The patient endurance that is in Jesus
This week’s second reading starts with a powerful testimony of belief - Revelation 1: 9- 19 ‘I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos, on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.’
In this one sentence it presents what it is to be a believer and follower of Jesus: i) to be united with others as brothers and sisters in faith, ii) to share in the trials and suffering that come with proclaiming the Gospel, iii) to live with hope in the Kingdom already present and yet to come, and iv) to endure with patience through the power of Christ.
John's witness from exile on Patmos reminds us that discipleship is not about comfort, wealth or popularity, but about fidelity to the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus, even in the face of hardship. It is to work in the vineyard to build the Kingdom of God.
John’s testimony invites us to reflect on our own witness and endurance. Like John, each of us is called to stand firm in our faith, even when we feel isolated, misunderstood, or tested. The island of Patmos becomes a symbol for those moments in our lives when we feel alone in our commitment to Christ.
Yet it is precisely in these moments that we are most open to divine revelation—when, like John, we turn our gaze to the Risen Lord who strengthens us and says, ‘Do not be afraid.’ Faithfulness in tribulation becomes a doorway to deeper intimacy with Jesus and a renewed sense of mission in the world.
I believe the late Pope Francis demonstrated this through his unwavering commitment to the Gospel, especially in his solidarity with the poor, the marginalized, and those on the peripheries of society. Despite criticism, misunderstanding, and the weight of leadership, he consistently pointed the Church toward mercy, humility, and patient endurance in Christ. His life was a living testimony to the call of Revelation—to share in the tribulation, to live in the hope of the Kingdom, and to endure with love.
As we reflect on this powerful passage from Revelation, may we too find strength in our shared discipleship. Let us remain faithful in our trials, hopeful in our waiting, and bold in our testimony to Jesus. In every season and circumstance, may we hear the Lord’s words to John echo in our hearts: ‘Do not be afraid.’