Wednesday – 34th Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel – Luke 21:12-19

It Ain’t Easy Being Christian

Church of All Nations, Gethsemane

It’s the day before Thanksgiving!  Are you ready?  Are the plans/menu all set?  Are you already chopping and mixing and even cooking some of your dishes?  Is the bird defrosting in the fridge?  Are you already worrying that something will go wrong?  You missed an ingredient in the stuffing!  Overcook the turkey?  Mismanage the baking time of the pumpkin pie?  Have you already started doubting yourself?  Telling yourself it will all be a complete failure!

Ever tried out for a basketball team?  Or that part in the play?  Or that entrance exam for nursing or law school?  Or that interview for your dream job?  In the end, the tryout or the exam was nothing!  It was all the time and effort, all the prep work, the sweat and the time you put in!  It was not, in any way, easy!  And then there were the nay-sayers.  All those people who thought you would fail and should give up even trying.  He’ll never make it!  Do you think he will go through with it?  You’ll never amount to anything!  You’re wasting your time; get a real job!  And yet you persevered!

Jesus makes it clear in today’s Gospel that the disciples (us) will face much worse because of their faith!  He reminds us all that, to be true believers, it takes constant time and effort.  It’s not given that we have the faith today and now we can relax.  No, faith means we are called to live it out every single day. 

And it won’t be easy.  We will face opposition, even persecution for following a faith that is so at odds with the world today.  People will look at us and shake their heads.  They will find ways to make us suffer and question our beliefs. We could be persecuted physically and emotionally for loving our neighbor, for even believing in Christ. 

And we will be called at times to give witness – to express in words and in our actions. And He reminds us once again not to worry! Do not be afraid; persevere in your faith. Do not worry about what you will say.  God is with you.  I am with you.  The Spirit is within you and He will give you the wisdom to proclaim your faith and the courage to persevere.

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