Amazing to think how Christianity became global when it started only as a cult of a young crucified son of a carpenter preaching about a Kingdom of God here on earth. It was the first Christian martyrs who sealed their commitment to the Kingdom with their blood. The Gospel writers themselves were not spared. Matthew was slain with a sword. Mark was dragged through the streets until he expired. Luke was hanged upon an olive tree. John was put into a cauldron with boiling oil though he miraculously escaped. Al the first apostles suffered a gruesome death pursuing a Kingdom of God that is to come. James, the greater was beheaded in Jerusalem. James the less, was thrown from a tower and beaten to death. Bartholemew was flayed alive. Andrew was bound to a cross where he preached until he died. Thomas was pierced with a lance. Jude was shot to death with arrows. Matthias was stoned and beheaded. Barnabas was stoned to death. St Paul was beheaded in Rome.
Even now we dream of a new world and a better world of peace and prosperity and ironically the list of present day martyrs continue on. Here in the Philippines the list continues on to this day. Rev. Edison Lapuz, a happy man who stood for the oppressed farmers in their province was shot in front of his family. Rev. William Tadena who gave relief goods to ailing sugar workers fighting for just wages was hailed with bullets. Joel Baclao who stood against large scale mining lost half of his face. Pastor Andy Pawikan was abducted, tortured and killed. Pastor Raul Domingo, an ardent human rights activist was murdered. Pepe Manegdeg, a layman who stood against corporate mining was riddled with bullets. Romy Sanchez and Albert Teredano, both working for the poor were shot dead on the spot. Marcus Bangit worked for the indigenous peoples was blasted. Dr. Chandou Claver who served the poor was ambushed where his wife was killed in front of their child. Oh it grieves me as the numbers increase by the day.
At first we all react: “What nameless terror!” But looking back at the shining examples of their lives dedicated to service, we say “What astounding beauty?” Their deaths were not a triumph of darkness but mighty explosions of light that guide the way of our pilgrimage to freedom. And no matter what the world would say that they were such fools for the cause of the Kingdom, the Foolishness of God is still wiser than the wisdom of men. And in the end, ours hearts are thankful and filled to the brim with gratitude for the gift of their lives in honor of the Kingdom.
Morris West, in his book, The Shoes of the Fisherman” quotes:
It costs so much to be a full human being
That there are very few who have the enlightenment or courage to pay the price…
One must abandon altogether the search for security and reach out to the cost of living with both arms.
One must embrace the world like a lover, and yet demand no easy return of love.
One must court doubt and darkness as a cost of knowing.
One must be stubborn in conflict but apt always to the total acceptance of every consequence of living and dying.
Remember, in accepting the mission that God wants us to do, it is not in our power to control death…it is inescapable…the only sure thing that will happen to all of us. It is not in our power to add years to our life but it is in our power to add life to our years. Life is not measured by the length of your years but by the gift you have made of ourselves for others.
Remember—that Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away. And the most Breathtaking event of all, is Love.
Having Love, we can now go to our personal missions and baptize men and women of every tongue and nation in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, remembering that the Lord is with us till the culmination of time…In the end, it is our love that will show all men that we are Christ’s disciples.
We dream and never stop dreaming with joy and exhilaration as we anticipate the coming of the glory and the power of the Kingdom, a New World…
