Reflection for Sunday 16th November, 2025

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Your Endurance will win you your lives (Luke 20:27-38)

Luke wrote his Gospel after the destruction of the majestic temple in Jerusalem, and the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius which destroyed Pompeii. He quotes the predictions of Jesus foretelling the destruction of the temple, the wars between nations, earthquakes, plagues, and famines here and there. Many of his followers would be arrested, imprisoned, and put to death. When the City of Rome suffered from a massive fire, the Emperor, Nero, blamed Christians who were rounded up and fed to the lions in the Circus.

In this context, Luke recalls the encouragement of Jesus: “You will be hated by all men on account of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost. Your endurance will win you your lives.”
Jesus warned them not to be misled by false prophets. They abound today through the electronic media. 

Jesus said not to be frightened and that he would be very close to us. “I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict.”

In the aftermath of a tragic accident where several people were killed, someone told me that this and other disasters were sent by God to warn people to change our lives. What a dreadful notion of a punitive God! Jesus said not to be frightened and that he would be very close to us. “I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict.”

After the crucifixion of Jesus, the Apostles were very confused and scared. In the forty days (always a time of preparation) before the Ascension, the Risen Lord appeared several times to prepare them for the coming of the Holy Spirit. After nine days of prayer, on Pentecost, a great breath shook the house and the Spirit came upon them in the form of tongues of fire. They were totally transformed.
One of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit is fortitude, which is an inner strength or courage which perseveres when the natural sources of courage are exhausted. A supernatural fortitude carries people through the harrowing experiences of life such as illness, bereavement, severe handicap, or the collapse of a life-project. Victor Frankl, in his book Man’s Search for Meaning, observed how the appalling experiences of Auschwitz concentration camp acted like a wind which quenched any weak spark of faith but fanned the stronger spark into a roaring fire. Remember, it was a wind which shook the house where the apostles received the Holy Spirit.

Persecution and mockery today

Luke had a persecuted people in mind when he was writing. There are several countries today where Christians are suffering severe persecution and their lives are in danger. Our lives may not be in danger, but persecution comes in different forms, such as in biased media, very imbalanced panels in debates, or efforts to take Christ out of Christmas. Jesus predicted that his message would cause families to be divided. I meet many faithful followers who know this family opposition at first hand. Some are even mocked for going to Mass. Is it better to argue the point or stay silent? When voices are raised, any possibility of a reasonable discussion has gone out the window. Nobody wins an argument as each side becomes only more entrenched in their position, regardless of who has the last word. Going back to the Gospel today, Jesus said that the time of persecution will be an opportunity to bear witness. Argumentative words will get you nowhere but the witness of calm strength is the best way to show that religion has a lot to offer. “Your endurance will win you your lives.”

Endurance here means more than passive resignation or making the best of a bad lot. It is a toughness that will not bend. “I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict.” One who showed wonderful endurance was Saint Paul. Despite shipwrecks, being stoned, and facing constant opposition, in his Letter to the Romans towards the end of his life, he revealed how much he was at peace with God through his faith. “Let us exult, too, in our hardships, understanding that hardship develops perseverance, and perseverance develops a tested character, something that gives us hope, and hope will not let us down, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us” (Rom 5:3).
Endurance is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer

I lift up my eyes to the mountains:
from where shall come my help?
My help shall come from the Lord
who made heaven and earth.