+ Jesus deals with what were probably many would-be disciples
today by pointing out that real discipleship means sacrifice and
effort. It means “feeling detached” “feeling uprooted” being “ready to drop
everything to do something else on a moment’s notice.” It is not the glamorous
membership in a “club of converts” that means being a Christian: it is being crucified with Christ so to
Reign with him.
There were Christians in Rome
within a dozen or so years after the death of Jesus. In July of 64 AD more than
half of Rome was destroyed by fire. Rumor blamed the tragedy on Nero who wanted
to enlarge his palace. He shifted the blame by accusing the Christians.
According to the historian Tacitus, many Christians were put to death because
of their “hatred of the human race.” Peter and Paul were probably among the
victims.
Threatened
by an army revolt and condemned to death by the senate, Nero committed suicide
in 68 AD at the age of 31.
Wherever
the Good News of Jesus was preached, it met the same oppositions
as Jesus did, and many of those who began to follow him shared his suffering
and death. But no human force could stop
the power of the Spirit unleashed upon the world. The blood of martyrs has
always been, and will always be, the seed of Christians.
These
holy Roman martyrs courageously finished the course of faith and despite their
bodily weakness won a noble prize! The question today is: are we even half as
willing as they were to stand up for the faith, for faith’s truths, for faith’s
morals, values and sacred principles: in the face, of the decline in the
governing machine in our nation’s capital? It’s time to tell Washington to stop
this abuse of power, in the name of God, in the name of His Son who gave his
life so that good men and women everywhere can live positive moral and
principled lives, in the name of all who have given their lives so that our
country could even get to this stage in its history.
As
the Fourth of July birthday of the nation looms large on us – let this be a
rallying cry for truth, justice and the American way!
Amen.
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