"Kon Magpadayon Kamo Makaangkon Kamo Sang Kabuhi Nga Wala Sing Katapusan"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Lucas 21:5-19)

May mga tawo didto nga nagasugilanon parte sa matahom nga mga bato kag sa mga ginregalo sang mga tawo nga nagpatahom sang templo. Pero nagsiling si Jesus sa ila,

"Magaabot ang adlaw nga ang mga butang nga ini nga inyo nakita gub-on, kag wala gid sing may mabilin nga mga bato nga nagasalampaw."

Nagpamangkot sila kay Jesus, "Manunudlo, san-o bala matabo ini nga mga butang? Ano bala ang mga tanda nga ini nga mga butang madali na lang matabo?"

Nagsiling si Jesus sa ila, "Mag-andam kamo nga indi kamo pagpatalangon. Kay madamo ang magaabot kag magasiling nga sila amo ako, kag magasiling man sila nga nag-abot na ang tion. Pero indi kamo magpati ukon magsunod sa ila.

Kon makabati kamo nga may mga gira kag mga ginamo, indi kamo magkahadlok, kay ina kinahanglan nga matabo anay, pero wala nagakahulugan nga magaabot na ang katapusan sang kalibutan."

Kag nagsiling pa gid si Jesus sa ila, "Magailinaway ang mga nasyon kag magailinaway ang mga ginharian.

May magaabot nga mabaskog nga mga linog, kag may mga gutom kag mga pisti nga magaabot sa nagkalain-lain nga mga lugar. Kag makita man ninyo ang mga makahaladlok kag makatilingala nga mga tanda halin sa langit.

"Pero sa wala pa ini matabo, pagadakpon kamo kag hingabuton sang mga tawo. Pagadalhon nila kamo sa mga simbahan sang mga Judio agod sentensyahan kag prisohon. Pagadalhon man nila kamo sa mga hari kag mga gobernador agod imbistigaron. Ini tanan himuon nila sa inyo tungod sang inyo pagsunod sa akon.

Pero ini mangin kahigayunan ninyo sa pagsugid sa ila sang Maayong Balita.

Gani itanom ninyo sa inyo hunahuna nga kon matabo ini, indi kamo magpalibog kon ano ang inyo isabat, kay hatagan ko kamo sang kaalam sa pagsabat agod indi makasabat batok sa inyo ang inyo mga kaaway.

Ang iban sa inyo iakusar mismo sang inyo mga ginikanan, mga utod, mga paryenti, kag sang inyo mga amigo. Kag ang iban sa inyo patyon gid nila.

Dumtan kamo sang tanan tungod kay kamo akon mga sumulunod.

Pero indi gid kamo maano.

Kay kon magpadayon kamo makaangkon kamo sang kabuhi nga wala sing katapusan. 

***

Meditation:  

Do you recognize God's action and signs in the world today? Jesus foretold many signs of God's action and judgment. To the great consternation of the Jews, Jesus prophesied the destruction of their temple at Jerusalem. The Jewish people took great pride in their temple, a marvel of the ancient world. The foretelling of this destruction was a dire judgment in itself. They sought Jesus for a sign that would indicate when this would occur. Jesus admonished them to not seek signs but rather to seek God's kingdom. There will be plenty of signs – such as  wars, famines, diseases, tidal waves and earthquakes – pointing to God's ultimate judgment. 

Jesus' prophecy is a two-edged sword, because it points not only to God's judgment, but also to his saving action and mercy. Jesus foretells the destruction of Jerusalem and the dire consequences for all who would reject him and his saving message. While the destruction of Jerusalem's temple was determined (it was razed by the Romans in 70 A.D.), there remained for its inhabitants a narrow open door leading to deliverance. Jesus says: "I am the door; whoever enters by me will be saved" (John 10:9).  Jesus willingly set his face toward Jerusalem, knowing that he would meet betrayal, rejection, and death on a cross. His death on the cross, however, brought about victory and salvation, not only for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, but for all – both Jew and gentile – who would accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Is your life securely submitted to the lordship of Jesus Christ? 

