Reading: 2 Tim 2:10-17; Ps. 119; Mark 12:35-37
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia
CAN THE PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IN THE WORLD STOP?
A critical study of the history of Christianity reveals that persecution, suffering, trials, and martyrdom have been recurring events. Jesus, his apostles, and their successors endured painful sufferings and martyrdoms, yet they continued to give their best to serve the Lord and humanity with unwavering faith. But I wondered why it should be so, given that the teaching and doctrines of Christian faith offer nothing but love, peace and truth to humanity.
So what is it about the Christian faith that frightens the world so deeply that it seems as if Christianity should be extinguished from the world? The simple reason is that Christian faith offers truth and light to the darkness, ignorance and sinful humanity who have grown rotten in the darkness of this sinful world.
The scourge of truth is so painful and difficult for humanity to bear, hence, they prefer to avoid or resist it and the only way to escape this, is by persecuting the bearers of truth and this gives birth to unending ugly acts of persecution, sufferings and trials we are passing through today especially as Christians.
Thus, in the Gospel passage, we heard how the personality of Jesus was challenged by the people in the temple. Here, Jesus taught them that the Messiah, though from the lineage of David, was not a mere man, as they supposed, but that he was both God and man, they ought not to wonder or to be offended because he called himself the Son of God.
This they heard with great attention and pleasure; for the clear and solid answers with which Jesus responded, gave them a high opinion of his wisdom, and showed them how far he was superior to their most renowned rabbis who still dwell in the darkness of ignorance as they seek means to extinguish the truth by persecuting him the more.
Dear friends, we can see why there is constant persecution of Christians in our world. Should we stop being Christian? Can the persecutions of Christians stop? How do you think the world would be if there were no Christians to remind humanity about God?
So, we must not give up, we must not stop being Christians, for God will always be with his people no matter how much they may have to suffer or be persecuted. This is well illustrated in our first reading today with the story of the restoration of the sight of Tobit and the reunion of his family.
Therefore, we must remain faithful in our faith for we are not alone in the sufferings and persecution we encounter as a result of our faith and the mission entrusted to us by Jesus. Through our perseverance, many people will be touched by the truth, and come to know more about the truth and with open hearts and minds, embrace it.
So, friends, as we struggle with our faith and mission, we are encouraged to persevere in the midst of all our fears, sufferings, trials and persecutions. Though it may seem as if our condition is now hopeless and irredeemable, for those who put their trust in God, all things work out for our good. Hence, we are told in our first readings that all scripture is inspired by God and can profitably be used for teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people’s lives and teaching them to be holy. This is how the man who is dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work.
LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we struggle with the sufferings and persecution of this passing world because of our faith in you, grant through the intercession of St. Boniface that our lives may bear great witness to the truth we have found in Jesus, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Remain blessed.
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