Why does it sadden and pain us if someone hurls allegations that we know deep in our hearts to be untrue? Do these false accusations diminish our self-worth and impair our ability to respond to God's call? Do these unfounded imputations separate us from the love of God and make us unworthy to be called his children?
Thomas Merton said that "anxiety is the mark of spiritual insecurity." Human that we are, we are too prone to accept what is easy and conforming. We want everyone to love us and speak well of us. But the Christian pilgrimage on earth demands more than this. Living the Christian faith goes beyond the ordinary and aspires for union with God that is spiritual and supernatural. Clearly, martyrdom loses its special redemptive value if it is simply an ordinary and quite expected act.
The beatitude "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matthew 5:10-12)" should provide guidance and inspiration to your apostolate.
Be steadfast in your
faith. Be resolute in your actions. Be caring in your stewardship. Be mindful
of the fact that, in the end, it will be you and you alone who will be
accountable to God when you come face-to-face with him.
While words evoke emotions, their power is only fleeting. In time, words and the feelings they elicit will fade, and become consigned to oblivion. It is deeds and actions that create and sustain. We still cherish the philosophies of the past because we see their applications at present. The Gospel of Love and Salvation still rings so loudly because of the selfless, compassionate and largely unrecognized acts of kindness that we see everyday.
Christ enjoins us to love one another, more so our enemies. Even though our love may be rebuffed and misconstrued, we must love unceasingly and without reservation or condition. Christ died for all of us – righteous and sinners alike. Pray to the Holy Spirit that he may enlighten those that transgress us, hoping that in God's own time we will all joyously come to the banquet table with open hearts and with hands clasped in brotherhood.