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| THE VICTORIOUS LORD. Image taken from google.com |
"In the world you will have trouble,
but take courage,
I have conquered the world."
It's election day in the Philippines today, May 13. During the last 90 days we have heard promises, promises, promises of and for a better Philippines. But just like the past many elections, only a small percentage of like promises become reality.
Today we hear the Lord telling the Apostles about them encountering troubles in the world. Unlike politicians, the Lord did not promise great things to happen to the Apostles while on earth. Instead, He warned them about troubles to come. He merely assured them about His having conquered the world.
Christian life is not a bed of roses. It's even a dangerous life. We even have to expect sufferings for even the Lord had to suffer for the sake of our redemption. But we must never fear for after the pains, there comes perfect joy and after all the mourning we shall have eternal joy. We only have to remain in the love of the Lord.
For He has already conquered the world - not by force of arms, not even through political revolution. He was able to wrestle the world from sin by humbling himself in total obedience to the will of the Father which earned Him glory [see Philippians 2: 6-11]. So just as He suffered and then received His most deserved place at the right hand of the Father, we too must accept the realities of pain and suffering in order to have our place in the Father's house [see John 14: 2-3].
As Christians we shall encounter and experience various troubles in the world for the world is more inclined to let go of the desires of the flesh while being Christians we are called to discipline and restrain the flesh [see Galatians 5:17; Romans 8:5].
As we prepare for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, may we get ourselves ready to live in and by the Spirit also so that we may never be overcome by the world; rather, we must overcome the world too as the Lord has overcome it.
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