Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter. Reflection by Rev. Fr Oselumhense Anetor (Uromi Diocese)
Acts 16:1-10; Ps.100:1-3,5; John 15:18-21
Today, Christians are being persecuted all over the world. In the middle East, the persecution of Christians is most fierce. Many Churches have been bombed. Priests and pastors of souls have been summarily executed. Ordinary women and children are killed at random; pregnant women shot in the stomach, and children shot in the limbs… Here in Nigeria, Boko Haram has continued threatening Christians and Muslims alike, and many have lost their lives to the insurgency. Even some of our Chibok and Dapchi girls are still missing. Leah is yet to return to us…
Sometimes this situation can be utterly paralysing. After all, nobody wants to die. But Jesus wasn’t spared himself. How then do we think we would? The world hates us because we bear His name. That’s our only ‘crime’. What then must we do? We cannot be deterred. We cannot afford to be paralysed by fear. We must continue to seek out the ‘Macedonians’ of our world (cf. Acts.16:9-10); the blind, the lame, the confused, the political tyrants, the prostitutes, the morally depraved, the jihadists… Don’t worry. Jesus again assures us that they will keep our word because despite the persecution, they kept His (cf.Jn.15:20).
Prayer
Dearest Father, I thank You for the many times I have been insulted, oppressed and hated on account of Your name. May my passion for Your word never die. May I always continue to speak Your word with boldness, that all may come to know that there is no God but You, Amen.
Good morning dear; God bless your weekend.
Image credit @ Pixabay
Good Morning Fr.
Kevin.
You inspire a lot.
As I appreciate developed talents like yours when put to use early in life’s career.
I read your today’s message.
I like it, but I think if Christian hatred or persecutions go on in 21st century, apart from it being written/ predicted in the Holy Scriptures.
It is more because of Christians ego, politics and absence of Christian Pragmatism.
Active deficiency of Christian Love, which is even act of Christians disobedience to the Master who instructed:
‘Love one Another, that the world may know you are my disciples’.
We also fail in acts of Love, hindering Christians from being Light of the World.
Ordinary truth, Majority of Christians cannot say, even falsehood against fellow Christians.
Those in politics, ignore all Basic Christian Principles. Imagine the Unity, love and self preservation of Moslems, Secret Cult people. Christians and even their leaders, both deny, betray and abandon Christ’s directive.
We lack in Christian Pragmatism.
This perspective is insightful. I couldn’t agree less… Many thanks for your feedback