Today we celebrate the feast of two first century martyrs: Marcellinus and Peter. They suffered martyrdom under the persecution of the emperor Diocletian. Sometimes it is difficult to understand how powerful rulers like Diocletian failed to understand how even their efforts at destroying Christianity were actually the best thing that they could possibly do for its survival and growth.
It is the blood of the martyrs that honors Christ the One True Martyr the most! It is from the blood of the martyrs that flows the missionary activity of the Church. It is through the blood of the martyrs that men and women have demonstrated the power of the Holy Spirit truly working within the mystical Body and Blood of Christ the Church to make it alive and flourish!
The first reading from St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians tells us that the life of every Christian is meant to be a life filled with seeming contradictions: glory and dishonor, insult and praise, being treated as deceivers and yet as truthful ones, unrecognized yet acknowledged, dying yet as living, chastised but not put to death, sorrowful yet always rejoicing, poor yet enriching many, having nothing yet possessing everything! And the leaders, the ministers of Christ in addition endure afflictions, hardships, constraints, beating, imprisonments, riots, labors, vigils, fasts – while they by purity, knowledge, patience and kindness allow themselves to be filled and moved by the Holy Spirit in unfeigned love and truthful speech!
Sts. Marcellinus and Peter were such ministers of God! And went to the ultimate extreme of giving their life and blood for Christ and his new way!
In the gospel passage Jesus prays that his Father protects the chosen apostles and their successors and helpers – so that, come what may – they may be filled with joy as they do in fact endure many hardship – as they possess, guard and deliver the truth that comes from God alone!
It is Truth that is the real gift of God! Truth made flesh is Jesus! Truth entrusted to men to be transmitted by the working of the Holy Spirit is the hierarchical structuring of the Church! The truth will endure! Christ will endure! The teaching of the Apostles will endure! and it is sealed by the blood of the martyrs!
Thank you Marcellinus and Peter for trusting God and his power working in you absolutely! and for the gift you gave Christ of your own life's blood! May we be prepared this day to give ourselves for the Church somewhere along the upper end of that continuum of service!
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