The Journey
What do you want out of this life?
Ignatius, the second Bishop of Antioch in Syria summed up his desire this way.
I am God's wheat, ground fine by the lion's teeth to be made purest bread for Christ. No early pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way... My desire is to belong to God. Do not, then, hand me back to the world. Do not try to tempt me with material things. Let me attain pure light. - Ignatius
Ignatius was being taken to Rome to be murdered in the arena at the order of Emperor Trajan who wanted to make a spectacle of him, hoping it would cause the Christians to give up their foolishness and become good citizens.
It didn't work.
Instead, Ignatius wrote letters and spoke to many on his journey to death, inspiring them to stay the course, to continue to offer their lives, as he did, to Christ.
The idea that the threat of death can turn people from their faith didn't work then and it doesn't work today, even though we may think people aren't as committed to their faith as they were in the early days of the Church.
Nothing solidifies one's faith as much as being persecuted for it.
Those of us who go about our lives with no desire to change anyone, feeling no need to impress upon others what we believe, find it hard to understand why some feel compelled to take up that ministry or commission as if it is God's intent for us.
Perhaps it is. But if it is our job to show others what it is like to live knowing the love of God through the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, how do we do that? Do we force others to listen? Do we torture them into submission?
I don't think so. That would defeat the purpose. God wants us to come to him of our own free will. So, why would he send us out into the world to threaten others?
While we ponder that, we need to pray that our journey doesn't take us there. We also need to pray for those who feel compelled to go there. There are threats all around us, people who want to convert us to their beliefs, to save us from ours.
God help us and them.
More to come...