4th Week of Lent Friday

Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22
The wicked said among themselves, thinking not aright: “Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, Reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the LORD. To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us, Because his life is not like that of others, and different are his ways. He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father. Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.” These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them, and they knew not the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls’ reward.

These words might as well be written today. For the time is near when the sons and daughters of God, Christians who follow the faith will be persecuted.

Almost 20 years ago, when I started my ordained ministry as preacher and deacon I would preach on this hypothetically. As we all did back then.

And there was even the catchy phrase, if you were accused of being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you.

But I no longer preach hypothetically this text. For Christians are dying and there is no shouting of outrage heard. Hundreds and hundreds of Christians are now murdered and the media sees no story there. Mass killing of babies in the womb are not even newsworthy.

In most of our lifetime I believe being a Christian will be a dangerous thing even in developed first world countries where we are already called bigots and many other names that have been twisted to fit the cause of evil. All activities and words and lives that are in conflict with those who choose evil deeds like abortion, infanticide, the perversion of truth and the abolishment of a person’s right to follow the ways of Christ…all in conflict will be banned and outlawed.

And so today the question is not if we are accused but when we are accused will there be a conviction. For many who call themselves Christian and Catholic the answer will be no. Many will not forsake life here on earth for eternal life. I know this sounds dramatic and many will think the deacon must be on meds. Which as I write this I am indeed on for radiation treatment.

But truth is truth. Right is right and wrong is wrong. Jesus has never changed and for those who believe he is Lord, we cannot turn away. To turn away in the test is to proclaim he is not God at all.

The church is about to get smaller. Many we know will leave with perfectly formed rational and many with not so perfectly formed reasons but the truth will be well formed faith was not there.

When we are young a parent holds our hand as we go into the world. As we cross the street. And as we face scary moments. As adults, a parent no longer holds our hand constantly but we are strong in our sense of self and what is right and wrong to make our way forward in life.

Faith is the same.

When we are young in faith we need his hand and to feel God near all the time. We need to be assured and guided. We need warm fuzzies and emotional stirrings.

But as our faith matures, as we become mature Christians we no longer will have his hand always holding ours. There will be nights when we wonder where he is, as many saints have written about themselves. It is then we need to be sure of our self as a Christian without doubts, and sure of our trusted Father in heaven who waits for us.

The time is near and the wicked see who is following Jesus Christ. They already know who follows truth. Who does not participate in evil acts. Who does not support their misguided ways. We all must be ready. We will be accused by others in this life or asked to present evidence to our faithfulness in the next.

Either in this life or when we face our Lord afterward. We must be faithful and live a life as a daughter or son of God.