Christ is in our midst, my dear readers.
The Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Galatians, speaks of bearing the wounds of the Lord Jesus Christ on his body:
Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen (Gal. 6:11–18)
The Galatians were always arguing about the faith, often twisting the words of the Apostle. That is why Paul tells them that the greatest testimony to his apostleship is the suffering he endures for the sake of Christ.
Indeed, this is the only true measure of our love for God: How much are we willing to endure for Him? What humiliations, sufferings, and trials are we capable of bearing, both in body and soul, for the Savior?
Today, a different trend has emerged in the Christian world—a desire to twist the Gospel in such a way that one can call himself a Christian while living a life of comfort, avoiding any self-denial or suffering. It’s a Gospel that makes it unnecessary to endure any hardship, allowing one to enter paradise simply because he has chosen to call himself a Christian.
But it does not work that way, because in paradise, there is no one who has not been crucified.
When we delve into these words, we understand that the Savior continues His journey to the cross on this earth. When Christians are beaten, it is Christ who is beaten. When their churches are taken away, it is Christ who is cast out into the streets. When they are slandered and insulted, all these humiliations are borne by Christ Himself.
In this way, we become partakers in His sufferings and bear the wounds of Christ upon us as the highest reward that a person can receive on earth.
Therefore, we should not be dismayed by what is happening to our Mother Church today. God has not abandoned us; He has chosen us. If He allows us to suffer for Christ, it is a sign of His love for us and of His great mercy, which is not given to everyone.
Let us, therefore, thank the Lord for this and rejoice that He does not abandon us.
