Wednesday, Thirty Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

As Jesus speaks these words in today’s gospel reading, he is about to enter into his own passion and death. He chooses this moment to announce the future passion and death of his disciples. It is a grim picture of persecution, imprisonment, betrayal by family members, and hatred by all leading to execution. Jesus knew there was a great darkness ahead, not only for himself but for his disciples, and he was facing it honestly and naming it. Yet, as Jesus speaks there is light in the darkness. These painful experiences ahead, with all the loss involved, will also be an opportunity for the disciples to bear witness to their faith in Jesus. Jesus could always see a light in the darkness, an opportunity in the suffering and loss. Jesus also assures his disciples that he will be with them helping them to bear witness to their faith in him, giving them the eloquence and wisdom they will need at the time. The Lord will not be found wanting in the dark days ahead, but what he will need from his disciples is ‘endurance’, the willingness to stay the course. The Lord will always be present at the heart of all our struggles, all our ways of the cross. He is with us to help us to bear witness to him, giving us all the resources we need to live the message of the gospel to the full. He will be faithful to us and will provide for us. All he asks of us is to be faithful to him in return, to show ‘endurance’, to keep travelling the journey of faith. At the end of our lives, it would be good to look back and say with Saint Paul, ‘I have fought the good fight… I have kept the faith’.