In this week’s Gospel reading, Christ reminds the apostles (and us) that just as the physical Temple could be toppled, following Him on the way of the cross can shake our spiritual foundations. Coming to the defense of our Lord may result in hatred, betrayal, persecution and even death. The apostles quickly found this out even to the point of death for most of them, but the same can be true in some measure for any of Christ’s followers. St. Gregory the Great remarked in the seventh century that we are all the more affected by persecutions at the hands of people we trust: “together with the bodily pain, we are tormented by the bitter pangs of lost affection.”
Find Comfort
Now for the comforting part: Christ will not abandon us in these situations. He assures us that when we are required to give testimony, we should “settle it” in our hearts not to even prepare a defense in advance. He will give us a wisdom in speaking that adversaries “will be powerless to resist or refute.” Our own tendency would often be to lash out. As Theophilus of Antioch put it in the second century, “for many men have often wisdom in their mind, but being easily provoked to their great disturbance, mar the whole when their time of speaking comes.”
Patience and perseverance are key: “In your patience you shall possess your souls.” (Luke 21: 19, Douay-Rheims Bible). Cornelius a Lapide wrote in the 17th century, citing St. Gregory: “The possession of the soul consists of the virtue of patience, because patience is the root and guardian of all virtues. . . It is patience to endure calmly the evils we suffer from others, and to be affected with no painful feeling against him who inflicts them upon us.” He contrasts this with people who accept mistreatment of others and may grieve in silence but secretly look for a time of retribution. This type of person “does not possess this virtue, but only makes a show of it.”
Patience
St. Gregory rates a patient man higher even than a warrior: “ . . . he that ruleth his spirit [is better] than he that taketh cities.” He cites the example of the Abbot Stephen, who despite being removed from office and driven from his monastery for a time, returned insults with thanks, and considered his adversaries as his helpers. Legend has it that at his death, angels were seen taking his soul to heaven.
Patient endurance and faith that God will come to our aid are what is needed. Let Him do the work!
[Readings: Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28; Luke 21:12-19]
