Coming Persecutions

Today's Reflections

Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59
Ps 31
Mt 10:17-22
Coming Persecutions

[Jesus said to his apostles,] ¹⁷“Beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, ¹⁸and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. ¹⁹When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. ²⁰For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. ²¹Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. ²²You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”

Reflection:

Whoever endures to the end will be saved. It is the day after Christmas, and we are left with the garbage, the wrappers, and the dishes. We may have been bruised beating the Christmas rush. We may have spent all our money on gifts and decorations. This must be the “difficulties” Jesus is speaking about in the Gospel in our context today, the post-Christmas syndrome.

But let us not look at our tired bodies or empty pockets or disastrous home after the holiday parties. Look at the joy in your kids’ hearts. Relish the peace in your minds. Bask in the joy you have brought to friends and godchildren. Cherish the happy feelings of the gift giving. Hold on to the hope that Christmas brings to your life. “Whoever endures to the end will be saved.” We have endured the Christmas season and we will be saved.

Extend your Christmas celebration today.