November 27, 2024

Luke 21:12-19

Today Jesus is telling his disciples that being a Christian will not be easy.  It will not be a piece of cake or a walk in the park.  It will not be just pleasant and inspiring.  Rather, the disciples will be seized and persecuted, sent to prison, and led before the hostile authorities because they follow Jesus.  And when they are, Jesus says, “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.”  How can this be, when Jesus himself will be gone to the Father?  Because then, as now, he lives, he speaks to us – and we need only open our minds and listen and attend to what he says.

He goes on – even family members will hand over the disciples to the authorities, and “some of you will be put to death.”  They will be hated by all because of his name, he says.  And yet despite all this torture, violence, and gruesome treatment, “not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”  Our spiritual selves cannot be destroyed by such treatment. 

But we should not think that being a spiritually focused person guarantees an existence of peace, calm, refreshing meditation or just sipping tea in the flower garden.  Heartbreak and suffering are in the world, and our bodies are of this world.  Do not think that if you encounter suffering, you are not well spiritually – but just persevere, knowing that spirit is unharmed.