Preparation

Today’s Gospel Text: Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. Matt 10:17-22

Reflection: On the one hand we speak of preparation and on the other hand Jesus is asking us here not to prepare our defense when we are led before Councils, Governors and kings.

At the outset itself let me tell you plainly: If you have not prepared yourself to meet your God then you will never be led before any Governors, councils and kings in the first place. 

The reason why we would be led before these men of authority is on account of our faithfulness and loyalty to Christ Jesus and his teachings; his teachings are contrary to the values of this world. 

There is no 'what if' here; whether if one is not loyal or faithful. Our point of discussion is not in analyzing those who are not followers of Christ Jesus and could be dragged before these people in authorities

We are only interested in those who are faithful to the teachings of Christ and seek to walk in the footsteps of Christ faithfully and diligently.

When Jesus teaches his disciples not to prepare, he specifically asks his disciples to do so and that too specifically in the area of defense and speech.

This means that their lives should be more a life that is always ready and prepared to meet any eventuality of life, including the persecution that is going to be let loose on them by the spiritual leaders like that of the Synagogue and the political leaders and magistrates of their times.  

This means that whoever claims to be followers of Christ have to face this situation in their life and undergoing such tribulations they will be proving the words of Christ and hence confirming themselves as disciples of Christ.

If we do not see much of these things happenings in our times, it is on account of the universalism and secularization of faith in which many walk including some of the leaders of the new synagogue; the theologians and the heirachy.

Are you prepared to allow Christ to prepare you so as not to prepare yourself or be anxious when brought before those in authority? This is what we all need to seek as true Christians. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to be a true follower of you and carry the flame of faith always high and lifted.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

His Name

Today’s Gospel Text:  But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. 13 This will be a time for you to bear testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; 17 you will be hated by all for my name's sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives. Luke 21:12-19

Reflection: The mention of persecution and the type and reason for persecution is something that is unique of Christ as a religious founder, who doesn’t leave his disciples in the dark about it.

He brings out the sure truth of persecution in the language of that time and the reason for such persecution, viz., the name of Jesus Christ or the name Christian.

History has proved it and never in the history of humanity has any followers of any religion faced persecution and even annihilation in the measure in which Christians have faced for their faith all because they carry the name of Jesus and yet it has grown.

Many a times it is not for the wrong they have done, but for the faith which they hold in Jesus Christ.

When one thinks in terms of numbers then it dwarfs the whole Jewish holocaust at the hands of the fascists. 

Even today it is one of the most persecuted group, even in those parts of the world which has been predominantly Christian, on account of the rapid securitization and relativistic morality, each defining a morality that suits them.

Yet in the midst of these persecutions the faith has grown better in many places in the world: “the more you kill the more we are. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” – Tertullian, a second century Church father

Is it really the name of Christ that brings about persecution, yes primarily, it has been the cause for persecution, but there are other factors which make people with loose morality claustrophobic by the very presence of a practicing Christian: his practicing presence speaks to the conscience of the unrighteous.

We need to ask ourselves; Do I proclaim Christ and is my presence a source of discomfort to the indulgently immoral ones in society? Does it make the heretic and the apostates uncomfortable? Does it make the unbelievers refer to their conscience? 

Prayer:  Help me know the cost of following you and do so wholeheartedly, never forgetting to witness to your glorious name O Lord!

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

The Lord Rescues

Today’s Gospel Text:  Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately he spoke to them, saying, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear."  28 And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." 29 He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; 30 but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." 34 And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent round to all that region and brought to him all that were sick, 36 and besought him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were made well. Matt 14:22-36

Reflection:  Life can be difficult and treacherous and it can be more so even after being obedient to the Lord’s command or directions. 

Hence, he who seeks the easy way and thinks, that to be a Christian and a follower of Christ means a life free of the troubles and storms of life can only be living in a fool’s paradise.

Sometimes listening to the various testimonies of life, I often get the impression that to follow Christ means a life free from the earthly troubles of life. 

At the same time, what is important to note, is this; no matter what the troubles, we are not alone in our struggle. The Lord may seem far from us and yet he is ever near to us to rescue us from all our troubles.

The scene in the Gospel is based exactly on this very assurance of God’s enduring and everlasting presence to save us from the storms of life. We have to face the impossible and God will ultimately make the impossible possible; for nothing is impossible with God. (Lk. 18:27)

What is important in all this is to be assured that we are walking in his plan, according to his will, constantly discerning his ways. 

The Disciples did that when the Lord asked them to go across ahead of him to the other side and when they faced the storms of life they were in a crisis, yet not disappointed. The Lord was there to rescue them from it and to calm their fears.

“The Lord preserves all who love him” Ps 145:20

Prayer: “Preserve me, O God, for in thee I take refuge. I say to the Lord, "Thou art my Lord; I have no good apart from thee." Ps 16:1-2

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Persecutions

Scripture: Beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. Matt 10:17-22

                       Reflection: A close look at the scripture reading and it seems very unusual.  On the one hand Jesus warns us to be bewaring of men and on the other hand he communicates to us that when they have delivered you up, do not be afraid. 

                       A disciple is always to be careful and cautious, persecution and trials are inevitable. They will happen and hence just as one has to be bewaring of the wild animals in a jungle, similarly, Jesus is asking us to be bewaring of men. 

What should have happened in the lives of each of the disciples happens only in the lives of a few? On the other hand we who are supposed to be the fulfillment of what Jesus said are in fact and many a times could be the instrument of persecution. This happens despite the fact that Jesus has already spoken to us about it. 

Prayer:  Lord, may I be guided by your wisdom when dealing with your people. 

DD = Dedicated Discipleship: Come grow in the Lord with us