Jesus said to the people, “I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”  Luke 21: 15-19

With the variety of opinions contrary to the Gospel that are tossed around on the news and in conversations with our family and friends, it is easier to remain silent than it is to speak of the words of Christ in the Gospels and the teachings of the Church.  This week’s Gospel encourages us to take to heart Christ’s message and to read supportive literature so that God has a chance to “give us a wisdom in speaking.”  As a wise bishop harassed by the press once said, “When we promised to follow Jesus, He never said that it always would be easy.” And sometimes it is not easy to speak from a position that is contrary to what our friends hold.  It may not be easy but for the good of all and because in our baptism we promised to profess our faith, we need to give God a chance to speak the truth through us.

Let us come to Mass and pray, not hoping for a miracle to make the world align better to God’s wishes for us, but recognizing that God already made the miracle by making us! It is we who, through our praying, studying the issues and speaking the truth, are helping the world align with God’s plan for it!

Sister Loretta Fernandez RSM