Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

In today’s gospel, Jesus presents us with a very interesting contrast. He begins by speaking about coming persecutions that members of the Church will face (and we certainly have throughout history). He speaks of us being hauled before courts, and he concludes by saying that some of us will be put to death. That is a sobering thought, and history bears it out. But just a few sentences later, he says, “But not a hair on your head will be destroyed.” How can this be? Some of us will be put to death? Yet not a hair on our heads will be destroyed? Here I think it helps to remember who Jesus is and what he has done for us. Jesus is our God Incarnate, who gave himself over to death for our salvation, who was crucified, died, and laid in the tomb. And who then rose again on the third day, on Easter Sunday. He is telling us in today’s Gospel that we will share in his redemptive activity for our salvation and the salvation of the world. I read somewhere—I don’t remember where—that he wants to suffer throughout his whole body for the salvation of the world. And because we are members of his body, he has reserved some of that for each of us. So, we have the honor of offering our own lives along with him for the salvation of the world. After all, he tells us to take up our cross each day and follow him. And in the last sentence of today’s Gospel, he tells us with perseverance we will secure our lives.

Reflection by Fr. Aquinas Keusenkothen, OSB