Forever United to God

Could you ever imagine a day when you were tortured ‘just because’ you preached and taught that Jesus Christ was God? Could you ever imagine dedicating your entire life to God, only to experience extreme humiliation at the end? We are so blessed in 21st Century America, as far as persecution is concerned, but we complain about how we are treated, nonetheless. If only we could remember what the martyr saints went through.

Today is the Feast of Saint Tryfon the Martyr. You can read briefly about his life here. We are blessed in our host parish to possess a relic of this unmercenary saint to serve as a reminder of his love for God and his fellow human beings. He died a horrific torturous death, all because he was helping others in the name of Christ. We should stive to be more like him.

Brethren, we know that everything works for good with those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies; who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8.28-39

Saint Paul’s words should not only remind us such dedicated saints as Tryfon, but also that we too have been united to Christ. We too have been justified. We too have been called. We too have been glorified. Sure, sometimes (maybe many times) we forget to live as such, but that does not mean that God has forgotten us. As Saint Paul said, “For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God.” NOTHING!

How can we not be inspired to endure whatever little ridicule we receive for being faithful Christians, when we have been united for ALL ETERNITY to God? If nothing can separate us, then we will forever be in His presence, as we have been since our baptism. We may not always live up to His standards, but He doesn’t let go. That faith is what helped Saint Tryfon endure his martyrdom, and it will be what inspires us to keep the faith today, “For if God is for us, who is against us?”