Unbroken Circles: The Four Lepers
We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain
silent.
2 Kings 7:9
RECOMMENDED READING
2 Kings 7:3-10
The lepers in 2 Kings 7 were trapped between the Syrian army and the town
of
Samaria which was under siege and slowly starving. During the night, the
Lord
created a cacophony of sounds, like the onrush of a mighty army. Jolted
awake,
the Syrians fled in confusion, leaving their plunder behind.
When the lepers ambled into the Syrian camp, they were amazed to find it
deserted with all the food and treasures there for the taking. But while
ransacking the booty, a thought struck them: "We are not doing right. This
is a
day of good news, and we remain silent." Running to the city gates, they
shared
their message and told the good news - the enemy was defeated, food was
available, and the nightmare had ended in victory.
The lesson is hard to miss. In a desperate world, we have Good News! How
can
we
then remain silent? Today someone needs the Gospel that we've discovered
for
ourselves, and now is the time for sharing. Someone today is waiting to
see
or
hear Jesus through you.
<<>><<>><<>>
March 12th - St. Maximilian of Theveste, Martyr
(Also known as Maximilian of Tebessa)
Died 296. In the African churches of the late Roman Empire, it was not
uncommon
for liturgies to include readings from the acta and passios of martyrs.
The
one
often included for Saint Maximilian is the authentic record of his trial
in
Numidia (now Algeria) and execution for refusing to be conscripted into
the
Roman army. Maximilian resisted because he didn't want to be tainted by
the
idolatry of wearing the emperor's image around his neck. Maximilian also
refused because he was a pacifist, perhaps one of the earliest
conscientious
objectors. There has long been a debate within the Church concerning the
radical
pacifism advocated by Our Lord and the less stringent, but more practical,
position allowing self-defense and just war. Prior to the Edict of Milan
and
the
toleration of Christianity, Christians believed that bearing arms
contradicted
the Gospel. Tertullian, for example, prohibited military service. Saint
Hippolytus said that it was impossible to be a soldier and a catechumen-as
contradictory as being a prostitute and catechumen (at least part of his
reasoning dealt with the association of soldiers with pagan gods and
sacrifices). The Church moderated its position. The Council of Arles (314)
said
that soldiers who left the army during peacetime would be excommunicated.
About 295, the proconsul Dion went to Theveste to recruit soldiers for the
third
Augustan legion stationed there. At this time the Roman army was mainly
volunteers, but sons of veterans were obliged to serve. Maximilian, the
21-year-old son of the Roman army veteran Fabius Victor, was presented to
the
recruiting agent. The advocatus Pompeianus, seeing that Maximilian would
make an
excellent recruit, asked for him to be measured: he was 5'10" tall. The
ensuing
dialogue between the proconsul Dion and Maximilian has been preserved to
this
day.
When asked his name, Maximilian replied, "Why do you wish to know my name?
I
cannot serve because I am a Christian." Nevertheless, orders were given
for
him
to be given the military seal. He answered, "I cannot do it: I cannot be a
soldier." When told he must serve or die, he said, "You may cut off my
head,
but
I will not serve. My army is the army of God, and I cannot fight for this
world," it was pointed out to him that there were Christians serving as
bodyguards for the emperors Diocletian and Maximian. To this he replied,
"That
is their business. I am a Christian, too, and I cannot serve." Dion then
told
Victor to correct his son. Victor, who had become a Christian like his
son,
said, "He knows what he believes, and he won't change his mind."
Dion insisted, "Agree to serve and receive the military seal." "I already
have
the seal of Christ, my God . . . I will not accept the seal of this world;
if
you give it to me, I will break it for it is worthless. I cannot wear a
piece of
lead around my neck after I have received the saving sign of Jesus Christ,
my
Lord, the son of the living God. You do not know Him; yet He suffered for
our
salvation: God delivered Him up for our sins. He is the one whom all
Christians
serve; we follow Him as the Prince of Life and Author of Salvation."
Again Dion stated that there are other Christians who are soldiers.
Maximilian
answered, "They know what is best for them. I am a Christian and I cannot
do
what is wrong." Dion continued, "What wrong do those commit who serve in
the
army?" Maximilian answered, "You know very well what they do."
Threatened with death if he remained obstinate, Maximilian answered, "This
is
the greatest thing that I desire. Dispatch me quickly. Therein lies my
glory."
Then he added, "I shall not die. When I leave this earth, I shall live
with
Christ, my Lord." He was sentenced accordingly: "Whereas Maximilian has
disloyally refused the military oath, he is sentenced to die by the
sword."
Just before his execution, Maximilian encouraged his companions to
persevere
and
asked his father to give his new clothes to the executioner. We are told
that
Fabius Victor "went home happily, thanking God for having allowed him to
send
such a gift to heaven."
The place of Maximilian's death is given as Theveste (Tebessa) in Numidia,
but
it may have been nearer Carthage, where his body was taken for burial by a
devout woman named Pompeiana. It was buried close to the relics of Saint
Cyprian.
As a side note, in 295, Diocletian issued an edict linking pagan religious
practice to marriage and children. In 300, all soldiers were required to
sacrifice to the civic gods (Attwater, Benedictines, Bentley,
Encyclopedia,
Farmer, Husenbeth, Markus).
In art, St. Maximilian is a warrior with a banner that says In hoc vinces
(Roeder).
Saint Quote
Girded with a faith, and the performance of good works, let us follow in
Christ's path by the guidance of the Gospel; then we shall deserve to see
him
"who has called us into his kingdom." If we wish to attain a dwelling
place
in
his kingdom, we shall not reach it unless we hasten there by our good
deeds.
Just as there exists an evil fervor, a bitter spirit, which divides us
from
God
and leads us to hell, so there is a good fervor which sets us apart from
evil
inclinations and leads us toward God and eternal life. No one should
follow
what
he considers to be good for himself, but rather what seems good for
another.
Let
them put Christ before all else; and may he lead us all to everlasting
life.
-from the Rule of Saint Benedict
Bible Quote:
35. Let your loins be girt, and lamps burning in your hands. 36. And you
yourselves like to men who wait for their lord, when he shall return from
the
wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him
immediately.
37.
Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh, shall find
watching.
Amen I say to you, that he will gird himself, and make them sit down to
meat,
and passing will minister unto them. (Luke 12:35-37)
<><><><>
Prayer to St. Dymphna - Prudence
You were marked in life, St. Dymphna, by a high degree of
prudence. You sought and followed the advice of your
confessor and spiritual guide. You fled from temptation even
when it meant exile and poverty. In your last extremity you
chose to die rather than offend God. Please help us now by
your merits not only to know what is right, but procure for us
also the strength to do it. Amen.
|
