GOD IS MY VINDICATOR

“Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand.” – Luke 21:14

It was March 2003 when I became president of a sports organization. At first, the members were all excited, but as months went by, I heard that my vice president was spreading rumors that I was a corrupt leader and I was using my position to solicit money for my personal use.

       I tried to explain my side and presented documents to prove my innocence. But I was outnumbered because the other officers believed him and were already planning a coup d’etat to oust me. When I learned that, I immediately resigned and gave up my position to my vice president. I prayed hard because God knows the truth and my conscience was clean. I promised Him that I wouldn’t take revenge because I believe that He is my vindicator. True enough, two months later, a friend told me that the group I had organized was dissolved because nobody believed in the leadership of the vice president and he had just been envious of my position.

       People approached and even told me that the association was better during my term. I felt vindicated after hearing them say that. Monty Mendigoria (montymendigoria@yahoo.com)

Reflection: When the world is against you, don’t despair. They hated Jesus, too.

Lord, thank You for Your everyday protection. Send Your Holy Spirit to be my guide in managing Your business here on earth. Cover me with Your armor of love always. Amen.

Daniel again interprets the king’s dreams, not because he wants a reward for doing it but because he can, and he does not see why he shouldn’t help the king to prepare for the trying times ahead. The king recognizes him as a man of integrity and, thus, appoints him as the one to prepare the kingdom for the coming trial of famine. Daniel proves to be up to the task and many of the surrounding nations will come to him for help.

1 King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his lords, with whom he drank. 2 Under the influence of the wine, he ordered the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar, his father, had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, to be brought in so that the king, his lords, his wives and his entertainers might drink from them. 3 When the gold and silver vessels taken from the house of God in Jerusalem had been brought in, and while the king, his lords, his wives and his entertainers were drinking 4 wine from them, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. 5 Suddenly, opposite the lampstand, the fingers of a human hand appeared, writing on the plaster of the wall in the king’s palace. When the king saw the wrist and hand that wrote, 6 his face blanched; his thoughts terrified him, his hip joints shook, and his knees knocked. 13 Then Daniel was brought into the presence of the king. The king asked him, “Are you the Daniel, the Jewish exile, whom my father, the king, brought from Judah? 14 I have heard that the Spirit of God is in you, that you possess brilliant knowledge and extraordinary wisdom. 16 I have heard that you can interpret dreams and solve difficulties; if you are able to read the writing and tell me what it means, you shall be clothed in purple, wear a gold collar about your neck, and be third in the government of the kingdom.” 17 Daniel answered the king: “You may keep your gifts, or give your presents to someone else; but the writing I will read for you, O king, and tell you what it means. 23 You have rebelled against the Lord of heaven. You had the vessels of his temple brought before you, so that you and your nobles, your wives and your entertainers, might drink wine from them; and you praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, that neither see nor hear nor have intelligence. But the God in whose hand is your life breath and the whole course of your life, you did not glorify. 24 By him were the wrist and hand sent, and the writing set down. 25 “This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, TEKEL, and PERES. These words mean: 26 MENE, God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it; 27 TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting; 28 PERES, your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

39 [Dan 3:62] “Sun and moon, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” (R) 40 [Dan 3:63] “Stars of heaven, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” (R) 41 [Dan 3:64] “Every shower and dew, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” (R) 42 [Dan 3:65] “All you winds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” (R) 43 [Dan 3:66] “Fire and heat, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” (R) 44 [Dan 3:67] “Cold and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” (R)

Why does Jesus tell them not to prepare their defense? It is probably because the Holy Spirit will help us come up with better arguments than we can find on our own and He does not want the clarity of His arguments muddied by our own musings. At the very least, what we have here is an encouragement to trust that the Lord will never abandon us in our time of need.

Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

12 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. 13 It will lead to your giving testimony. 14 Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, 15 for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. 16 You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my name, 18 but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. 19 By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

think:  The Holy Spirit encourages us to trust that the Lord will never abandon us in our time of need.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Psalm 119

PERSEVERANCE VS. PERSECUTIONS

Continuing from yesterday’s readings, we’re now even a notch higher in terms of the difficulties and trials previously mentioned. If yesterday, Jesus was hinting at wars and calamities, today He gives more direct warnings and prophecies on the persecutions we are to suffer.

       We might as well ask, are these scare tactics from the Lord? Well, if ever, an occasional jolt from God can be useful every now and then. And in any case, why should we be surprised or shocked? “No pupil is greater than his master... If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first... If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you,” Jesus once said. If He Himself underwent suffering and persecution, who are we, His followers, to be spared of them?

       We cling to Christ’s assurances, equally clear and explicit as the warnings He gave. (So they’re not all scare tactics, therefore.) There are at least three of such assurances in our Gospel reading:

       “I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.”

       “Not a hair on your head will be destroyed.”

       “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

     With such consoling words from Jesus, what is there to fear therefore? Everything will be provided for us — from the words for our defense against accusing kings and governors, to even the hairs on our heads! But the last of Jesus’ three statements stands out. Yes, we are assured of our salvation, but at the same time it is still subject to a condition, the fulfillment of which depends entirely on us. Quite simply, we must persevere. In other words, we must patiently endure all trials and sufferings.

       If endurance, patience and determination are the keys to our triumph, then so be it. Persecutions? Don’t worry, we have an answer to that: perseverance. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

REFLECTION QUESTION: How do you respond when persecutions come your way?

Lord, grant me the grace to persevere when I am hated and persecuted by the world.