One of the more inspiring movements that’s been sparked by current events surrounding teen suicide and bullying has been the ‘It Gets Better Project’ – a venture that features short videos by famous and not so famous people who struggled with their gender identity (www.itgetsbetterproject.com) and want to encourage vulnerable young people who are hurting.

Many of these confessional video biographies are highly emotional as they recount stories of persecution, harassment, suicide attempts, confrontations with family members, and deep, dark depression.  However, the message is clear, that despite the torment of the student years - there is a light at the end of the tunnel, life is worth living, it gets better.

Jesus often talked about persecution and harassment – like in this week’s Gospel reading from Luke 21.  Jesus warned those who followed Him that a big part of the journey involved going against the grain, being singled out, and persecuted.  We here in the comfy and civilized West, can have a hard time relating to these stories – as the only times we hear about serious religious persecution seem to come from far away places.

While it’s encouraging to think that modern society has evolved to a place of civil, religious tolerance – we can’t help but ponder the criticism Jesus’ words inspire: that the problem with Christianity today is that no one wants to persecute us.  Standing up for the oppressed, the hurting, the starving, the marginalized – confronting economic systems and powers that make more people poor than rich, favor those who have enough, and take away from those who have too little – is controversial, unpopular, and uncomfortable stuff.

But if those who follow Jesus make their central goal avoiding persecution, can’t we also ask ourselves: how well are we really following Jesus?

In what ways are we being called to go against the grain, confront the powers that marginalize, stand up to bullies, and endure for the sake of what’s right – the cross?  Jesus never said that following Him would be easy – but just the opposite - He promised us pain and heartache, when we do it right.  But He also promised He would be with us, He would help us, and that we should never, ever forget, that the persecution doesn’t last forever - it gets better.

Reading

The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work – Alaine de Botton

Changing the Conversation – Anthony B. Robinson

Strength for the Journey – Peter Gomes