There are possible persecutions every day. From our faith opponents,

and even from our own families.

The exhortation to hold on to God no matter what:

“By your patient endurance you will save your souls.”

For God’s promise never fails.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Revelation 15:1-4

Then, I saw another great

And marvelous sign in the heavens: seven angels brought seven plagues, which are the last, for with these, the wrath of God will end. There was a sea of crystal, mingled with fire, and the conquerors of the beast, of its name and the mark of its name stood by it.

 

They had been given the celestial harps, and they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:

Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord, God and Master of the universe. Justice and truth guide your steps, O King of the nations.

Lord, who will not give honor and glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All the nations will come and bow before you, for they have now seen your judgments.

 

Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 7-8, 9 Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Luke 21:12-19

Before all these things happen, people will lay their hands on you and persecute you; you will be delivered to the synagogues and put in prison, and for my sake you will be brought before kings and governors. This will be your opportunity to bear witness.

 

So keep this in mind: do not worry in advance about what to say, for I will give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.

You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death. But even though, because of my name, you will be hated by everyone, not a hair of your head will perish. By your patient endurance you will save your souls.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"Bear witness to Jesus."

Deception often results in betrayal. Betrayal brings enormous suffering. Betrayal could easily be committed when one is subjected to persecution. Jesus' true witnesses are those who are able to stand a severe persecution without giving in to the temptation of being an accomplice to persecution.

 

As Christians, we are called to bear witness to Jesus and to the gospel values. At times, persecutions can be experienced without pain. There are times when persecution can be  experienced in a manner that is akin to sugarcoating. We may reflect on the point that today's consumerism is a sugarcoated form of persecution.

 

In the first place, giving in to the temptation of a consumerist lifestyle runs contrary to the gospel values of simplicity and self-sacrifice. With the lack of awareness of the adverse effects of our consumerist lifestyle, adding gravely to the ever-worsening condition of the climate crisis, we are betraying Jesus and the gospel values.

 

Who suffer when we continue with our lavish and environmentally destructive way of life? Both the natural world and the people suffer. This is clearly a betrayal of the kind of life Jesus proclaimed. Nonetheless, it is not yet too late to change and bear witness to a simple lifestyle.