THE WORD
Dn 5: 1–6.13–14.16–17.23–28 / Lk 21: 12–19
Jesus said to his disciples: “Before [the end] happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 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.”
IN OTHER WORDS
The Lord has made it clear from the beginning that his followers will undergo persecutions within the family and in society but with perseverance, they will overcome all of these. One such follower is St. Catherine of Alexandria (AD 287 – AD 305), martyr and virgin, whose feastday we remember today.
She was born of noble birth and well educated in the sciences. When she was 18 years old, she was brought in the presence of Emperor Maximinus (AD 173 – AD 238), reportedly described as 8 feet 6 inches tall and was incredibly strong. (www.ancientromanemperors.net). St. Catherine upbraided him for his cruelty against the Christians and his worship of false gods. The emperor had his scholars pitted against her to convince her to return to the Roman pagan belief, but she emerged victorious in the debate and he himself was conquered by her eloquence. (http://en.wikipedia.org/) Eventually the empress mother, who heard about the extraordinary fate of the young maiden, visited her dungeon together with the commander of the imperial troops. They believed and yielded to the exhortations of St. Catherine and were baptized. The emperor was enraged beyond control and had her beheaded. Her body was brought to Mount Sinai where later on a church and monastery were built in her honor.
In spite of the persecutions against the Christian faith since its beginning, it has 32 per cent (https://www.catholicculture.org) share of the 7.06 billion people living in the planet.
The Church nowadays has experienced tremendous beatings and ridicules due to the misdemeanors of some of its clergy and laity that scandalized Church members and non-members alike. However, there are many who have made outstanding contributions for the international development of humanity. The Church is still an “indisputable leader in education and health services across the world. It has 140,000 schools, 18,000 clinics, 16,000 homes for the elderly and those with special needs, 12,000 nurseries, 10,000 orphanages, 37,000 centers of informal education, and 5,500 hospitals, 65 per cent of them located in developing countries.” (http://www.thetablet.co.uk/).
Pope Francis has this thought for you and me, “Although the life of a person is in a land full of thorns and weeds, there is always a space in which the good seed can grow. You have to trust God.”
- Fr Joseph R. Suson, SVD (USC, Cebu City)
The Word in other words 2015
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
