Psalm 39(40)
Hebrews 12:1-4
Luke 12:49-53
BEARING WITNESS TO CHRIST
To be a Christian is to become a witness to Christ Jesus who is a "sign of contradiction". In the gospel reading, Jesus makes puzzling statements which, at first glance, appear to contradict his mission and the message of the Gospel. He has come to bring fire on earth. He has a baptism to receive. More paradoxical, he says that he has not come to bring peace on earth, but division even within the family.
What Jesus meant is that he stands as a sign of contradiction. He has come to testify to the truth. He has come to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable, just like the prophet Jeremiah, whose story we hear in the first reading. Because of his prophetic utterances, the nobles of Jerusalem manipulated king Zedekiah to have Jeremiah put into a cistern. As God’s spokesperson, he never ceased to call the people to conversion, inviting them to abandon their evil ways. But they did not like his message and so persecuted him day and night, because he challenged their way of life characterized by social abuses, dishonesty and idolatry.
Jesus too endured opposition and hostility from the Jewish leadership to the point of receiving the baptism of suffering and death on the cross. Thus, opting for Jesus and becoming his disciple is to expose oneself to similar treatments. In fact, the history of the Church is full of men and women, children, young and old, who have bore witness to their faith, even to the point of shedding their blood. These are the “great cloud of witnesses” that surrounds us. Hence, the second reading encourages us to persevere in running the race that lies before us while we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.
Consequently, we must not be afraid of standing for the truth, justice, and the respect of human dignity. We may be laughed at, persecuted or rejected by our own people because of our faith and dedication to Christ. In such moments, let us not lose faith. Let us remember that the Lord is our Help and deliverer. He will put the hymn of victory into our mouth if we persevere to the end. May he bless and keep all of us. Amen
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