The fruits of persecution

Many if not most church leaders through the millennia have been interested in a peaceful relationship between earthly governments and the people of God.

The reasons for this go beyond the natural human inclinations to "get along" and to avoid conflict, pain, and suffering.

The most important reason was given by St. Paul in his first letter to Timothy (2:1-4): to minimize obstacles to the living of a godly life and to the spreading of the truth.

I exhort therefore, that, first of all,
supplications, prayers, intercessions,
and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority;
that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life
in all godliness and honesty.
For this is good and acceptable
in the sight of God our Saviour;
Who will have all men to be saved,
and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Comfort and security are indeed nice, the free exercise of the true faith is great, but these things are not guaranteed to us in this world.

Indeed, as we read in the Acts of the Apostles, persecution has come upon the followers of Christ from the start: beginning with imprisonment and interrogation (chapter 4), then shameful beatings (chapter 5), public trials (chapter 6), and eventually execution (chapter 7).

But this persecution that culminated in the stoning of Stephen had unexpected results, as we hear in today's first reading (Acts 11:19-26):

Now they which were scattered abroad
upon the persecution that arose about Stephen
travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch,
preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene,
which, when they were come to Antioch,
spake unto the Grecians,
preaching the Lord Jesus.

And the hand of the Lord was with them:
and a great number believed,
and turned unto the Lord.

The other unexpected result was that Saul, one of the central figures in the murder of Stephen (Acts 7:58), would be converted and would be instrumental in the life and growth of the Christian church.

Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
And when he had found him,
he brought him unto Antioch.

And it came to pass, that a whole year
they assembled themselves with the church,
and taught much people.

And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

(Saul of Tarsus, of course, would become known as Paul, one of the greatest Apostles.)

In our own lives and in different ways, as individuals and as a Church, we too experience persecution: from subtle pressure in our social circles, to the explicit pressure from "politically correct" authorities in some countries, all the way to imprisonment and murder in some other countries.

As a rule, of course, we should do what we can to "lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." We should not cultivate paranoia or a "martyr complex" nor should we seek persecution and martyrdom recklessly: our focus must be "godliness and honesty."

But neither should we fear pressure or persecution, for as today's first reading teaches us, from persecution, the grace of God produces abundant fruit.

Moreover, no matter what we may have to suffer, we also have the unshakably comforting promise of Christ from today's Gospel (John 10:22-30):

My sheep hear my voice,
and I know them,
and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life;
and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

My Father, which gave them me,
is greater than all;
and no man is able
to pluck them out of my Father's hand.


Preces meae non sunt dignae,
sed tu, bonus, fac benigne,
ne perenni cremer igne.

Inter oves locum praeta,
et ab hoedis me sequestra,
statuens in parte dextra

My prayers are not worthy,
but Thou, Good Lord, grant kindly
that I not forever burn in fire.

Give me a place among your sheep,
and from the goats set me apart
setting me at your right hand.
(from the classic hymn Dies Irae)