With God's Help, May 5, 2025
Today's Readings - Ezekiel 34:1-10 Psalm 51:10-17 2 Corinthians 4.7–12 Matthew 7:1-6
On this day on the church calendar, we remember the Martyrs of the Reformation Era. This commemoration was first observed in the Roman Catholic Church. It began by commemorating the forty martyrs of England and Wales who were executed between 1535 and 1679 for their allegiance to the Catholic Church. In more recent times the Church of England (C of E) has recognized on this day the forty Catholic martyrs with the addition of those persons who were loyal to the C of E as well as all other Christians who were persecuted for their faith.
This commemoration requires us as Christians to do some pretty heavy introspective lifting. Those who have become known to us as martyrs were not persecuted and killed by pagans with no faith. They were executed by other Christians. People much like themselves who were followers of Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately, it didn’t end in 1679, nor is it likely it will ever end. I remember when I was in the tenth or eleventh grade learning that throughout history much harm has been orchestrated in the name of Christ. It was a hard reality to come to grips with at such a young age.
Over time Christians have come together in an effort to discuss this very topic. To begin to understand the dynamics of what happened. Their work addressed our need to help others heal, to help our own hearts to heal, and to acknowledge our own complicity.
History has a way of repeating itself. Not always in glaringly obvious ways but in subtle trends and shifts in cultural mores. Unwritten rules that often end up dictating what is considered acceptable human behavior or not. We no longer burn martyrs at the stake in the town square, but we do still judge and persecute others who do not follow the path in the same way we do.
I happen to be a huge fan of our baptismal liturgy. For many reasons but one reason is because it's a sacramental act that never ends. At our baptism we are made a member of the body of Christ but it’s not a “one and done.” Our baptismal covenant includes five questions that I believe are our "marching orders" as followers of Christ. The gist of it is we never quit learning or growing in our faith, we never quit striving for justice or ensuring all people are treated with respect, we never quit spreading the Good News or seeking to love everyone as we love ourselves. We do all of this with God's help, and when we fall into sin we repent and return to the Lord. We repent. We fail and then we turn back, again and again.
The martyrs lived their faith during a time when they knew their lives were on the line. Our's are too, just not in as dramatic a fashion. Their sacrifice can serve as a reminder of how important it is to be faithful to our baptismal covenant, to be faithful as if our life in Christ depends on it.
Faithfully,
Sally+
Reflection and Challenge - When was the last time you revisited your baptismal covenant? Take time to read the vows we made, How can you live them in your daily life? What might change if you set a goal of intentionally incorporating these vows every day?