Persecution and Triumph, the Two Realities of Christian life (Saturday, Week 33, Year 2, The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

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The book of Revelation is full of symbols and imageries that need to be carefully interpreted for us to understand the message they communicate. In today’s first reading (cf. Rev. 11:4-12), John was told about two olive trees and two lamp stands serving as witnesses to the Holy One. Who or what do these two sets of witnesses (olive trees and lamp stand) stand for? When we read further in order to understand what happened to these two witnesses, it may be a bit clear to us that the “two witnesses” may be pointing to Moses and Elijah, judging from what they did on earth and what they stand for. Moses stands for the Law; and Elijah stands for the Prophet. Anyone who bears witness as Moses bore witness to the Law of God must be persecuted by the beast as the first reading (from the Book of Revelation) recounted. Anyone who bears witness to the messages of truth as Elijah and other prophets did must be persecuted just as the prophets were persecuted. Persecution is a fate that awaits every Christian inasmuch as he or she remains true to his or her calling. It is a reality of the Christian life. Though those “two witnesses” were persecuted as our first reading narrated, however they later rose unto glory and triumphed eternally. Another reality of the Christian life is eternal victory or triumph. The first reality is that our state has already made us candidates of persecution. And the second inevitable reality is that there must be triumph. We will die to live again; we will be brought low in order to rise unto glory.

The form we will assume after our death is not the issue. The point that we must hold on to is the reality that we must rise unto glory; that there must be resurrection. And that is the very point that Jesus was trying to hammer into the faith-consciousness of those Sadducees in the gospel (cf. Luke 20:27-40) who asked a question about seven brothers who married one wife and all the seven died leaving no child. The Sadducees asked to know Jesus’ stance on the issue of resurrection; however they themselves did not believe that there is nothing like resurrection. For the Sadducees, it is a big impossibility for anyone to resurrect because what they understood by “resurrection” is rising with the same corporeal body that we have now. But they were mistaken. We will assume a new and glorified body, not this corruptible body of sin.

And so we should be more strengthened and encouraged to continue to bear witness to Jesus who is the resurrection and life, who has the power to raise us on the last day if we die with Him. Having been presented to God at the moments of our baptism, conversion and initiation into the faith just as Mary was presented to God, we have received grace to bear witness to God unto death. Even though we must die in the course of bearing witness, we shall surely be raised to the joy of heaven. May Our Blessed Mother continue to intercede for us as we bear witness to Jesus while we live, Amen!        



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