RBWords

     By the time these words in the Gospel of Luke were written, the early disciples were already experiencing the persecutions predicted by Jesus.  Civil and religious authorities were arresting them (remember St. Paul before his conversion?) and even their own families were rejecting them.  The excitement and wonder of the mission that were evident in the sending of the "seventy-two" in Luke 10 are tempered by the "cross" that they were warned about even earlier in Luke 9.  Now that we near the end of Jesus' journey to the cross, we see him reminding the disciples of the challenges that will lie ahead.  Their strength will be in him.  In losing their lives, they will gain their lives.  [Luke 9:23-27]  If, from our secure and law-abiding situation here in the USA, this seems ancient and not terribly "relevant," we might take a look at what is happening to the Christian communities in the Middle East - in Syria, Iraq and Iran.  In Nigeria, Christian churches are being bombed.  

     In the USA, "persecution" may come in the form of persistent secular legal pressure against church agencies that strive to be faithful to the teachings of the church.  Fines and exclusion from public resources are very real challenges.  There is also the slow erosion of choices such as athletic events scheduled on Sundays that make it difficult for families to attend church.  Fighting the continual waves of cultural and consumer secularism takes continual perseverance.  When the choices become difficult, what (or who) wins out?  Each of us can ask that question.  Jesus has not promised us continual convenience and comfort.  Our choices define us as disciples.  AMEN