34th week in Ordinary Time, Gospel commentary

DAILY GOSPEL REFLECTION. “BY YOUR PERSEVERANCE, YOU WILL SECURE YOUR LIVES” (Lk 21:12–19).

DAILY GOSPEL REFLECTION. “BY YOUR PERSEVERANCE, YOU WILL SECURE YOUR LIVES” (Lk 21:12–19).

Gospel of Wednesday, 34th week in Ordinary Time
Lk 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.”

Gospel Commentary from the Navarre Bible, Commentary to the Gospel of St. Luke (with permission)

  • 19 Jesus foretells all kinds of persecution. Persecution itself is something inevitable: “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim 3:12).
    • His disciples will have need to remember the Lord’s warning at the Last Supper: “‘A servant is not greater than his master’. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you” (Jn 15:20).
    • However, these persecutions are part of God’s Providence: they happen because he lets them happen, which he does in order to draw greater good out of them.
    • Persecution provides Christians with an opportunity to bear witness to Christ; without it the blood of martyrs would not adorn the Church.
      • Moreover, our Lord promises to give special help to those who suffer persecution and he tells them not be afraid: he will give them of his own wisdom to enable them defend themselves, he will not permit a hair of their heads to perish, that is, even apparent misfortune and loss will be for them a beginning of heaven.
  • From Jesus’ words we can also deduce the obligation on every Christian to be ready to lose his life rather than offend God.
    • Only those will attain salvation who persevere until the end in faithfulness to the Lord.
    • The three Synoptic Gospels locate his exhortation to perseverance in this discourse (cf. Mt 24:13; Mk 13:13 and St Matthew gives it elsewhere (Mt 10:22) as does St Peter (1 Pet 5:9) — all of which underlines the importance for every Christian of this warning from our Lord.

Dear brethren in Christ, “persevere till the end” aside from being God’s gift, can also be acquired as a virtue when we overcome our tiredness, lack of enthusiasm, etc. to do what God wants to do in a precise moment. And this day in and day out for love of God.

“Oh blessed perseverance of the donkey that turns the water-wheel! Always the same pace. Always the same circles. One day after another: everyday the same. Without that, there would be no ripeness in the fruit, nor blossom in the orchard, nor scent of flowers in the garden. Carry this thought to your interior life.” “And what is the secret of perseverance? Love. Fall in Love, and you will not leave him.” (St. Josemaria, The Way, no. 998-999).”

A great day ahead and God bless! Fr. Rolly Arjonillo.

VIDEO COMMENTARY

TOPIC: DO YOU SURRENDER YOUR SUFFERINGS TO CHRIST?

1st Reading Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28
Responsorial Psalm Daniel 3:62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67
Alleluia Revelation 2:10C
Gospel Luke 21:12-19

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus tells his disciples that they will be persecuted, imprisoned and some may end up dying for their faith.

We all have, or are currently suffering from some form of pain caused by persecution and rejection, sickness or disease, addiction, death of a loved one, loss of livelihood. In suffering, we become insufficient and powerless. We can either surrender our life to God now or continue to wallow constantly in despair and despondency that leads to death.

Topic: WHY DO WE NEED TO HAVE MISSIONARY ZEAL?

In today’s gospel (Luke 21:12-19), Jesus tells his disciples to be prepared to endure hardship if they believe His teachings and are willing to spread His truths. As we now know, the love they had for Jesus, the faith they had in God, propelled them to go to far-away lands, make extreme sacrifices, leading to death for many of them just to plant the seeds of Christianity.

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