Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
(Revelation 15:1-4;
Luke 21:12-19)
The gospel today
anticipates the persecution of Christians by Jews described in the Acts of the
Apostles. It started before the Roman
destruction of the Temple. Herod had
James, the brother of John, killed. He
arrested Peter, who was subsequently rescued by an angel. And Paul will exemplify Christians giving
testimony under Jewish persecution.
The statement that
“not a hair on your head will be destroyed” originates in Jesus assuring his
disciples that the Father has counted the hairs on their heads. When he says here that some of them will be
put to death, he seems to be contradicting himself. But he means that with the resurrection of
the dead, their bodies will be wholly reconstructed.
We must remember that
Christian persecution has not ended.
Even today some Christians are being killed. The persecution may also be subtle. Some despise Christians for our opposition
for abortion or for simply belief in the spiritual realm. We may be called to testify about why we
continue to believe. As Jesus says there
is no need for preparation. We could
simply state what know from instruction that resides at the bottom of our
hearts.
