Fr. Jorge Miró shares with Exaudi readers his commentary on the Gospel of Sunday, November 16, 2025, entitled “With your perseverance you will save your souls”.

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The Word of God today invites us to look at the meaning of history with faith so that we may live with hope. This is always important, and especially now, as we conclude the Jubilee Year of Hope. 

We live in a historic moment where many people are confused, bewildered, and deceived.  Many people, as today’s Gospel tells us, have listened to the voices of false prophets and are living in despair, trapped by fear.  

That is what the devil always wants: to make us live in fear and distrust, doubting God’s love and faithfulness.  

And so, the Word comes to illuminate everything we are experiencing.  

The prophet Malachi reminds us that life is not a game, but a serious battle we must face. We must make decisions every day, and these decisions have consequences. Choosing one path is not the same as choosing another. And we will all appear before God’s judgment seat and have to give an account of our lives.  The Word calls us to live life responsibly, to unite responsibility with truth, and to take life seriously.  

The Gospel invites us to live with hope amidst so many difficulties that overwhelm and surpass us. To live without fear. To live with our trust placed in God.  History is the history of salvation. 

Many will try to confuse us and make us live in fear.  The Lord already warns us of this in the Gospel:  “See that no one deceives you.  For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ or, ‘The time is at hand’; do not go after them.” 

Therefore, the Word of God that we proclaim today reminds us what the key is to remain faithful in the midst of this turbulent and confusing world:  with your perseverance you will save your souls.  

This is one of the keys to discipleship.  The Lord has not called you to be a part-time disciple.  He tells you, as we sang in the Alleluia:  Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 

To persevere means to remain faithful to Jesus Christ and in communion with the Church. 

But Jesus tells us that this faithfulness and perseverance are not easy : whoever wants to remain faithful will suffer persecution and will be abandoned and betrayed by men:  everyone will hate you because of my name.  

Furthermore, the Lord invites us not to be afraid, to live trusting in his love and his mercy:  I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict… not a hair of your head will perish. 

We do not know what will happen in the future.  We do not know the specific circumstances of tomorrow’s life, nor do we even know if we will be alive tomorrow.  But it doesn’t matter :  It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But  you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth  (Acts 1:7-8).   

The disciple is not above the Master, and so the Lord invites us not only to endure persecution, but to trust in the ultimate victory:  “Rise up, lift your heads, your redemption is drawing near,”  we sang in the Alleluia. And in the Psalm:  “The Lord comes to rule the earth, the peoples with equity.”  And in the first reading: “For you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will shine, and healing will be found in its shade”.

Take heart! Examine your life! Embark on the great adventure of perseverance and faithfulness! Ask God for the gift of faithfulness and perseverance! Ask for the Holy Spirit!  It’s worth it!  

Come, Holy Spirit!