#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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