As days draw near to His ascension, Jesus is preparing His disciples for the life when He will not be with them physically. 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 to strengthen them and give them what to say.
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 wished His disciples or 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.
The Spirt will play very many and different roles in us, as he did with the Apostles and first disciples, if we open our hearts to his promptings daily. Firstly, the Holy Spirit is inseparably one with the Father and the Son. It is the Holy Spirit who gives life - the very life of God - and who makes faith come alive in hearts and minds of people who are receptive to God's word.
Secondly, The Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to know God personally. He gives us experiential knowledge of God as our Father. The Spirit witnesses to our spirit that the Father has indeed sent his only begotten Son into the world to redeem it and has raised his Son, Jesus Christ, from the dead and has seated him at his right hand in glory and power.
Thirdly, the Holy Spirit reveals to us the knowledge, wisdom and plan of God for the ages and the Spirit enables us to see with the "eyes of faith" what the Father and the Son are doing. Through the gift and working of the Holy Spirit we become witnesses to the great work of God in Christ Jesus. The Spirit gives us courage and perseverance when we meet adversities and challenges. In carrying out the great work of God and 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
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