Persevere Like the Early Christians

The Fruits of Redemption

During this glorious Easter season, it is important to ponder the fruits of the Redemption, which often escape the eye. What became of the many who crossed paths with Jesus and came to understand the meaning of the events they participated in, either as followers or as those who brought about His death?  Some witnessed His works from a distance but knew the truth was at hand. Even those guilty of the atrocities inflicted upon Him were among the first recipients of the great gift of redemption. This was a message preached during the years of His ministry: His mercy is beyond description to those who seek it through repentance.

The early Church was made up of Jews who accepted that this was the fulfillment of the Word entrusted to them as well as gentiles and pagans who accepted that Christ was calling them too. Forgiveness of sin and amendment of life are the essence of the Christian message. How many of those present at the Sermon on the Mount had their lives changed forever?

Malchus, the servant soldier whose ear was cut off in an attack by St. Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane, witnessed not only the miraculous restoration of his ear but must have understood the admonishing words of Christ to Peter: “Those who live by the sword die by the sword.” There are accounts that Our Lord appeared to Malchus after the Resurrection. 

The story of St. Longinus, the Roman centurion who thrust the lance into the side of Christ on the cross, is part of Church history. Converted when the Precious Blood fell upon his face and healed his eyes, he proclaimed, “Indeed this was the Son of God.” Converting to the Faith, he left the military and became a martyr for the Faith. Seven centuries later, his hometown on the Italian peninsula Anxanum, renamed Lanciano, or “The Lance” in English, became the home of one of the most famous Eucharistic miracles. Once again, the Precious Blood brought a priest suffering doubt about the Real Presence back to belief. No coincidence there.

St. Dismas comes to mind when we think of a deathbed conversion. Acknowledging his guilt and unworthiness, he sought forgiveness and was assured that he would indeed be the recipient of mercy. “This day you will be with me in paradise.” Judas, the betrayer, also had this mercy available to him but chose despair and took his own life. 

A Humble Openness to the Lord

The religious establishment rejected Our Lord and His message. Their pride would not allow them to see that the fulfillment of the Word was at hand. But many others, through a humble openness, saw with clarity that we had entered the New Covenant. This was not a rejection of the old but a fulfillment of it. Like the men on the road to Emmaus, whose hearts burned when He spoke, their eyes were opened in the breaking of the bread.

The darkness of disbelief rules the world today just as it did in those days following Easter Sunday. The light of faith, however, shines brighter and those willing to open their hearts then and now are the beneficiaries. The scriptures speak of the many manifestations of the Risen Christ but also of many other things not documented. These many things are in fact the conversions not spoken of, or only given a short mention. The lives of each of these converts differed greatly. The common thing that they shared was the gift of faith and a desire to be part of this great reality. In the hearts of the just, both then and now, there is a natural attraction to the truth. 

The Faith grew and spread throughout the world as the teachings of the disciples entered people’s hearts not just their minds. Drawing in disciples from all ages and walks of life, the Church formed around many cultures with the foundation placed by Christ. Those who looked to destroy it before it could take root were on a path of failure. Today the enemies of the Church also need to realize that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

During these past days we participated in several wakes and funerals. These were a two-and-a-half-year-old child of a close relative and Godchild, a friend in his early 60s, a cousin in his 70s and a neighbor in his 90s. This reinforces how we all are called even though our lives vary greatly.  In your charity, please remember them in your prayers, especially the parents and sister of young Jane, who grieve for the loss of a child while understanding that God has a bigger plan than we see. The children of Fatima were called to give witness to the apparitions during the span of life given, Saints Francisco and Jacinta for only a few years and Ven. Sr. Lucia for 88 years. 

Those who came to the Faith in the early days saw the scandal of the crucifixion and how the establishment rejected His teachings. In these times when the institutions that we trusted and the adherents have not lived up to their call, it is a time to look to these early followers and view things through the eyes of simple faith. This is what our relationship with Almighty God is built on. The perseverance of Our Lady in these times is our sure model.

 God bless you and Mary keep you in her Immaculate Heart.

David M. Carollo is the Executive Director of the World Apostolate of Fatima USA/National Blue Army Shrine. He wrote this for his Voice of Fatima column.

If you would like to comment on this post, please contact him at [email protected].