Answer In Our Hands

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. 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.” (Luke 21:12-19)

What is this wisdom in speaking, given to us by Jesus, that all our adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute?  It must be powerful because we are told everyone will hate us because we believe in Jesus.  Of course, Jesus spoke to those around him and oppressed by Roman authorities.  Today we live in different times, or do we?  We are all still capable of cruelty, for example.  Here’s a story about cruelty and wisdom.

Once upon a time there was an old man who lived on the outskirts of a town.  He had lived there for so long that no one knew who he was or where he had come from.  Some said that once he was very powerful, a king, but that was long ago.  Others said, no, he was once very wealthy and generous, but didn’t have much now.  Others said, no, he was wise and influential, and some even said he was holy.  But the children just thought he was a stupid old man, and they made his life miserable.  They threw stones at his windows, left dead cats on his doorstep, ripped up his garden, and shouted at him every chance they got.

Then one day an older boy came up with an idea to prove once and for all that their parents were wrong, that he wasn’t really wealthy or once a king, or wise or holy, that he was just a stupid old man.  He knew how to catch a bird in a snare.  He told the other children that he would catch a bird, and together they would go to the old man’s house and knock on the door.  When the man answered, the boy would ask him, “Old man, do you know what I have hidden behind my back? Now he might guess that it was a bird, but it’s the second question that will get him.  I’ll ask him if the bird is alive or dead.  If he says dead, then I’ll just let the bird go free.  If he answers that the bird is alive, then I’ll crush the bird to death with my hands.  Either way, he’s just a stupid old man.”

The kids thought it was a great idea.  The older boy caught the bird, and off they went to the old man’s house and rudely knocked on the door.  The old man came to the door, looked around at the children and knew they were up to something.  The boy spoke quickly, “Old man, do you know what I have hidden behind my back?”  The old man looked around at the children one by one, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw a white feather fall to the ground.  He answered, “Yes, I do.  It’s a bird, a white bird.”

The children’s eyes grew large.  He could have guessed it was a bird, but how did he know it was white?  Maybe their parents were right about him after all.  But the leader was not to be deterred and quickly asked the second question.  “Well, that was a good guess, but is the bird dead or alive?”  Again, the man looked around at each child, sadly, and finally his eyes came to rest on the older boy.  He answered, “That all depends on you.  The answer is in your hands.”

The moral of this story?  Whether we are hated or loved, the answer is in our own hands.  That is wisdom.  It is our choice.  Do we strangle relationships or promote them?  Do we forgive and free those who have hurt us?  Are we kind and loving?

Are we hated because we use Jesus’ name while claiming to be Catholics, but we are cruel and dishonest?  In other words, do we give Catholics a bad name through our behavior.

Yes, it all depends on us.  It is in our own hands.

Deacon David Pierce