At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: 12 "Before these things happen, you will be arrested and persecuted;

 

At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: 12 "Before these things happen, you will be arrested and persecuted; you will be handed over to the synagogues and thrown into prison; you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. 13 This will be the occasion for you to testify to your faith. 14 Make up your mind not to plan your defense in advance; 15 because I will give you words so accurate that no enemy will be able to resist or refute you. 16 You will be betrayed even by your parents, brothers, relatives and friends. And they will kill some of you. 17 Everyone will hate you because of my name. 18 But you will not lose a hair on your head. 19 It is by standing firm that you will gain life!"

—Word of Salvation.

Reflection

1. The text brings to light, first of all, the reality of those who follow Jesus, the sufferings they will endure, including the contempt they will experience, similar to that of the Master, something that will fall upon them because they follow someone considered “cursed”, thus becoming “cursed” in the eyes of those who have understood nothing about God’s plan of salvation. What they did to the “Head”, they will also do to the “Body”. In the eyes of God, the disciple is an “oasis in the world”, and a “disgrace” in the eyes of the world. Secondly, the pain, anguish and suffering of themselves and their brothers and sisters will enable a tremendous inner change, a gigantic capacity for growth in faith, truth and love, making each person who dedicates themselves to Jesus an authentic witness, a saving light, a protective pillar. Many in the world need to see Christ’s disciples through their witness, through their gift of self, through their total love for the Lord.

2. “Before these things happen,” Jesus teaches and motivates his disciples. They will be arrested, persecuted, handed over to synagogues, and taken before kings and governors because of His name. They will even be handed over by their family and friends, even causing the death of some of them. They will be hated because of the very name of Jesus, which does not promise peace according to the worldly mentality, sophistication, and conveniences offered by the world. What they did to the Master, they will also do to his disciples. What Jesus asks for is faith, coherence, and perseverance, trust in His victory and His defense. He is the good Shepherd, who will be caring for his flock in all the most complicated moments of their lives. If they are, due to slander and persecution, before unjust authorities, they will have the Holy Spirit as their Defender. The important thing is that each one does not follow worldly ideas and values, but lives a life of fidelity and total communion with the Lord.

3. The disciples are invited to bear witness, in the time of the Church, with their lives, to Jesus Christ our Lord. This witness will be carried out by "standing firm" in order to gain eternal life. Let each one, within the perspective of Luke, take into account what happened to those who were martyred for the sake of Jesus. Without losing heart, seeing the example of their ancestors, let them maintain their hope in the coming of the Son of Man, at the time determined by God, according to his designs; and let them still be vigilant, in prayer and in the courageous proclamation of the Word of God. While the world thinks of the end, the disciple thinks of the salvation of all.