Courage under Persecution

Today's Reflections 

      

Courage under Persecution

Mt 10:24-33

[Jesus said to the Twelve,] ²⁴“No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master. ²⁵It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!

²⁶“Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. ²⁷What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. ²⁸And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. ²⁹Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. ³⁰Even all the hairs of your head are counted. ³¹So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. ³²Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. ³³But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.”

NO DISCIPLE IS ABOVE HIS TEACHER. If the disciple proves himself faithful, he shares the destiny of his teacher. Although Jesus goes around Galilee doing good to people, thus showing that God is with him, his detractors accuse him of being in league with the devil. It is not farfetched, therefore, that his disciples will also be called names and persecuted.

But trials and misunderstandings will not discourage or detain Jesus’ messengers because Jesus assures them of the love and providence of the heavenly Father. If they acknowledge Jesus before men and women, God will also acknowledge them, even before the heavenly court. With such “joy” before them, they will be able to bear with persecutions.

Jesus’ warning applies to our times. We can expect rejection, disfavor, and suffering. This is part of being Jesus’ disciples—that we take up our own cross and follow after him.

“GIVE, but don’t allow yourself to be used.

LOVE, but don’t allow yourself to be abused.

TRUST, but don’t be naïve.

LISTEN TO OTHERS, but don’t lose your own voice”