If the gospel message is good news, then why do so many oppose it with hostility and even violence? Jesus warns his followers that they will be confronted with persecution, wickedness, false teaching, and temptation. The real enemy of the gospel is Satan who uses fear and hatred to provoke hostility in others towards those who follow Christ. And what is Jesus' response to this hostility and opposition?  Love and truth. Only love can defeat prejudice, intollerance, and hatred. God's love purifies our hearts and minds of all that would divide and tear people apart. The truth is also essential for overcoming evil and tribulation in the world. Satan deceives and sin blinds the heart and mind. Only God's truth can free us from error and spiritual blindness. This gospel is God's word of truth and salvation. That is why Jesus tells his disciples to proclaim the gospel throughout the whole world, even in the midst of opposition and persecution. 

Jesus tells his disciples that if they endure to the end they will gain their lives – they will see God's salvation and inherit eternal life and happiness with God. Endurance is more than human effort and perseverance. It is a supernational gift of the Holy Spirit which enables us to bear up under trials, temptations, and persecution.  Endurance is strengthened with hope – the supernatural assurance that we will see God face to face and inherit all the promises he has made. Jesus is our supreme model and hero who endured the cross for our sake (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus willingly shed his blood for our sake and for our salvation and he calls us to love and to die to ourselves in like manner. 

The word "martyr" in Greek means "witness".  The Book of Revelations says that "Jesus was the faithful witness ...who freed us from our sins by his blood" (Rev. 1:5). Tertullian, a second century lawyer who converted when he saw Christians singing as they went out to die by the hands of their persecutors, exclaimed: "The blood of the martyrs is seed." Their blood is the seed of new Christians, the seed of the church. The third century bishop, Cyprian said: "When persecution comes, God's soldiers are put to the test, and heaven is open to martyrs. We have not enlisted in an army to think of peace and to decline battle, for we see that the Lord has taken first place in the conflict." True martyrs live and die as witnesses of the gospel. They overcome their enemies through persevering hope and courage, sacrificial love and forebearance, kindness and compassion. 

St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) wrote, "The martyrs were bound, jailed, scourged, racked, burned, rent, butchered – and they multiplied!" Why is this the case? The Christian martyrs witnessed to the truth, joy, and freedom of the gospel, by their life, their testimony, and by the shedding of their own blood. Today unfortunately we witness many extremists and misguided individuals who will sacrifice their lives, and kill others in the process, out of hatred, revenge, and prejudice. From a Christian point of view, they are not true martyrs because their sacrifice is not motivated by God's merciful love and forgiveness, truth and righteousness. 

True martyrs pray for their persecutors and love their enemies. In their suffering and in their death they witness the truth of the gospel – that "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).  Jesus died on the cross for Jews and Greeks, Christians and Muslims, agnostics and atheists. Satan seeks to destroy our faith through the fear of death and he incites others to persecute Christians for their faith in Christ. Martyrs who shed their blood for Jesus Christ win great victory, not only for themselves, but for the whole people of God. The martyrs overcome Satan by enduring death through their faith in Christ who died and rose for us. And through their witness many others recognize the victory of the cross and believe in the gospel. The martyrs witness to the truth – the truth of Jesus Christ and his power to overcome sin and fear, hatred and prejudice, and even death itself.  What gives courage and confidence to the martyrs is the firm hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise of eternal life and happiness with God. 

God may call some of us to be martyrs for our faith. But for most of us, our call is to be 'dry' martyrs who bear testimony to the joy and power of the gospel in the midst of daily challenges, contradictions, temptations and adversities which come our way as we follow the Lord. What most attracts others to the truth and power of the gospel? When they see Christians loving their enemies, being joyful in suffering, patient in adversity, pardoning injuries, and showing comfort and compassion to the hopeless and the helpless. Jesus tells us that we do not need to fear our adversaries. God will give us sufficient grace, strength, and wisdom to face any trial and to answer any challenge to our faith.  Are you eager to bear witness to the joy and freedom of the gospel? 

"Lord Jesus, by your cross you have redeemed the world. Fill me with joy and confidence and make me a bold witness of your saving truth that others may know the joy and freedom of the gospel."