Courage or betrayal

Matthew 10 : 24 - 33

....do not be afraid of them....don't be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows

Fear seems to be one of the greatest hindrances to our faith. And it is one that does not easily go away with time. In fact, often, new fears crop up as time goes by, replacing our earlier fears. Throughout Scripture, God seems to know that his frail human creatures will often fear. So he recurrently tells people, in all sorts of circumstances, "Do not fear". Here Jesus warns of false accusations and of persecution, even martyrdom. Jesus gives three reasons why his disciples should not fear: the truth about himself will be made known, their eternal destiny matters more than physical security and lastly, God has absolute sovereign charge.

In our time in this country, we have yet to face severe testing of our faith. One of the books I read last year was "Silence" by Shusaku Endo, a Japanese Catholic novelist. This book is a historical novel, in that it is set amidst many events that did in fact happen in seventeenth century Japan, when Christians were persecuted for their faith. Although many believers stayed firm to the end, just as many apostatized when put to severe torture. A number of priests on mission to Japan were arrested and tortured and a number recanted. As a sign, all apostates were asked to step on a 'fumie', a copper plaque on which was etched the face of Christ, crowned with thorns.

"The priest raises his foot. In it he feels a dull, heavy pain. This is no mere formality. He will now trample on what he has considered the most beautiful thing in his life, on what he has believed most pure, on what is filled with the ideals and the dreams of man. How his foot aches! And then the Christ in bronze speaks to the priest: 'Trample! Trample! I more than anyone know of the pain in your foot. Trample! It was to be trampled on by men that I was born into this world. It was to share men's pain that I carried my cross". The priest placed his foot on the fumie. Dawn broke. And far in the distance the cock crew.

We can never know how we would actually respond until faced with similar circumstances. At such times, we would need to remember our Lord's voice that says, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul". All the same, there are times we too may weaken when forced right to the edge. Is it possible then that in our terrible anguish we too may hear our Lord's merciful voice? Through it all, can we trust that he will not test us beyond our power to remain firm..and that he will give us the strength to endure it, and provide us with a way out?