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Nothing Will Harm Us









#DAYIGHT – Daily #MenofLight
#GospelReflection
November 27, 2019; Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary time
Gospel: Lk 21: 12 – 19
Sharer: Bro. Mike Lapid
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The Gospel

2 “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 15 for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my name. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your souls.

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Reflection



Nothing Will Harm Us


Today’s gospel seems to tell us that every follower of Jesus will have to expect some form of adversity or persecution in life. Apparently, these possible trials and tribulations, Jesus says, seem to be a result of our close and intimate relationship with him. We will be arrested and persecuted; handed over to synagogues and prisons; brought before kings and governors all because of Jesus. Apparently, our relationship with Jesus puts us into some kind of direct opposition with the established religious and civil order. For some reason or another, our faith in Jesus confronts and shakes some deeply rooted and well entrenched values within this established order.

Moreover, it will be for the very same reason that we will face a much more difficult adversity; an adversity that is close to home.  Jesus tells us that we may have to meet some opposition and persecution even from our very own family members. We will be betrayed by parents and brothers; by relatives and friends who might even go to the extent of putting us to death. Our faith in Jesus has the potential of stirring up divisions within family circles, something that is difficult and painful particularly when we see our faith driving a wedge between us and those that we love.

Lastly, Jesus tells us that we will be hated by all. We will be hated by people whom we haven’t even met; hated by people we don’t even know. In the face of a loveless world, we will find ourselves alone and isolated all because of our faith in Jesus whom we have decided to follow.

But while we may find ourselves at times alone and isolated, Jesus tells us that we will not be defenseless. Jesus will come to our defense. He will supply us with the wisdom that none will ever withstand. But most important of all, Jesus assures us that no harm shall come to us. He assures us that not a single hair on our head shall perish. All he wants from us is to hold on and keep our faith. Only in persevering till the end will we find our salvation.

As followers of Jesus, we do not intend to stir hatred and create animosity in  society. In fact, we are told to love our fellowmen, even love our enemies and do good to all. But the choice that we make in following Jesus puts us on a path that is similar to his. He who was sinless and did no wrong to anyone, suffered a most humiliating death, death on the cross. He was put to death by the established religious and political order of his time. He was betrayed by people closest to him, by one of his disciples who broke bread with him. He was denied by one who was the supposed leader of his group and was left alone with no friend in sight during his trial before the Sanhedrin and before Pilate. He felt hated and reviled and felt abandoned on the cross as he breathed his last. But God raised him up again and did not allow death and evil to have the last say. He now lives and reigns, seated at God’s right hand, as Lord of all.

Today’s gospel in a way outlines what actually happened to Jesus. But it also becomes the outline of our lives the moment we choose to follow him. It may seem to us an outline that is fraught with hostility, violence and hatred. But it is also one that is full of reassurances of protection, consolation and salvation by God himself who tells us of his minute attention to the details of his loving care especially when he tells us that not a single strand of our hair shall perish. Such assurances and consolation should make us fear nothing and should only make us feel confident that nothing indeed will harm us in the end.

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Prayer

Jesus, I want to follow you. But I am afraid. You have painted for me a picture of what will happen to your followers. Unfortunately, I see more the difficulties that await me rather than the hope and consolation that you offer me. Strengthen me Jesus as I carry my cross with you; that notwithstanding all the difficulties and trials that I now experience, I can be confident of your reassuring love and care. Amen.



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Assignment

Think of those times or moments in your life when God delivered you from harm.
Thank the Lord for those times when he showed you his reassuring love and concern.

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Quote

The choice that we make in following Jesus puts us on a path that is similar to his.

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