Feast of Saint James, Apostle
I just completed a session with Father John Thomas Lane on the Beatitudes. The first reading and the Gospel are a practical application of the power of the beatitudes as practiced in the early church. Blessed are you who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for yours is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3-10) This kingdom is not a distant promise, but a present reality. We can experience the peace that Jesus gives us here and now, when we most need it, as we live in the Kingdom of God.
Paul tells the Corinthians, who are being persecuted for their faith, that they are afflicted but not constrained, perplexed but not despairing, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed. Why? Because they have Jesus in them. We, too, have Jesus within us, constantly nourished by the Eucharist. This divine sustenance gives us the strength and peace to endure persecution for our faith.
When are we persecuted, in this country, where we have freedom of religion? We may feel persecuted when we are asked to compromise our integrity, when we are required to complete a task that could be seriously flawed by rushing it, or when we approve a plan that has serious shortcomings—such as going out with someone we know will get us into trouble. Persecution, in the modern context, can be seen as any situation where we are challenged to compromise our faith or values for the sake of convenience or social acceptance.
We may see persecution as any earthly negative consequences for following Christ’s commands to love God and others. From that perspective, persecution comes from many places. Saint Peter Julian Eymard struggled to establish his Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. However, he subjected himself to the authority of the Catholic Church and trusted in God to overcome all the obstacles. That did not stop his feelings of perplexity and frustration, but it did give him peace and courage to continue his efforts.
Prayer:
Oh Lord, we ask for boundless confidence and trust in your Divine Mercy, and the courage to accept the crosses and sufferings which bring immense goodness to our souls and that of your church. (St. Pio’s prayer of Trust and Confidence).
