Perseverance against hatred

In today's Gospel (Luke 21:12-19), our Lord warns his followers that they will encounter terrible opposition in the world.

You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.

If we are serious about our faith, we will encounter opposition: sometimes subtle opposition, sometimes not so subtle. Yet no matter what happens, even if (as our Lord says in this same passage) we are put to death, we are perfectly safe in the hands of God.

Our focus, of course, should not be on opposition, but on faithfulness and on being instruments of the Holy Spirit in giving witness to the truth and the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We need to pray continually for the gift of ever greater faithfulness, for the gift of God's wisdom, and for the grace of perseverance, that our lives may be saved through Christ.