Gospel: Luke 21:12-19

In today’s Gospel, which is a continuation of the discourse begun yesterday, Jesus lists different signs to help the communities place themselves in these events and not lose faith in God, as well as the courage to persevere. We will repeat the first five signs mentioned in yesterday’s Gospel: 1st sign: the false Messiahs; 2nd sign: war and revolutions; 3rd sign: nations which fight against other nations, a kingdom against another kingdom; 4th sign: earthquakes in different places; 5th sign: hunger, plagues and signs in the sky. Yesterday’s Gospel ends here. Now, in today’s Gospel another sign is added.

6th sign: the persecution of Christians.

At various times, Jesus warned the disciples that they would be persecuted. Here, in the last discourse, He repeats the same warning and makes them know that the persecution has to be taken into consideration in discerning the signs of the times: “You will be seized and persecuted… for the sake of my name”. Of these apparently very negative warnings, Jesus had said, “Do not be terrified…”. 

And the Gospel of Mark adds that all these signs “have only begun, this is the beginning of the birth pangs!”. Birth pangs are not a sign of death, but rather of life! They are not a reason for fear, but rather to hope! This way of reading the events brings peace to the persecuted communities.

Reading or hearing these signs, prophesied by Jesus in the year 33, the readers of Luke of the years 80 could conclude that all these things are taking place according to the plan foreseen and announced by Jesus! Therefore, history has not escaped from God’s hand! God is with us!
A courageous witness would lead the people to repeat what the magicians in Egypt said before the signs and to have courage like Moses and Aaron: “The finger of God is here”.

In today’s Gospel, which is a continuation of the discourse begun yesterday, Jesus lists different signs to help the communities place themselves in these events and not lose faith in God, as well as the courage to persevere. We will repeat the first five signs mentioned in yesterday’s Gospel: 1st sign: the false Messiahs; 2nd sign: war and revolutions; 3rd sign: nations which fight against other nations, a kingdom against another kingdom; 4th sign: earthquakes in different places; 5th sign: hunger, plagues and signs in the sky. Yesterday’s Gospel ends here. Now, in today’s Gospel another sign is added.
6th sign: the persecution of Christians.

At various times, Jesus warned the disciples that they would be persecuted. Here, in the last discourse, He repeats the same warning and makes them know that the persecution has to be taken into consideration in discerning the signs of the times: “You will be seized and persecuted… for the sake of my name”. Of these apparently very negative warnings, Jesus had said, “Do not be terrified…”. 

And the Gospel of Mark adds that all these signs “have only begun, this is the beginning of the birth pangs!”. Birth pangs are not a sign of death, but rather of life! They are not a reason for fear, but rather to hope! This way of reading the events brings peace to the persecuted communities.

Reading or hearing these signs, prophesied by Jesus in the year 33, the readers of Luke of the years 80 could conclude that all these things are taking place according to the plan foreseen and announced by Jesus! Therefore, history has not escaped from God’s hand! God is with us!
A courageous witness would lead the people to repeat what the magicians in Egypt said before the signs and to have courage like Moses and Aaron: “The finger of God is here”.