When the empire determined that Christians were worthy of being scapegoats - we were "cannibals" due to rumors about the Holy Eucharist, we put Our Lord above Caesar, we had strange notions about morals, the family, monogamy, abortion, and the raising of our children - we underwent duly sanctioned persecution. For centuries.We went underground. We used signs and signals. We amazed the known world with our love for one another. For widows, orphans, and other "little ones" - the least, the last, the lost.
Apparently the empire and emperor once again are calling Christians to become witnesses (Gr. martyrs). I pray that we will be chivalrous, exhibiting the virtues of our forebears - prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance, faith, hope, and charity - never hating our persecutors, but praying daily for their conversion.
Be bold, receive the Eucharist, love, and keep your eyes on the "eschatological horizon" (Bailie). All manner of things shall be most well, as Julian of Norwich reminds us.
Our lives are a passing thing, but our ontological source is God. Surely we can trust ourselves and those we love to His tender care, now and always.
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