“Trouble ahead”

By Rev. Michael Stonhouse

Meditation – Monday, December 26, 2022

Matthew 23:34-39 (Forward, p. 58) CEV p. 1014

Noted critic and Christian apologist G.K. Chesterton also wrote a much- acclaimed series of mystery novels, starring a fictitious Roman Catholic cleric, Father Brown. Once, when asked how he managed to solve even the most intractable cases, this priest remarked, ‘It’s easy, because I myself did this deed.’ What he meant by this was that he put himself into the mind and thinking of the culprit, surmising thereby that the motives and thinking behind dastardly deeds are common to all of us—including himself.

Given this idea, then, I have to ask myself questions about the mounting and continuing persecution that Jesus refers to in today’s passage. There He predicts that Christians will continue to be persecuted, harassed and put to death over and over again over the ages. So, why, must I ask—here using Father Brown’s logic—are these people inclined to such horrendous actions.

Here—searching my own heart and actions—I can only conclude that they feel threatened, that they fear losing something that is near and dear to them. Look at the January 6 insurrectionists: they felt that their place of privilege and power in the United States were being threatened. Or our Ottawa Freedom Convoy: they felt that their rights and freedoms were being eroded. Or look at Russian President Putin and his invasion of Ukraine: he fears losing something of the glory of Mother Russia and a territory he feels is rightfully part of it, plus, of course, a loss of power and influence within his country.

Those who have oppressed Christians have often been similar. The Sadducees feared their loss of power and their life of ease and privilege; and the Pharisees their popularity and their hold on the common people. And when Christians have oppressed their own fellow members, especially dissidents within their flock, they too have often been motivated by felt sense of threat and the fear of the loss of something precious to them.

So, for me at least, this raises a question—or series of questions. Do I (or we) ever harbour a similar sense of threat or of fear? And if so, how do we react to it? Do we lash out at others, perhaps not in deed, but certainly in word and thinking? (To be honest, I often find myself verging on this when

I come across those who have differing opinions about covid and covid mandates and restrictions. I may not err in hurting them physically or even in maligning them verbally, but I tend to avoid them and threat them less charitably, and my thoughts towards them are anything but loveable.). So, to use Chesterton and Father Brown’s presupposition, I need to look to myself for the roots of at least some of the problems in our world. And, fortunately, with God’s help and direction, I can become part of the solution, rather remaining part of the problem. Amen.

Forward notes: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (verse 37)

Commemoration: Saint Stephen, Deacon & Martyr

“We first meet Stephen in the Book of Acts, where he preaches to all—including the Gentiles—the good news of Christ. This preaching causes a crowd to rise up and bring him before the great council of the rulers. His fate is being stoned to death.

“The church of my youth called a new priest at the height of the Vietnam War, a time, like now, when the country was torn apart.

“The ‘new’ guy preached a gospel of social justice, and while he wasn’t stoned, members of the congregation dropped pennies instead of dollars into the brass collection basin. Those pennies might as well have been stones; each clink sounded like death.

“Jesus wants to gather those who want to wound others under his wings like a mother hen. All too often, we’re so sure we’re right, we’d rather sit out in the cold.”

Moving Forward: “What do you know about Saint Stephen, the first martyr of the church? What lessons can you learn from his life and death?”