34th Week in Ord. Time, Wednesday – 25th November 2020 — Gospel: Lk 21,12-19
Cautions and Comforts amidst Hardships
Jesus prepares his followers for the inevitable suffering, persecution and endurance that is part of the kingdom of God. Many will be arrested and imprisoned, and some will even be put to death because of their faith. But this persecution will provide the disciples with “an opportunity to testify” (21,13), to explain their commitment to Jesus. In the midst of hardship and persecution, their witness will be aided by the words and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Just as God gave Moses and other prophets the capacity to speak and to confront their opponents (Ex 6,28-7,13; Jer 1,6-10), Jesus himself will provide strength and wisdom for such testimony (21,15). Using a proverb that not a hair on their head will perish (21,18; cf. also 1 Sam 14,45; 2 Sam 14,11; 1 Kgs 1,52) Jesus assures of their divine protection. Ultimately, their experience of persecution will not end in death but in victory for their souls (21,19). In this way, Jesus is cautioning and comforting his disciples so that they can expect similar experiences to his own passion, death and resurrection.
