Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Lk 21: 12-19
November 29, 2023 | Wednesday
Before all these things happen, people will lay their hands on you and persecute you; you will be delivered to the synagogues and put in prison, and for my sake, you will be brought before kings and governors. This will be your opportunity to bear witness.
So keep this in mind: do not worry in advance about what to say, for I will give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.
You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death. But even though, because of my name, you will be hated by everyone, not a hair of your head will perish. By your patient endurance, you will save your souls.
Today’s Reflection:
Along with trials and tribulations, Jesus said that persecutions are opportunities to bear witness to the gospel. We are reminded to do everything with love and not patronize suffering per se.
Otherwise, it would be a psychological disorder to take pleasure in the suffering of the self. As followers of Jesus, it is part of our divine calling to embrace the cross of Christ. But it can only be salvific when we do not forget that Christ suffered and died on the cross because of His great love for us. Devoid of love, the cross is nothing but a horrific instrument of torture designed to threaten dissenters of Roman power. He told His disciples not to be afraid of suffering because resurrection happens only after passion and death. / Vulnerasti, 2023
