Looking beyond persecution

I have a problem with the idea that we are being persecuted as Christians. It is not that it is not true as a reality; but the problem is that this idea may lead down the wrong path.

It is important to know that not all Christian ideas will be accepted in the world. If the Holy Spirit is opposed to the world, and the Holy Spirit dwells in us, then we will surely oppose the world around us at some point. However, insisting on the fact that we are being persecuted can make us dwell on this persecution. This dwelling instils fear in our hearts about who we are. In turn, we become defensive before the stone is thrown, locking ourselves into attitudes of victimization, isolation and pride, and ultimately closing ourselves to the world.

Is not our call to be in the world to help the world, to love one another? Sure, Christians are being persecuted; but what is the greater persecution? What do we have to complain about if we are already justified in Christ because we believe in Him? Is not the greater persecution lived by those who do not believe in Him? If this is the case, then we should get busy looking out for the beginning, nurturing and protection of others’ faith, instead of reminding ourselves that we are persecuted. Our Lord declared, “Happy are the persecuted.” We are happy, because the persecution of the world has been rendered nothing because of the salvation Jesus Christ has won for us. We don’t even have to consider persecutions when we choose how we will act with others. It is not about us; it is about God’s higher plan through us. We are only His instruments, and we want to make ourselves available to Him at all times.

I got a wake-up call about this today. I was on my way to attend a mass tonight to celebrate Corpus Christi, and one of my co-workers, who is a professed agnostic, insisted on accompanying me. Apprehending his “persecution”, I said that I would rather walk alone. He immediately knew that I was hiding an event with a religious connotation, and said, “Don’t worry Marie-Linda, I already know that you’re too religious, so nothing you can tell me now will change my mind about you”, followed by a hearty, kind laugh. He went on to ask me questions about the Eucharist and what it means to me. People are kinder and more open to the Spirit than we think. A “persecution” moment became a sharing and potentially evangelizing moment.

Let us look beyond persecution, beyond ourselves, to what God calls us to in the moment. That is truly all that matters; we will find ourselves in Him who Loves us all.