Posted by The WORD in other words (2006) by Fr Ferdinand Resuena SVD -Divine Word Seminary of Tagaytay
Wednesday 34th Week in Ordinary Time
It is said that “Christian life is not a bed of roses.” But come to think of it, the contrary is true as well. Christian life is a bed of roses. But not one that implies ease and comfort. Roses have thorns signifying the possibilities of risk, blood-letting and pain. A rose is a rose because of its petaled beauty and its thorns. Both make it beautiful and complete.
Those who follow the Lord should expect thorns in the forms of persecutions, sufferings and hardships as He reveals in today’s Gospel. But those exactly are the reasons why following Him is a “rosy” and wise decision. Look at the assurance in today’s Gospel: “I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that … adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.” Following Him is following a path secure and safe, as heard in today’s Gospel : “not a hair on your head will be destroyed.”
However we are asked to persevere in life because Christian life is not how you run fast but how you carry on and keeping on the journey. For those who keep up the struggle, “perseverance will secure your lives.”
I may be laughed at but not discouraged, I may be ridiculed but not giving up, I may be persecuted but not disheartened and I may be beaten up but not surrender.
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