Practice Endurance

Do you have what it takes to be a Christian in the 21^st Century? Every news report seems to include stories about moral struggles that are at odds with our Christian way of thinking. It seems like we are quickly returning to a time when the Church will be considered the enemy rather than sin. It won’t be the first time, but are you ready?

Today is the feast of Saint Eustathios the Great Martyr and he had what was needed. He endured until the very end, even being a vessel of God’s miracles. Still, those watching did not believe and he was eventually killed for his faith.

I don’t bring these stories up lightly. In fact, some stories seem so ‘out there’ you wonder if they are true. You wonder if these stories are just meant to scare us into submission. History reveals that such stories as what happened to Saint Eustathios were true. How did he endure the torture?

The Lord said to his disciples, “Beware of men who will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be a time for you to bear testimony. Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.”

Luke 21:12-19

There’s no escaping what will come for us as Christians. Either we will be tortured like the ancients, or we will be bankrupted by social outrage. God will be with us as He has always been. He will comfort us. He will honor us. Saint Eustathios was spared the bull, but was still eventually killed.

God does not play chess with human lives. He has given every human being free will, and some use that free will to destroy. Others use their free will to honor God. As Christians we are called to use it to honor God, but that cannot stop other from using it to tempt us and even harm us.

At that time Jesus returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit for forty days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing in those days; and when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command the stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’ ” And the devil took him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory; for it has been delivered to me, and I will give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it shall all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ” And he took him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here; for it is written, ‘He will give his angels charge of you, to guard you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report concerning him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

Luke 4.1-15

Christ was tempted. The saints were tempted. We are and will be tempted. We each must endure to be saved. If you are not sure you will have the power to endure, then embrace the life of the Church as practice. Learn to fast. Learn to pray. Learn to give up your will for God’s will. If you want to learn endurance, practice endurance.