Acts 16:11-15,
Psalm 149: 1bc-2.3-4.5-6a and 9bc,
John 15:26-16:4a Full Readings
Saint Damien de Veuster of Moloka’i
The Spirit of truth will be my witness.
As days draw near to His ascension, Jesus is preparing His disciples for the life when He will not be them. He is telling them what will really happen and prepares them in time so that they will not be surprised when the time comes. Today He tells His Apostles that they will be expelled from synagogues and even killed but no worry the Spirit of truth will be with them.
When Jesus was telling these things to His Apostles they could not imagine and even believe in them, they thought Jesus will ever be with them, and that's why He tells them: “I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.” Indeed when they started being persecuted they remembered what Jesus had told them and stood boldly.
What does Jesus prepare his Apostles for? Obviously He doesn't prepare them for a good life on earth, for being loved and accepted by the people or for finding the mission easy, rather, he prepares them for persecution, hatred and even being killed because of Him. This does not mean that Jesus wishes His disciples even us to be killed or persecuted as we spread the Gospel, it is because Jesus is aware of the people of the world, the ones who don't know His Father and cannot believe in Him. He is aware that such people will cause persecution to all who stand for the truth of the Father. That's why he says, they will persecute you, expel you from synagogues and even kill you because they don't know my Father.
This is not an exception to us also who are following Jesus. We have to stand for the truth and what we believe in, otherwise we cease to be true Christians but only Christian by name. If we have to stand for truth, we have to be prepared for persecution. In modern society any persecution faced is more likely to be verbal mockery, criticisms, bad examples or contempt than blood-shedding. These are also dangerous, if we are not aware of them, we end up losing our faith and even Jesus Himself. Jesus asks us to be His witnesses in such times.
Amidst all these persecutions, Jesus promises however not to leave the Apostles alone, and so even to us. He will send the Advocate from the Father, the Spirit of truth which will be His witnesses. This Spirit is a sign that Jesus is with us, a substitute for the physical Jesus. The Spirit bears witness by giving the strength to confront opposition and speak out boldly, as we see the apostles doing in the Book of Acts. It's this Spirit that will enable us to become witnesses to Jesus Christ. But we still retain free will, and no strength will come from the Paraclete unless our own spirit is moved to stand firm. In the daily calls to bear witness by putting ourselves out by risking loss of ease, credit or comfort, let alone actual pain, our own resolution is needed too.
If then, we are open to be witnesses to Christ, the Spirit will guide us to respond appropriately to the persecutions. In our response to persecution we need humility and witness by our lives imitating Jesus our Lord. The accounts of Jesus’ trial stress that Jesus Himself was silent ‘like a lamb before its shearers’ as the Suffering Servant of the Lord, in fulfilment of the scriptures. The passion account is full of irony and mockery, from the High Priest, from Pilate, from the soldiers; but if Jesus himself did not explode at the false accusations and mockery, but retained his dignified silence, we too should keep ourselves cool and respond with courtesy.
Reflect today on how prepared you are to witness Christ through all persecutions. In which ways are you prepared to respond to these persecutions? Spend some time in silence and pray for the Graces you need from the Holy Spirit in order to be a true witness to Christ.
Let us pray.
Almighty Father, give us grace that in difficult moments of persecution and adversities we might not despair nor become despondent but always submit ourselves to your Holy Will which is mercy and Love itself. Amen
Be blessed and Blessed Easter Season.
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