Reflection on Today's Readings, Wednesday of 34th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, and the Memorial of St. Andrew Dung-Lac and his companions, November 24th, 2021
Texts: Daniel 5: 1-6.13-14.16-17.23-25; Ps. Daniel 3:40-45; Luke 21: 12-19
Jesus, in today's gospel reading, says, "This will be a time for you to bear testimony." Which time Jesus refers to here? It is the time presented by the circumstances of our life. The time, here, is an opportunity; the opportunity created by the circumstances of our lives to bear testimony about Jesus Christ. Hence, the following words precede it: "They will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake." Every circumstance of our lives presents an opportunity to bear testimony. Jesus specifically mentions persecution, imprisonment, facing judgement before Kings and governors, and betrayal from relations. Instead of questioning God when we face unpleasant situation, we should be concerned with how to bear testimony. We are to turn everything into the glorification of God.
Today's first reading shows that it is not only persecution and the likes that can bring us before kings and governors or afford us opportunity to bear testimony; the gift God has given us could also bring us before kings and governors and afford us opportunity to bear testimony before them.
Daniel is an example of persons whose gift led him to bear testimony before kings. He told the king his sins - sacrilege and idolatry. He says, "You have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honoured." He committed the sin of sacrilege because he abused holy things; he used the vessels of the house of the Lord to entertain himself, his guests, his wives and concubines. He committed idolatry because he worshipped created things - gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Let us use our gifts and talents to bear testimony. Are you a farmer? Be a good farmer. Are you a trader? Be a honest trader. Are you a servant? Be a faithful servant. Are you a master? Be a good master. Whoever you are, let your life bear testimony about Jesus Christ. Wherever you are, bear testimony about Jesus Christ. Whatever your gift is, use it to bear testimony about Jesus Christ. Whatever your talent is, bear testimony with it. Jesus Christ assures us of His assistance when the time comes to bear the testimony. In His words: "Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict."
We are also reminded that God is not pleased with the worship of gods of created things; we are to worship the Almighty God, Him alone we are to serve and worship. We also learn, today, that God hates the abuse of holy things. We are not to use the holy things for something that is not holy. Holy things should be treated in a way that is holy. We are to give reverential treatment to holy things.
Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. Andrew Dung-Lac and his companions. They were martyrs of Vietnam. Pazhayampallil Thomas says, "Some of the martyrs were asked to trample the cross under foot, they refused and they were put to death" (Words of Eternal Life, Vol. 2, p. 349). Vietnamese Christians had the longest time of persecution in the history of Christianity, twelve years longer than the persecution of early Christians under Roman emperors. They had 260 years of persecution.
Lord our God, we thank You for everything about our lives and our gifts and talents; help us to bear testimony about Your love, mercy and deeds. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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