THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. NOVEMBER 16, 2025
- Maria Knox
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Gospel Luke 21:5-19
While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, "All that you see here--the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down."
Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?"
He answered, "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!
When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end."
Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky."
Before all this happens, however, 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."
REFLECTION
"You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. "
Jesus unveils many things in today's Gospel. The phrase: "You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed" really struck a chord in me because of recent events and conversations I've had.
As Christians, we want to strive having coherence between our belief system and our actions.
One of the hardest things nowadays is standing for the truth, and making unpopular choices has not been easy for me and many times has caused partial or complete alienation from our group of friends and family, as well as ongoing derision for bringing up "outdated" Christian values into the conversation.
This could be something as seemingly innocuous as not allowing the kids to go watch certain movies with their friends, even though "everybody has watched them and read the books". To where someone (child or adult), is going through "gender transitioning". Or when one or more of their adult children are cohabitating, or marrying in a civil-only not religious ceremony.
Trying to strike a conversation about their irregular situation brings up a defensive posture, and many times total exclusion from their lives from that moment on.
And these conversations have not even started with me giving an opinion. The rejection starts from the moment I ask about the person's situation. Their parent, relative, or friend will immediately go in the defensive and bring up common platitudes that truly don't have any depth and are designed to keep anyone at bay with a posture of "live and let live". And yes, I understand in many cases, they are afraid that if they speak up, their child will shut them off from their lives completely. And in others, they are going with the zeitgeist of the times and truly think it is "OK to go with the flow".
It hurts "to the marrow" when I worry about someone's whole well being and mutter the courage to speak up, only to be cut off from their lives, and being shunned and even made fun of by the rest of the group of family members or friends for being "holier than thou". I really really try to say things from a place of love, not only because if I don't speak up, I will also be held responsible (Ez 3:18-19), but because I have grown to love and care about them.
Admonishing the sinner, is a spiritual work of mercy. And is probably one of the hardest ones to do. St. Anthony Mary Claret had this criteria for fraternal correction:
The person has externally committed a grave sin.
We have moral certitude that the person has committed the sin, not just suspicion.
The person has not yet amended his ways.
There is a reasonable hope that the person will accept the correction.
There is no other person there present who can make a fitting correction.
That the occasion is proper, the time and place, etc.
The most difficult part for me to discern will be point 4. But nowadays many people have never heard the truth said to them. Here is where I really beg the Holy Spirit to help me.
Saint Ambrose said:
“If you discover some defect in a friend, correct him privately (...) For corrections do more good and are more profitable than friendship that keeps silent. If the friend is offended, correct him just the same, firmly and without fear, even though the correction tastes bitter to him. It is written in the Book of Proverbs that wounds from a true friend are preferable to kisses from flatterers (Proverbs 27:6).”
