Lk 21:5-19
I often wonder how many people really do what is right with God and not with is right according to the people we like or please especially if they are wrong. If I do or say things according to what other people like or to try to please people, I will definitely be wrong with God. I am no longer working for God but become slaves to others. Personally, I find it very tiring to live up to the standards of people with a lot of criticisms or insults from some people no matter how hard I have tried to be a better person. Ultimately, I realize that no matter how hard I have tried to be better as a person, some people will still condemn or criticize me or gossip about me. In the end, I sit down and ask myself, ‘Why am I so silly to allow my life to be led by people when my life is a gift from God to be led by God?’
The gospel reading on this day warns me, ‘See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,’ and 'The time has come.’ Do not follow them!’ These people are not God. If I follow blindly or just do or say things to please people or live according to their expectations even when they are wrong, it will be never-ending. It is so tiring for people will keep on changing according to moods, situations, hidden agendas, motives, etc. Only God is Perfect Love who will never change. It is I who should be transforming to be more and more like the image of God. And yet, God has never promised a bed of roses in my Christian living if I follow Him since it entails a lot of sufferings, misunderstandings, etc. in life where ‘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.’ My life here is not just about myself. It is about loving others and God and share my life with the others for my life is a gift from God meant to be shared with the others. This is illustrated in the first two commandments that are to love God and love thy neighbour as thyself. Every life experience is meant to be a ‘giving testimony’ to bring hope to the others so that they may live in and with Love. God has even assured me by using such extreme analogy as ‘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.’ to assure me that He will always protect and love me no matter what I am going through, no matter how tough times can be, no matter how nasty or merciless some people may be towards me, as long as I am living in Love walking right in justice with God, He will always be there to protect and love me as He has promised in Psalms 23 where ‘The Lord is my shepherd.’ He is definitely not saying that we will be betrayed by our parents, brothers, relatives, and friends and we should abandon or stay away from them. He is just trying to convince me how much He loves me that even if all the people abandon or leave me in the end, I am never running out of love for God is Love who dwells in me. I can even experience this Love in loneliness. Only God is eternal with all things and people passing away with time. So, which one should I follow as my strong anchor in life; God who is always there to protect and love me no matter what or people and things that are ever-changing and perishing with time?
With Love,
Elena
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