St. Anthony the Abbot Catholic Church

Cardinal Joseph Van Thuan [twahn], the Vietnamese cardinal who spent thirteen years in prison under the Communists, used to say that this is one of the ever present signs of the true Church. He used to say that the true Church founded by Christ is one, holy, catholic, and persecuted. St. Paul also understood this. One of his most famous passages is from his Letter to the Ephesians, Chapter 6: "For it is not against human enemies that we have to struggle, but against the Sovereignties and the Powers who originate the darkness in this world, the spiritual army of evil."   The history of the Church proves that this battle is real, not just symbolic, starting with the Apostles themselves.

Every one of Jesus' first Apostles died a martyr's death - except St. John the Evangelist, who miraculously survived being boiled in oil.

   Peter was crucified upside down in Rome.

   James the Greater was beheaded in Jerusalem.

   Andrew was crucified on a cross in the shape of an X.

   Bartholomew was skinned alive and crucified in Armenia.

   Philip was stoned and then crucified in Turkey.

   Thomas was speared to death in India.

   James the Lesser was hurled from the city walls of Jerusalem and beaten to death with stones and clubs.

   Jude was shot to death by arrows, in Persia, while tied to a cross.

   Matthew was burned to death in Afghanistan.

   Simon the Zealot was sawed to pieces in the Kingdom of Georgia.

These are our older brothers in the faith. They teach us that being a Christian is demanding; it takes courage; it stirs up opposition. They followed in Christ's footsteps, and blazed the trail for us to do the same.

Jesus wants us to know that following Him is demanding. But He is no pessimist. In today's Gospel passage, He tells His Apostles three times - three times in just seven verses - not to be afraid: These are not idle words of comfort; they are God's words.

As long as we stay united to Him, grounded in His friendship, we are assured of meaning, purpose, and everlasting joy - no matter how hard our pilgrimage through time may get. St Paul understood this well. As he said in today's Second Reading, even though sin, evil, and suffering weigh upon us all, Christ's grace is infinitely more powerful: "For if by the transgression of the one the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflow for the many."  Jeremiah understood it well, too. In today's First Reading, after listing his horrible sufferings, he shouts out a cheer of confidence in God: "But the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph."

The Lord is our champion too. He proved it first when He rose from the dead. He has proven it thousands of times since, in the lives of the saints - those who have been faithful to His friendship. And He proves it every day right here on the altar, in the sacrifice of the Eucharist. Jesus will never abandon us. He wants to be our strength as we fight each day to be faithful soldiers of His Kingdom.

Today, let's promise Him that this week, whenever we feel the cold breath of fear behind us, we will call out to Him in prayer, giving Him the chance to show His stuff.