In today's first reading, Revelation 15: 1-4, John "saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire. On the sea of glass were standing those who had won the victory over the beast and its image...." In today's Gospel, Luke 21: 12-19, Jesus alludes to the fact that we will give "testimony". Testimony to what? God's power at work in us. That we are victorious over the beast is God at work in us. The "victory over the beast" is the victory over temptations to lie, cheat, seek places of honor, lord it over others, lust for possessions or honors which others enjoy and other temptations which we overcome by God's power. All of us, every day, witness to God's power at work in us, that is we become martyrs (a martyr is one who witnesses). We are witnesses, "martyrs," when we are honest, when we refrain from grabbing other people's attention when such is had by another. We "suffer" the martyrdom of humility, generosity, goodness, kindness, mercy, many times in secret--no one knows but ourselves.
The author of the reflections in Word Among Us for the liturgical readings for Nov. 28th reminds us "[t]hat every time [we] make a choice for someone else over [ourselves, we] have won a victory. Every time [we] cooperate with God's grace instead of giving in to temptation, [we] have won a victory. [We] may not see it but God is shaping [our] character. He is making [us witnesses] to His power."
What an awesome God, who is always at work within us!
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