THE ORIGIN OF CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION

 MONDAY 17 July 2023

15th Week in Ordinary Time


First Reading. Exodus1: 8-14, 22

Psalm. 124: 1-8 (R. 8a)

Gospel. Matthew 10: 34-11: 1


TOPIC FOR REFLECTION


THE ORIGIN OF CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION IN REFERENCE TO THE ISRAELITES


Christianity is the offshoot of Judaism, and Jesus our master whose name and mark we bear is a Jew. Invariably, there is no complete history of Christianity without the story of the Israelites.


Therefore, in today's first reading from the book of Exodus, for the first time in history as recorded, a new king Pharaoh who never knew Joseph began to rule over Egypt. 

This new king became threatened by the overwhelming population of the sons and daughters of Israel, and he declared persecution against them.


I hope we all know that it is the same way the non-Christians feel threatened by the overwhelming population of Christians, and the more threats they feel, the more persecution they declare on followers of Christ. Yet, the more Christians are persecuted, the more their faith becomes stronger and the number increases.


Therefore, if the Israelites were persecuted in Egypt, Jesus who was a Jew, and an Israelite was also persecuted, then all followers of Jesus are also bound to face persecution of various degrees 


No wonder Jesus in today's Gospel stated categorically that He has not come to bring peace but war. Yes, he is right. 


The Israelites who were persecuted in Egypt, was it not their presence in Egypt that causes division among the Egyptians? Certainly, there would have been some Egyptians that would have married the Israelites, and had children for each other, became in-laws to one another.


Now that Pharaoh declared war against the Israelites, will there not be division among the families that had intermarried each other?


So, applying the same scenario in Egypt to our Christian society today, in a family where one or two are Christians among those who are of other faith and religion, don't you think that the one or two Christian persons living among non-Christians will suffer great persecution? 

In such a situation, one may be tempted to say that  Christ did not bring peace but suffering and persecution to His followers. 


However, Christ is a prince of peace, but those who feel threatened about His presence were the ones who declare war and precaution against Him and His followers. This now seems as if Christ is not a man of peace.


Yey despite all, Jesus encourages us that despite all these, we should carry our cross and follow Him steadfastly.

Jesus further said:  He who loses his life for my sake will find it. He who receives you received me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me. He who receives a prophet, because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.” 


In summary, despite persecution, we should never stop showing love to one another, at least for the sake of His name, Jesus.


Peace ✌️ be with you 


Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS.

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