Persecution – Opportunity For Witnessing
Introduction
Today the book of Revelation describes the last judgment as the final exodus. Plagues had struck the Egyptians; seven plagues strike those who have rejected Christ. Those who have followed Christ the Paschal Lamb and have crossed their Red Sea by being faithful in passing the lake and the fire of trials, enter the Promised Land. There they sing the song of Moses, the song of their liberation, to God, the Lord of history. Let this Eucharist be a song of praise to God for our liberation in Christ.
Our baptism has made us witnesses of Christ. But it is not always an easy path, especially in times of great change, and even more so for missionaries. Difficulties will come from those closest to us. But we may rest assured that Christ is with us and that through his Spirit he will make us eloquent and give us the wisdom what to say and do. Do not be afraid! This may be easier said than done.
1 Reading Revelations 15:1-4
I, John, saw in heaven another sign, great and awe-inspiring:
seven angels with the seven last plagues,
for through them God’s fury is accomplished.
Then I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire.
On the sea of glass were standing those
who had won the victory over the beast
and its image and the number that signified its name.
They were holding God’s harps,
and they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God,
and the song of the Lamb:
“Great and wonderful are your works,
Lord God almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
O king of the nations.
Who will not fear you, Lord,
or glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All the nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Responsorial Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 7-8, 9
R. (Rev. 15: 3b) Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy.
R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
Before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to rule the earth;
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with equity.
R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
Alleluia Revelations 2:10c
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain faithful until death,
and I will give you the crown of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Luke 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.”
Commentary
Since the beginning of the Church, there have been hundreds of thousands of Christian martyrs. Reading their stories is an exercise in emotional resilience, for nearly all of the stories are filled with details of unimaginably gruesome torture. How on earth they went through such torture and pain, one may wonder. However, story after story attest to their calmness, fearlessness, and even serene joy during their final moments. Some of them spoke kindly to their executioners, others cracked jokes, and still others spoke words of encouragement to the people gathered. Indeed, history confirms that several of their executioners were converted by their spiritual resilience. I once heard this story: a Communist official, who had supervised the execution of many Christians, went to a pastor and asked: “I’ve seen many of your people die. The Christians die differently. What is their secret?”
Christians die differently because they die in hope. Their secret is the assurance that their heart’s Beloved would be there with them in their final moments. And Jesus, as promised, gives them the right words and wisdom to share with their executioners and the gathered assembly.
Blessing
Do not fear. We are in God’s hands. Trust in God. And let his Spirit live and speak and act in us, with the blessing of almighty God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen!