How many of us are able to withstand pain? For some of us, just a little pain could cause us to whine and complain, some even begin to have all sorts of strange thoughts. Then after all the drama, and the pain is gone, we carry on as if nothing happened. Some of us are able to withstand a great deal of pain without complaining, and we are able to carry on with our lives by managing the pain as best we can. But what about persecution? How many of us are able to withstand persecution, even to the point of death? Would we try to save our skin or would we be willing to stick to our beliefs and principles, come what may?
In today’s Gospel, we read: “Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Remember, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves. Beware of men: they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the pagans. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you. Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name; but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved.'”
If we were persecuted for our faith today, would we be willing to suffer and even die for our faith? Some of us may have gotten so used to peace and prosperity in this world, that we may have become complacent of what it means to be a Christian. May we choose to do what is right and just in God’s eyes, and “be cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves” as Jesus instructed us, while being courageous and steadfast in witnessing to the Gospel for the glory of God.