There are times all throughout our lives where our faith is tested. A death in the family, sickness or injury, or a job loss can make us question who we are, our
purpose in life, or if God really exists. We often wonder why we have to go through so much pain, heartache, and suffering. Times like these can really make us question our faith and what God’s plan is for us, but its also usually in these times where that faith is all we have to lean on. And God gets us through these times, we just need to trust in His plan and, well, have faith!
But there are other times where our faith is tested in another way. There are times when our faith will be questioned and mocked by others, sometimes those close to us. It is much like in the days of Christ when people did not believe that Jesus was doing all of these great things and that He actually did rise from the dead. His disciples had faith and told this story over and over, teaching anyone they could what Christ taught them, yet they were met with much contempt, ridicule, and persecution. And, he actually warned them that this would happen:
They will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name.
Jesus even went on to say that “…You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name…”
You will even be handed over by family and friends – those who are closest to you. What a tough pill to swallow. Jesus wasn’t just saying this as something His disciples could expect, but He was going to experience this too. He was going to be handed over by someone close to Him, a close friend in Judas. But Jesus was warning His disciples, and all of us through His Gospel, that we would all be questioned and persecuted because of our faith in Him.
Now, most Catholics in this world do not face physical harm and even death because of our faith, though there definitely are areas in the Middle-East and Africa where being a Christian could mean death. One just needs to look at Iraq and attacks from ISIS to see that there are modern-day martyrs, but that is a whole other article. However, all Christians and especially Catholics in this world, primarily in Western Europe and North America are facing a different kind of persecution because of our faith. A persecution based, ironically enough, on freedom.
Freedom is defined as “the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action.” In other words, freedom is the ability to make our own choices and actions without being coerced or restricted, or forced. Much of the world has realized this freedom. And much of the world still yearns for it. Religious freedom and the opportunity to spread the Gospel were the primary reason the Pilgrims came to North America, and eventually the United States was founded upon.
But this freedom in the Western world has progressed to a culture of entitlement and that we have the right to say and do whatever we want, as long as it does not offend anyone. And I can tolerate your beliefs as long as you do not offend me. We are all entitled to our right to do whatever we want, regardless of the consequences, but we cannot speak out as Christians and preach Christ’s Gospel without the risk of someone being offended and getting downright hostile in return. While we in the Western world may not face physical harm on a daily basis because of our faith, the social, emotional and mental persecution we risk from publicly expressing our faith as become the primary barrier we as Christians face today, and why many turn from the church.
“Freedom”, as Saint Pope John Paul II said, “consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.” Too often in todays modern culture people do not want to do what they should do. Too often we don’t want to do the right thing, and people don’t want to hear about or see the right thing to do from others.
And this is serious. This persecution has become a silent killer in our faith, and it’s not just happening on some CNN news footage somewhere across the world, but it is occurring in our own communities, and yes, amongst our own friends and families. We as Christians, and especially Catholics, risk a lot of mocking and ridicule for professing our faith out in this world. So, while the Gospel today seems so distant from our own lives, it is so very similar. We run into the same level of persecution, even from those close to us, that Jesus’ disciples did. This is the test of our faith in today’s world. How do you respond to this test? Do you profess your faith proudly, maybe doing the sign of the cross and praying in a restaurant, or leaving those Ash Wednesday ashes on your forehead all day long? Do you try to teach and live the Gospel, even in times where you know you may offend someone, or cause dissension and angst even amongst those whom you love? Do you stand up for your faith when questioned? Jesus warned us of this test. How do you respond?
The good news is, we have nothing to worry about. Sure, there will be times of stress or turmoil in our lives due to what we believe and what others do not, but if we sincerely believe and trust in Christ, as He says in Luke’s reading, “…not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
We must persevere and stay the course in our faith, and Christ will present the solutions we need and the words we need to say, so that His message will be heard and His plan fulfilled. Until then, we stay strong in our faith; stick with the Church, and let God handle the rest.
