Hated By All
Wednesday of the Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Luke 21:12-19 – Jesus said to the crowd: "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."
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Jesus goes through a daunting list of sufferings to be endured. He does not tell His earliest followers that real suffering might come, but that it will come. He even tells them plainly, “they will put some of you to death.” So, it is interesting that He then says, “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” Jesus is not telling them their earthly life will be saved, but that their eternal life will be secure.
Perseverance is not a popular virtue. It gets little mention because it isn’t what people want to hear about. It seems hard and unexciting. But we cannot say enough about perseverance. Jesus considers it of the utmost importance: “Whoever perseveres to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22). Perseverance is the path to glory. What is more exciting than that?! We must never let our Christian life fade due to our desire for friends or popularity, our changing feelings, or suffering. If we continue saying “yes” to God, we will be saved. It’s clear and simple: we will be saved.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above.(Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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