The Company of Saints

We all need a little help from time to time- more courage, less confusion and fear- stronger faith. The good news is that when it comes to needing help, we’re not alone- in fact, we’re in good company- the company of saints. Consider this: the Disciple Peter, one of Jesus’s closest companions, was so scared at the time of Jesus’s arrest, that he denied even knowing his friend. Thomas, another of the 12 Apostles, famously doubted that Jesus rose from the dead, when he heard the news, and defiantly declared that he wouldn’t believe it until he could see it for himself. Eventually he does. And Mark, the author of the Gospel that bears his name, is believed to be the Disciple who was so afraid, at the time of the arrest, that he ran right out his tunic as he fled the scene.

I think it’s safe to say that these pillars of the Christian church, handpicked by Jesus to witness his life and ministry, were not inherently courageous. Their faith in Jesus lasted only until Rome flexed its muscles- even after witnessing numerous miracles, healings, the feeding of a multitude with a handful of loaves and fishes- the raising of Lazarus from the dead. But their failure of faith is not the end of the story. Shortly thereafter, these three traveled the known world spreading the Good News about Jesus, in defiance of persistent persecution by Rome and under the constant threat of imprisonment, torture and death. All three preached the Jesus story courageously until they were martyred. Mark was dragged to death in the streets of Alexandria, Egypt. Thomas was martyred preaching the Gospel thousands of miles away in India.

Peter, who at the time of the arrest hid in shame from a slave girl’s inquiry, preached powerfully throughout the lands before choosing to be crucified upside down in Rome, tradition holds, because he felt unworthy to be put to death in the same manner as Jesus. Peter, the Rock upon which the Church is built, and regarded as its first Pope, is believed to have been crucified in the same square in Rome where St. Peter's Basilica stands today and where 250,000 of the faithful received Holy Communion at the funeral of Pope Francis. Millions more followed the ceremony via media. When Peter declared his love for Jesus, shortly before the arrest, Jesus told him, in John 21: “If you love me, feed my sheep.” And so, he did.

Paul, who is responsible for authoring more individual documents in the Bible than anyone, whose teaching is the foundation of much of Christian theology and practice today, met Jesus, not in person, but in a vision on the road to Damascus. That encounter transformed Paul from a blood-thirsty arm of the Roman Empire, pursuing and persecuting early Christians, to being the new faith’s number one evangelist. He is said to have traveled over 10,000 miles, mostly on foot, to share the Jesus story. He too was under constant threat of imprisonment and death. Paul was eventually martyred, beheaded in Rome, it is believed.

What transformed these men from lambs to lions? Well, they witnessed the Resurrected Christ, for one, and they had the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. The same as we do.

This is from Acts 1, after Jesus had risen: “After his suffering, he presented himself to them (the Apostles) and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Then they gathered around him and asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’”

Seeing the risen Christ, and through the gift of the Holy Spirit, these Apostles transformed from ordinary men into fearless warriors. One of my favorite sayings of Jesus is perhaps His simplest- more of an invitation than a directive. Upon meeting a handful of lowly fishermen, very early in his ministry, plying their trade by the Sea of Galilee and with Peter among them, Jesus says, simply: “Come and see.” And so, they did. They witnessed something that transformed their lives and the world. The very good news for us is that we are extended the same invitation and the same help from the Holy Spirit today. Until next time, stay safe, be brave and keep walking in the light. The song pairing is “Feed My Sheep.”

Feed My Sheep
Do you love me, Jesus said?
Yes Lord you know it’s true.
Do you love me, Jesus said?
Yes Lord, we’ll follow you.

Well if you love me, feed my sheep
If you love me, tend my lambs
If you love walk with me
do my work in all the lands
If you love me, feed my sheep
If you love me, tend my lambs