Jesus said to the crowd:
“They will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents,v brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives."
The world is the courtroom, and God is on trial, put to the test by those who either won't or don't know how to believe. We who are Christians are called to be the witnesses at this trial where we will give our martyrion, or "testimony," as Luke says.
1 comment:
This Gospel reading calls to mind the story of St. Catherine of Alexandria before the philosophers. How fitting that it comes at this time, when her feast, newly restored to the Universal Calendar, was just celebrated Tuesday.
How glorious it is that in her life we see the eloquent and pursuasive defense of the lord so close to her martyrdom in blood, allowing us to see more clearly how the 2 events are identical.
Deo gratias.
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