Christ never backed down from the suffering that was foretold in the Scriptures concerning Him. Christ's disciples were slow to accept the fact that their leader and master would suffer His passion, and Christ rebuked Peter for this. Christ knew that it was only through His suffering that He would save the world, therefore He remained quiet when He was apprehended and accused.
Christ allowed Himself to be beaten, spat upon, scourgred, insulted, tortured and crucified in order to work out our salvation. Today we remember Saint Lawrence who was a deacon of the Church at Rome. Saint Lawrence shed his blood for the sake of Christ. We too must imitate Christ if we truly love Him. Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in His steps.
The holy martyrs followed Christ even to the shedding of their own blood. We too can follow Christ even though we may not shed our blood for Him. Saint Paul says of Christ: "Though he was in the form of God He did not consider equality with God a prize to be clung to. But He emptied Himself, taking on the form of a slave, made in the likeness of men, and presenting Himself in human form." What humility!
Christ humbled Himself. We must do the same. Christ became obedient. How can we be proud?
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Jeffery A. Fasching
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