Today's Feast of the First Holy Martyrs of the Holy Church of Rome is an enormously important feast. It follows upon the heels of the celebration, yesterday, of the Martyrdom of Saints Peter and Paul. Their deaths took place during the persecution of Nero (in the 60's – the first century) and with the martyrs' death's of Peter, Paul, the rest of the apostles and many others they form the credible "field of red" on which the Church of Jesus stands!
If there were no Christian martyrs – there would be no viable and believable Church! It is only when one is willing to put it all on the line is anything given true, lasting, genuine and authentic meaning! And it is not just any putting on the line: it is putting it all on the line for your friends AND your enemies: yes, this includes the very ones who are persecuting you and putting you to death!
Jesus told us that there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. He also told us to love our enemies – to consider them our friends. Therefore, we must lay down our lives always for the spiritual welfare of our enemies!
This is a very difficult thing to do. It seems like no human being could ever do such a thing. On our own, with our own resources, this is true. But by the power of the working of the Holy Spirit it can be done: and it can be done courageously and even joyfully!
The Holy Spirit of God – if we pray constantly for a deeper and deeper release of his gifts – can enable us to KEEP OUR EYES FOCUSED ON CHRIST! KEEP OUR EYES FOCUSED ON JESUS AS OUR EXAMPLE OF HOW TO DEAL WITH OUR ENEMIES! KEEP OUR EYES FIXED ON HOW HE ACTED AND REACTED WHEN HE WAS BEING NAILED TO A CROSS: "Father, forgive them, for they really do not know what they are doing!"
With the help of the Holy Spirit – nothing should be able to separate us from life in Christ or his love – his expansive, comprehensive and all-embracing love!
The gospel passage paints a bleak picture of what the world could be like without God. Rome at the time of Peter, Paul and the early Christians was such a place. But these Christian heroes persevered in their faith while Rome was literally burning to the ground around them. The Emperor Nero, who most likely set the fires himself, falsely accused the Christians for setting them – arrested them – and killed them in horrendous and gruesome ways!
But these protomartyrs now shine like the stars of heaven! And they pray constantly for us – so that we can endure the trials and the persecutions that just naturally come along with being a Christian. They know – and want to communicate to us – that NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD THAT COMES TO US IN CHRIST BY THE WORKING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! We have all we need to conquer the world – and reign forever with Christ in heaven! – if we KEEP OUR EYES FIXED ON JESUS and his Way of Life!
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven!
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