Surviving the Time of Great Distress

It has already been four weeks since we celebrated Easter, and a lot has happened. On Monday after Easter, we heard of Pope Francis’s death, and now we know that the Church will be led by his successor, Pope Leo XVI. There will be plenty of time to react to the new pontificate, but for now, we are asked to reflect on the first apostles and their actions after the resurrection.

The Acts of the Apostles are perhaps unique when we consider all that was written and testified about the resurrection in the New Testament. They are primarily historical accounts. Even the title of the writings conveys what the Apostles and others were doing post-resurrection.  

In contrast, the four Gospels offer theological insights and truths woven into Jesus’s historical and earthly life. For instance, this weekend’s Gospel from John reports Jesus saying, “The Father and I are one.”  John offers his readers a lesson in Christology, which means the theological implications of Jesus as the Son of God.  One of our core beliefs is that Jesus is indeed God himself.

John’s first mention of Christology, stipulating that Jesus is God, is fleshed out in his later Book of Revelation, which happens to be the second reading. Unlike historical accounts and theological statements, the Book of Revelation uses images and visions to illustrate the salvific relationship between God and his people. I, John, had a vision of a great multitude from every nation, race, people, and tongue.” In and through Jesus, the chosen people are no longer only from the people of Israel; all humanity is God’s people. This understanding is the basis on which Christianity spread throughout the world.

After the foundation has been laid, we are ready to return to the first reading from Acts. St. Paul and Barnabas entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and told the Jews to be faithful to God’s grace. The Jews were religious and had faith in God. In the early days after the resurrection, there wasn’t a separation between the Jews and those who believed in Jesus as the Christ. The two groups, the Jews and the Christians, were of one faith, believing in the same God. Notice, being of one faith doesn’t mean being of one mind. A week later, when large crowds gathered, Paul and Barnabas’ stunning statement, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.”

Here lies the tectonic shift in how salvation occurs; it no longer comes through the law or a specific group of people but is offered to everyone, Jew and Gentile alike, through Jesus alone. When Paul and Barnabas made their point, it was met with jealousy and violence. The Jews stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas. Many times, the Word of God is often met with opposition, the epitome being the crucifixion of Jesus.

The persecution of Christians continues 2000-plus years later. Unlike the popular televangelists who preach the ‘feel good” part of Christianity, it is simply a misunderstanding. A true believer filled with the Holy Spirit should know their life will be filled with pain and suffering. Not necessarily a winning slogan for attracting new converts, but an essential one. Alone, we can do nothing, but with God’s grace, we can survive the time of great distress.

Throughout the world, Christians are being persecuted physically for their belief in the Risen Christ. Over 365 million disciples live in fifty nations with the threat of physical persecution. One in seven Christians worldwide, including 1 in 5 in Africa, 2 in 5 in Asia, and 1 in 16 in Latin America. Even if we live in places where the physical persecution is not so prevalent, there is verbal abuse and ridicule. You might hear, “Your beliefs are nothing more than superstitious,” or unless you follow the secular gospel, you are somehow strange, weird, and foolish. Recall all of the pro-life supporters who were jailed in the previous administration for defending the rights of the unborn.

When we believe Jesus is our savior, we willingly take on his persecution and suffering. That is why St. Paul reminds us, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church.”

The vision of St. John informs Christ’s followers of what is to become of all of those chosen from every nation, race, and tongue. “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ‘For this reason, they stand before God’s throne and worship him day and night in his temple.’”

How privileged we would be to persevere through great distress and have our robes made white by the blood of the Lamb. There is no greater destiny.

Christ is Risen, Alleluia.