Monday, Holy Week: Facing Ridicule And Persecution In Trust

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:1-14

In a world so full of social and political turmoil and immense human suffering, people of faith will often be ridiculed because of their so-called ineffectiveness. Many will say, "If you believe that there is a loving God, let your God do something about this mess!" Others will simply declare religion irrelevant, while others will consider it an obstacle to the creation of a new and better world.

Jesus tells his followers that, as he was, they will be persecuted, arrested, tortured, and killed. But he also tells us not to worry but to trust in him at all times ... Let's not be afraid of the skepticism and cynicism coming our way, but trust that God will give us the strength to hold our ground.

"Lord, help me to be courageous in living my faith--and in defending it when I am called on to do so."

Henri Nouwen