A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to 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.”
REFLECTION: Today’s Gospel of Luke challenges us to reflect on whether our faith is merely professed or genuinely lived out. Are we Christians in word only, or do our homes and actions, bear witness to our beliefs?
At the beginning of today’s Gospel, we heard; “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.” Think for a second, about how that would be for you.
Now, most Christians would agree, that baptism is a significant starting point, in the Christian journey. If we truly believe that Jesus is our salvation, we should be willing, to publicly profess our faith, confirming the truths outlined, in the Apostle’s Creed.
This ancient statement of faith, that was often used during baptism, and still is, reminds us of the core beliefs, that define Christianity. But is professing these words, and undergoing baptism, all that is required to be a Christian, for all of eternity? My humble opinion is, that while these are critical steps, they are only the beginning of a lifetime of transformation, that must be lived every day. If we have publicly professed our faith, then we should be striving to reflect Christ, more and more, in our homes, in whatever we do, and wherever we happened to be. True Christianity is about transformation. If we are truly in Christ, there should be a clear, undeniable evidence, of His work, fully in our lives.
Are you familiar with the television series, “The Chosen”? In Season 4, Episode 4, the writers and the director did a great job, in my humble opinion, of adapting and blending the biblical accounts, of the Roman centurion in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 8, having great faith. In the Gospel of Matthew, the Roman centurion’s servant, is healed by Jesus from a distance, and Jesus does so, with just His words, and that impresses Jesus, very much. For in Matthew 8:10 it says, “When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.”
In “The Chosen”, the key scene involves Peter and Matthew, discussing with a Roman military official named Gaius, who initially hesitates to ask Jesus for a healing, because he feels unworthy. The Roman Official Gaius, risks everything, and that of his family too, when he ultimately believes, that Jesus can heal his son, with just His words—without needing to be there in person. That, my brothers and sisters, was a great demonstration of faith.
What has God done in your life, to prove He is a faithful, and trustful God, worthy of being persecuted, for His name? He is trustworthy. Brothers and sisters, without faith, it’s impossible to please God.
So, I ask you again, if Christianity happened to be illegal, would they have enough evidence against you, that it would it be so clear, that you would indeed be convicted, of being a Christ-follower?
ACTION FOR THE DAY: Of course, I recognize that none of us is likely to be on trial any time soon—at least not in this country, for our faith. However, there is a much higher court, than even our United States Supreme Court, and that will be, when we stand before Jesus, to give an account, of how we’ve lived our life. So, reflect on today’s Gospel message, and if you believe, that He is worthy enough for you, to be persecuted and convicted for His name, and being a Christ-follower.
AUDIO REFLECTION:
