33rd Sunday Ordinary Time

Gospel Reflection

St. Luke 21:5-19

As we begin to draw nearer to the end of the year you may realise that the readings start to focus on the end times. This is not to scare anyone about the subject; but rather to prepare each and everyone of us as we get ready to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is a time to reflect on the blessings that we have recieved throughout the year. It is also a time to do a "stocktake" of our lives looking back and looking forward to improve our relationship with Christ.

Asking questions like:

How many times have i prayed?  How may masses have i attended this year? Am i living a life wrthy of the calling that i have recieved? Do i love all that surround me?  etc... 

In today's Gospel, we hear of  Jesus warning his followers that in time they will face great persecution for believing in him, and we know this to be true from the acoounts that we read in the "Acts of the Apostles"

In the first and second century it was difficult time for believers. You either had to serve Caesar and live life without fear in the streets or choose to serve Christ and face the punishments/persecutions that were served if you were caught teaching and or preaching about him. But despite the persecutions St Luke tells us/encourages us that through the suffering and the pain that we may go through for professing our Faith, it is the perfect opportunity for you and me to bear witness to the Grace of God.

 Christ then finishes with:


"Your endurance will win you your lives"

Here Christ is assuring his followers that God is present to all who believe in him, starting from the easiest of times right through to the most difficult. As disciples of Christ it is our duty to try and follow his example of trusting in God's mercy and protection even through the most difficult of times.

Brothers and sisters as we beging a new week, let us reflect on the difficult times that we experienced through life and how God was able to pull you through and strengthen your faith.

Perhaps you can write down a timeline begining from your year of birth to the present day and mark all your low and high points through the years and at the end you will be able to see that through your milestones and celebrations God was there even through the low times in your life God was also there to lift you up again.

A quote from one of my favourite protestant preachers, Rev Robert H Schuller

"Tough times never last but tough people do!"