Loyalty and Betrayal
We all have that one person that we would go to the end of the earth for, until they betray us. Every relationship hangs on the verge of loyalty and betrayal, and the smallest issue can tilt the balance out of our favor. Today’s loyal companion is tomorrow’s enemy.
I say this today not in celebration but in caution. As sinful human beings, we each run the risk of being the betrayer or being betrayed. We may not like to admit it, but a brief reflection of our past relationships reveals the pain. Even family can suffer from betrayal.
Today the Church commemorates a great saint and martyr of our Church. Saint Longinos the Centurion was a Roman soldier charged with watching over the crucifixion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. He was loyal to Rome, but Rome was not loyal to him.
After witnessing the truth of God’s glory revealed in the Passion of Christ, Saint Longinos left the army and preached Christ. He was rewarded by Rome with torture and eventually beheaded. The only One loyal to him was God.
Still, knowing we that our friends, family and coworkers will eventually betray us, we must be committed to reconciliation over revenge. Again, consider the story of Saint Longinos. He was against Christ until he was reconciled with Him.
If today’s loyal companion is tomorrow’s enemy, the reverse must also be true. Today’s enemy is tomorrow’s loyal companion. Saint Paul became the greatest defender of Christ, despite his past hatred and killing. If Saint Longinos and Saint Paul can be reconciled, so can we.
Reconciliation begins with love for God and for each other. I invite you today to compile a list of those whom you have betrayed and those who have betrayed you. No matter how trivial the matter between you is, today is the day you must begin to pray for them.
You don’t need to list issues and dates, just the names of those who you must be reconciled with. As part of your daily prayers, include each person in your prayers for love, forgiveness and reconciliation.
Until you are able to pray for them with love, you will never be reconciled to them. Until you are able to forgive them, you will never be reconciled to God. There’s no way around it. Your commitment to reconciliation reveals you loyalty to God, and He will never betray you.
Tags: forgiveness, love, loyalty, relationships
Everyday I read the headlines of people suffering all over the world, particularly in war torn regions. Stories of people enslaved, help captive, tortured, living under occupation, intentionally starved, denied basic medical care or whatever the case may be. In the evening when I reread passages in The Bible and when I learn of how Saint Longinos left the army and preached Christ, and eventually rewarded by Rome with torture and later beheaded. The only One loyal to him was God. Wow, how powerful that story is! How in our darkest moments, yes, we may turn to God for everything. Even the strength to breathe. I am consistently reminded how there is not one single story in the Bible or story of a saint’s life that is outdated or doesn’t reflect what we see in the world around us today. I’m again reminded how out of touch I can be living in Shady Hills, Florida with what others are suffering from around the world- like the components of this mobile device for example as I type these words from, I wonder was their an exploited human being in the Congo who was enslaved to obtain the minerals used for the battery and components in something I’m holding in my hand? How tragic because every human life matters to God. I’m so relieved knowing that a nation’s identity (nationality), doesn’t define me when it comes to Christ loving me and the mercy He has for me, knowing that myself and others living everywhere have the ability to live a new life in Christ. May God continue to be merciful to all those suffering who feel they have no voice.