Word to the Wise
Monday, May 23, 2022 - 6th Week of Easter - Mon
[Acts 16:11-15 and John 15:26-16:4a]"When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. [John]
The Gospel According to John was written to a community that was experiencing exactly what the evangelist had Jesus predicting. This accounts for the rather harsh and adversarial tone of much of the first twelve chapters. It is a current of resentment and anger. What is eerie is Jesus' statement that some persecutors who kill Christians would think they are doing God's will!!! This is something we have been witnessing in our own time. let alone what has been done in the name of religious faith over the centuries (Crusades, pogroms against Jews, 911 attacks - the list could go on and on.). Biblical examples abound! One of the reasons that prominent atheists give for their unbelief is that religious faith seems to be the source of terrible violence.
It is easy to condemn physical violence done in the name of religious faith. But there is a less physical but nevertheless effective violence done when religious faith is attacked legislatively in the name of secular ideology. For Catholics, this could take the shape of legislation requiring Catholic health care institutions to perform procedures that directly contradict Catholic moral beliefs. This kind of persecution is often done under the guise of defending values enshrined in the U.S. Constitution!!!
Jesus has warned us that faith in him would mean persecution of different kinds. We are not called to commit violent acts, but we can courageously speak in the defense of our faith. That defense should also be matched by the personal everyday witness of a faithful life. Not everyone can be a martyr, but we can all be witnesses and testify! AMEN