First Reading: Revelation 15:1-4
And I saw another sign in heaven, great and wonderful: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them is filled up the wrath of God. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who had overcome the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
And singing the canticle of Moses, the servant of God, and the canticle of the Lamb saying: Great and wonderful are your works, O Lord God Almighty, just and true are your ways, O King of ages. Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and magnify your name? For you only are holy, for all nations shall come and shall adore in your sight, because your judgments are manifest.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 98:1, 2-3ab, 7-8, 9
R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
Alleluia: Revelation 2:10c
Gospel: Luke 21:12-19
But before all these things, they will lay their hands upon you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, dragging you before kings and governors for my name's sake. And it shall happen to you for a testimony.
Lay it up therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how you shall answer. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to resist and gainsay.
And you shall be betrayed by your parents and brethren and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death. And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake. But a hair of your head shall not perish. In your patience you shall possess your souls.
Reflection
Jesus does not promise His disciples an easy path - Before all these things, they will lay hands on you, persecute you, deliver you up to synagogues and prisons, drag you before kings for my name's sake. You will be betrayed even by parents and brethren, hated by all men.
But He turns that persecution into testimony: It shall happen to you for a testimony. Do not worry beforehand how to answer, I will give you a mouth and wisdom which no adversary can resist. And then this assurance: Not a hair of your head shall perish. In your patience you shall possess your souls.
John sees where that patience leads - those who have overcome the beast standing on a sea of glass mingled with fire, with harps of God, singing the canticle of Moses and the canticle of the Lamb: Great and wonderful are your works, O Lord God Almighty, just and true are your ways, O King of ages. Who shall not fear you and magnify your name?
Today, remain faithful until death and He will give you the crown of life.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you promised wisdom when we must give testimony and you keep every hair of our head. Keep my heart faithful when following you is hard. Give me a mouth to speak truth with charity and patience to possess my soul. Guard me from fear and bitterness. Let me join one day in the song of your victors: Great and wonderful are your works, Lord mighty God. Amen.
Readings are taken from the Douay-Rheims Bible, rendered in modern English for easy reading.
