relations and friends, and some of you will be put to death; you will be hated universally on account of my name”. Persecution does not only come from outside, from the Empire, but also from inside, on the part of one’s own family. In one same family, some accepted the Good News, others did not. The announcement of the Good News caused divisions within families. There were even some persons, who basing themselves on the Law of God, denounced and killed their own relatives who declared themselves followers of Jesus (Dt 13, 7-12).
• Luke 21, 18-19: the source of hope and of resistance. “But not a hair of your head will be lost. Your perseverance will win you your lives!” This final observation of Jesus recalls the other word which Jesus had said: “But not a hair of your head will be lost!” (Lk 21, 18). This comparison was a strong call not to lose faith and to continue righteously in the community. And this also confirms what Jesus had said on another occasion: Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it, but anyone who will lose his life for my sake will save it” (Lk 9, 24).
4) Personal questions
• How do you usually read the stages of the history of your life
or of your country?
• Looking at the history of humanity of the last years, has hope increased or diminished in you?
• Looking at the history of humanity of the last years, has hope increased or diminished in you?
5) Concluding prayer
Yahweh has made known his saving power,
revealed his saving justice for the nations to see,
mindful of his faithful love
and his constancy to the House of Israel. (Ps 98,2-3)
revealed his saving justice for the nations to see,
mindful of his faithful love
and his constancy to the House of Israel. (Ps 98,2-3)
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