Endure

There are some people who do not like us. In fact, there are some people who hate us with a white-hot fury.

In the days since the recent U.S. elections, there have been a number of articles in major news outlets and elsewhere in which people have spoken contemptuously of Christians – and conservative Christians most especially – who voted in large numbers for the current president.

Of course, that is relatively mild: in different parts of the world, Christians are still being persecuted and even tortured and martyred for the faith.

And it could get much worse.

Today’s first reading from the Book of Maccabees is a rather grisly depiction of men suffering torture and death rather than deny their faith or act contrary to God’s covenant.

It seems amazing that anyone could endure these horrors and suffer such pain without capitulating, yet these young men accepted every torment because their faith in God was firm.

You and I may not be in imminent danger of having our tongues or limbs sawed off (although such a possibility is not impossible), but we may face other dangers and attacks every day. People may ridicule us, challenge us, insult us, or isolate us.

Yet the joy and the glory that awaits us in heaven is infinitely greater (literally!) than any discomfort or pain we may have to endure in this world. If we remain faithful, we may have to suffer through some tough times at the hands of unbelievers and evil persons – even perhaps years – yet by the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as St. Paul reminds us, our eternal happiness is not in doubt.

…for not all have faith.

But the Lord is faithful;
he will strengthen you
and guard you from the evil one.

We are confident of you in the Lord
that what we instruct you,
you are doing
and will continue to do.

May the Lord direct your hearts
to the love of God
and to the endurance of Christ.