If I Was on Trial for Being a Christian, Would There Be Enough Evidence to Convict Me?

 

The Daily Office, the daily prayer of the Church, continues with the spread of the early Church as recounted in the Acts of the Apostles.  We pick up where we left off yesterday, with Stephen’s death:

 

That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.

 

Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured. So there was great joy in that city.

 

Now a certain man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great. All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, ‘This man is the power of God that is called Great.’ And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed. After being baptized, he stayed constantly with Philip and was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that took place.  (Acts 8: 1-13).

 

When it gets tough, what do we do?  St. Luke tells us that after Stephen, the first deacon and martyr was killed, Saul began to persecute the Christians with vehemence.  Saul and his henchmen entered house after house dragging believers away.  What would we do in such a situation?  Although in this country we are not put to the test in the same way as our Christian brothers and sisters are in Pakistan, parts of Africa or Egypt who pay for their faith with their lives, you and I are nevertheless called to be bold in our beliefs.  When it comes time to stand up and do the Christian thing, do I run away fearful of what others may think of me.  I would like to think that I would be bold, but if I take time to reflect, I am afraid that I would come up short.  Perhaps you do too.  When others are being uncharitable to someone who is different, someone who does not fit in, do I stand up for that person or am I content to silently skulk away?  Or to put it another way, if I was put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict me?  St. Luke tells us that even though they were scattered, the early Christians “went from place to place, proclaiming the word.”   Let us pray for grace to be able to do the same.

 

Let us pray:  Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our  being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by  your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our  life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550