Persecution

Contemplate the Lord Jesus, Mocked on the Cross:

1. How they wrote this epithet above His head: King of the Jews;
2. How those passing by scorned Him, shaking their heads and reviling Him;
3. How even the thief on the cross reviled Him;
4. How through the centuries the persecutors of Christians have scorned Him.

Contemplation for 18 March from The Prologue of Ohrid by St Nikolai Velimirovic (© 2002 Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Western America)
St Nikolai, Pray to God for us!

To day is the repose of St Nikolai, the author of these questions or contemplations. A number of things about his life impress me - including not the least his editing/writing of the "Prologue", a compendium of the lives of the saints, for every day of the year. But the thing that always moves me is his time in a Nazi concentration camp.

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Remember now. A Nazi concentration camp. And reread the questions.

St Nikolai lived, first person, the persecution of the Faithful in the modern age. He reposed in 1956, so he never had to experience the inanities of the Postmodern age, but as Christians experience persecution for their morals, for their teaching, for their faith, and yet for those acts against him, just like Our Lord in the same situation, St Nikolai counseled forgiveness.

In this day when persecution takes more subtle forms than an concentration camp - when persecution of the faithful can come even from within communities that consider themselves "christian" (think of the persecution caused by so-called leaders who deny the doctrines and morality of the faith; think of the cruelty of heresy) - what or how are we to live out our lives in the Faith of Christ when even those who would claim to be our brothers in the faith are scorning Christ "in front of the camera"?

Christ suffered at the hands of those who mocked Him as "king", as He still does today. Christ suffered at the hands of those who denied His kingship of them, as He still does today. Christ suffered at the hands of those who judged Him, as He still does today. It's easy for all of us to see this. He forgave this. It easy for all of us to see this.

Christ also suffered at the hands of those who refused to defend Him, as He still does today.

Thankfully Christ forgives this as well.

Golden-mouthed preacher of the Resurrected Christ,
Guide of the cross-bearing Serbian people through the ages,
Resonant lyre of the Holy Spirit,
Pride and love of monastics,
Joy and glory of priests,
Teacher of repentance,
Bishop of the whole nation,
Leader of the God-praying army of Christ,
O Holy Nikolai of Serbia and all Orthodoxy;
With all the saints in Heavenly Serbia,
Pray the Only Lover of mankind
To grant peace and unity to our people.