PATIENT ENDURANCE WILL WIN YOU YOUR LIVES! ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Daily Reflections

Wednesday, 29^thNovember 2017.

Thirty Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Dan 5: 1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28;

Dan 3: 62-67 (R) 59;

Lk 21: 12-19.

PATIENT ENDURANCE WILL WIN YOU YOUR LIVES!

Unlike any egocentric leader who would try many calculative means to draw as many disciples and followers, Jesus the genuine shepherd speaks in clear and explicit terms about the storms and tempests the Church would face and the lot his disciples would share. In our own families, at our work place, in the parishes and many others places we have ample occasions to bear witness to Jesus and the Gospel values. The nagging wife at home, an insensitive husband, drunkenness in the family, the stubborn and disobedient children, the loneliness of one’s life, boredom of routine, the opportunist neighbors, misunderstanding, broken relationship, sickness, financial predicaments, rampant corruption, moral-ethical decadence... are all situations akin to religious persecutions. “That will be our opportunity to bear witness; your endurance will win you your lives,” says the Lord. But who of us are interested to stand apart and take the road less travelled by the Carpenter of Nazareth?

There are two key points we should take from the Gospel passage. First, like yesterday’s Gospel, Jesus is offering a prophecy to us that prepares us for the persecution to come. By telling us what is to come, we will be better prepared when it does come. Yes, to be treated with harshness and cruelty, especially by family and those close to us, is a heavy cross. It can rattle us to the point of discouragement, anger and despair. But do not give in! The Lord foresaw this and is preparing us for it.

Second, Jesus gives us the answer to how we deal with being treated harshly and maliciously. He says, “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” By remaining strong through the trials of life and by retaining hope, mercy and confidence in God, we will become victorious. This is such an important message. And it’s a message that is certainly easier said than done.

Reflect, today, upon the invitation Jesus gives to us to live in perseverance. Often times, when perseverance is needed the most, we do not feel like persevering. We may, instead, feel like lashing out, fighting back and being angry. But when difficult opportunities present themselves to us, we are able to live this Gospel in a way we could have never lived it if all things in our lives were easy and comfortable. Sometimes the greatest gift we can be given is that which is most difficult, because it fosters this virtue of perseverance. If you find yourself in such a situation today, turn your eyes to hope and see any persecution as a call to greater virtue.

Prayer: Lord, I offer You my crosses, hurts and persecution. I offer to You every way that I have been mistreated. For those small injustices, I beg for mercy. And when the hatred of others causes me much distress, I pray that I will be able to persevere in Your grace. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen