Christ is Born!
Our Lord made many promises to us during His ministry, and one of the more inconvenient ones was that life would be a trial. If we truly were to follow Him, we would be called out on it, and not by “the man”, “them”, “the bad guys”, but by our friends and family- those who are closest to us.
Jesus is telling His fellow Jewish disciples that they would be delivered to synagogues to be persecuted by those who were praying right next to them on a regular basis! Jesus Himself, after all, was betrayed by one of His own disciples.
But this is not the only promise made, brothers and sisters, He also promises that it will be an occasion for witness. While on trial we will not point to ourselves or rely on our own talents etc., but on the Lord. Although the persecution might come from those closest to us (and painfully so) we also have to opportunity to allow Christ to touch those closest to us through our witness- despite their reaction to Him and to us.
Today, ask yourself: “What is the testimony I am giving with my life? Do those who are closest to me know that I am a follower of Christ?”
May we continue to have the courage to proclaim the One who approaches Baptism for our salvation!
Christ is Born!
