When Christians suffer persecutions and trials, we often say we're in spiritual warfare. We may even claim to be suffering redemptively, and many times this is the case. Nevertheless, Christians don't always suffer for being Christians (see 1 Pt 4:15-16). Sometimes we Christians suffer for not being Christians. In that case, our suffering is not spiritual warfare, for we, not evil spirits, are "our own worst enemies." Then we are not suffering redemptively, but justly. We are getting the wages of our sins (see Rm 6:23). We are being punished now to wake us up to our sinfulness so that we will not have to be punished on Judgment Day.
However, we don't learn from being punished if we wrongly portray ourselves as innocent martyrs valiantly fighting the evil one and heroically suffering for righteousness' sake (see Mt 5:10). One of Satan's frequent tactics is to tempt a person to focus on him rather than on their own need for repentance. Thank God for martyrs, but not every suffering Christian is one. Many suffering Christians are downright obnoxious or, even worse, sinful. If we would face this, then we could repent of our sins and be true martyrs, that is, witnesses.
Ask Mary to lay bare the thoughts of many hearts, including your own (Lk 2:35). Then you will see your sufferings realistically and answer God's call to repent.
| PRAYER: | Father, may I take the plank out of my eye so as to see clearly enough to remove the specks from others' eyes (Mt 7:5). |
| PROMISE: | "We pray for you always that our God may make you worthy of His call and fulfill by His power every honest intention and work of faith." –2 Thes 1:11 |
| PRAISE: | As prefigured in the Old Testament, the Queen Mother reigns with her Son, the King. "Many are the women of proven worth, but you have excelled them all" (Prv 31:29). |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College