During this year's fortnight observance, two Sunday solemnities take place. It may seem as though the lectionary readings for the Solemnities of Corpus Christi and Sts. Peter and Paul don't share obvious themes. When one pays close attention, however, there are overt and subtle connections to the travails currently in front of American Catholics and, indeed, all people of good will. The word of God is calling us to remember His deeds and the responses of our forebears, precisely so that we can act as His chosen people and navigate these dire straits.
In the Gospel passage for the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul (this coming Sunday, June 29), the Prince of the Apostles issues a bold statement of faith in Christ, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Mt. 16:16). Jesus responds to this confession with a proclamation that transforms Simon's very existence: his name is changed to Peter (cf. Mt. 16:18). Perhaps, though, the most shocking revelation is yet to come. The Lord promises protection against "the gates of the netherworld" ("powers of death" in another translation) for this newly-established Church.
Realize what is happening in this exchange between Peter and the Messiah. Based on the confession of faith, Christ's followers will be pursued by the powers of death that wish to destroy them. Those who study the history of the early Church, or the history of the Church in twentieth-century Europe, realize just how close the gates of the netherworld have come to closing around the Church and preventing her future existence and mission. The same very well may happen to Christian disciples all over the world in the present day. To profess that Jesus is Lord, and that He is the Son of the Living God will certainly not be popular, and the powers of death and hell may confront us, too. The only way to secure our protection is to stand with the Church, who is staunchly defending religious freedom in the United States today.
To stand firm in the face of difficult opposition is not something new to God's people only after Christ came to earth. Moreover, it is not always something that comes from outside of us. In the first reading for the Solemnity of Corpus Christ (which we heard this past Sunday), God speaks through Moses to remind His people of why they experienced affliction. A simple reason was provided: Israel had become prideful and they forgot what the Lord had done for them (cf. Dt. 8:15). Thus, God allowed them to be afflicted by hunger and thirst in the desert, "so as to test you...and find out whether or not it was your intention to keep his commandments" (Dt. 8:2-3).
See, forgetfulness of God's place and our own lower place, which happens because of pride, inflicts tests and curses upon all of God's people. Since Christ's Ascension, it is the Church that speaks forth God's commandments. Let us listen to Her direction, never becoming arrogant and bringing tests and curses upon good people. Instead, let us stand for truth and goodness by proclaiming that contraception is evil; that marriage is a life-long covenant between one man and one woman; and that our performance of the works of mercy proceeds from our faith in Jesus Christ, not in some faceless bureaucracy or a political agenda.
St. Peter was one who sought only to proclaim truth (see Acts 5:27-29), and this is exactly why he found himself imprisoned. Which tale is recounted in the first reading at Mass this coming Sunday. King Herod executes one of the apostles, and then finds that the crowd is pleased when he takes Peter into custody for his apostolic preaching. Peter's freedom is won only by the grace of God and the fervent prayer of Christians, thereby averting evil intentions.
In our own day, this scenario resonates deeply. The branches of government, the secular media, and society-at-large all repress any effort to speak truth in the name of Christ. Bishops are persecuted and even assaulted; faithful Catholics are questioned and ridiculed for espousing the doctrine and moral precepts of the Church; companies face crushing fines for refusing to provide access to abortion-inducing drugs or accept a redefinition of marriage; and Catholic agencies that perform works of mercy are being forced to close their doors. Yes, the modern world seems much like King Herod, staunchly resolved to keep quiet and hidden the voice and light of Christ in the world.
The words that St. Paul writes to Timothy apply in this situation. This coming Sunday, the faithful will hear the Apostle to the Gentiles exhort his spiritual son, "The Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it" (2 Tm 4:17). In the face of many, many trials (even actual legal trials for "disturbances of the peace") and persecutions, it was Paul's relationship with Christ and the Church that sustained him. He even acknowledges that God's grace rescued him from the "lion's mouth" of evil threats and deeds; and which brought him homeward toward "his heavenly Kingdom" (2 Tm 4:17-18).
Catholic Christians, and anyone else who desires to protect freedom of religion in America today, must emulate St. Paul's attitudes and actions. Early in the same reading quoted above, the missionary writes that he is "already being poured out like a libation" (2 Tm 4:6). He recognizes that his efficacy in mission and ministry has happened, not by reserving his energies, but by expending his time and talent in the service of the Gospel. He reminds the reader that he has made a gift of self until the last days of his life. This is the only way that he can make the claim, "I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith" (2 Tm 4:7). Never forget that our Catholic faith beckons us to make a life-long self-gift to others who need and desire to encounter Christ. We will never be able to claim victory in the race of life, along with Paul, without the freedom to commit the works of mercy from a Christian foundation. So, we must fight, speak, and endure until such freedoms are secure.
The Responsorial Psalm for Peter and Paul's solemnity provides a fitting conclusion. "When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him," writes the Psalmist. "The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them," he continues (Ps. 34:7-8). Christians and non-Christians alike across the country are crying out for the Lord to send His angels to deliver us from the distress of violations of human liberty. Let us continue to pray that He will heed our prayers. Remember, however, that the only reason for God's deliverance is so that we might "bless the LORD at all times," "together extol his name," and "look to him that you may be radiant with joy" (Ps. 34:2,4,6). It seems clear that God will see fit to relieve us of this burden only if our hearts have been turned to Him, if we seek to praise Him with our whole being, and if we commit to serving our fellow man out of love for Him. Let us then take up the 2014 Fortnight for Freedom theme, "Freedom to Serve," by committing to bring God's love to others via acts of charity!
