"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
Who are you, sir?
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting."
(Acts 9:3-5)
Who are you, sir?
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting."
(Acts 9:3-5)
The Risen Lord Jesus clearly reveals that he is uniquely united to the suffering members of his body, the Church.
Given this painful fact, and given the Holy Father's call for a week focused on the plight of persecuted Christians, perhaps we should re-frame the three great Ignatian questions:
- What have I done for Christ, suffering with and in persecuted Christians today?
- What am I doing for Christ, suffering with and in persecuted Christians today?
- What will I do for Christ, suffering with and in persecuted Christians today?
O God of all the nations,
the One God who is and was and always will be,
in your providence you willed that your Church
be united to the suffering of your Son.
Look with mercy on your servants
who are persecuted for their faith in you.
Grant them perseverance and courage
to be worthy imitators of Christ.
Bring your wisdom upon leaders of nations
to work for peace among all peoples.
May your Spirit open conversion
for those who contradict your will,
that we may live in harmony.
Give us the grace to be united in truth and freedom,
and to always seek your will in our lives.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us!
the One God who is and was and always will be,
in your providence you willed that your Church
be united to the suffering of your Son.
Look with mercy on your servants
who are persecuted for their faith in you.
Grant them perseverance and courage
to be worthy imitators of Christ.
Bring your wisdom upon leaders of nations
to work for peace among all peoples.
May your Spirit open conversion
for those who contradict your will,
that we may live in harmony.
Give us the grace to be united in truth and freedom,
and to always seek your will in our lives.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us!
Offering our own daily inconveniences, or health concern,s or fears and worries could be another way to show solidarity in suffering. Giving alms for those who seemingly have nothing left to give would also have a tremendous ripple effect: www.ChristiansAtRisk.org.
Finally, consider checking out this link for the USCCB resource page and/or this link for the "week of awareness" resources from the Knights of Columbus.
After all, Jesus really wants us to take to heart this week of awareness--along with his Kingly reminder about what's really at stake:
"Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine,
you did for me."
you did for me."
(Mt 25:40)
Pax et Bonum,
DDS
