The Christian story is the story of undying selfless love, the love of a Father who sacrificed his only Son for his beloved, and the love of a Man who courageously laid down his life for his friends. Christianity is thus a dynamic way of life that feeds on the flames of love. Without the continued blazing of this fire of love, Christianity loses its force and identity.
Love itself feeds on sacrifice. Without sacrifice, the flames of love peters away. Essentially, love is martyrdom. Thus can one understand the martyrdom of Paul Miki and his 25 companions, who died by crucifixion and lancing on 5 February 1597 in Japan. Though the sight of these 26 courageous servants of God, hanging on the cross, like their Lord, was horrifying and intimidates Christian witnessing, it shows the extent love could go to express itself through sacrifice. They loved God. They loved humanity. They planted the noble seed of the gospel of love. For the blood of martyrs is the seed of the Christian faith (Tertullian).
Love and sacrifice are two sides of the same coin. Whoever sacrifices, loses something of value, he lets go of something desirable, and he endures some pain according to the level of love he spends. That is why love is described as passion (suffering). He, who sacrifices for love, does so for a greater good for another. This makes love selfless, an act of self-giving. This in turn makes love a pure act. Wherever there is love, life is complete. He, who is incapable of sacrifice, cannot love. Thus, only the courageous can bear the burden of love and they do so with joy, regretting nothing.
Paul Miki and his companions already knew their fate as they were being marched 600 miles to the city of Nagasaki for execution. But instead of questioning the faithfulness of God, they hooked on to the frequency of praise as they sang the Catholic prayer called the ‘Te Deum’ – “We praise thee, O God: we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord….” The love for their Master and his redemptive mission among men urged them on. Paul’s last prayer before his martyrdom was, “I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.” He hoped that their sacrifice would be accepted for the greater good.
The Christian call through baptism is actually a call to martyrdom, a call to be an ambassador of love. A Christian begins to die for Christ, when he learns to give up little pleasures and comforts for love; when he loves generously and selflessly; when he passionately engages in changing the world around him through the gift of himself to others; when he denies himself something to show a little kindness; when he offers his shoulder for support to the feeble; when he touches other lives positively.
To forgive painful injustices one suffered is also a form of martyrdom. For some forms of forgiveness are like swallowing a sharp blade. They make the heart bleed. Only the brave can do that. Not to be able to forgive is a sign of weakness. Those who cannot forgive prefer to take the coward’s easy path of revenge or bitter resentment. Only the brave can truly plant the seed of faith by embracing the path of martyrdom. Only they can love selflessly and endure necessary and possible sacrifices for the good of others. They do not count their loss while in the mission of their Lord, driven by the flame of love. For “love is a fire no waters avail to quench, no floods to drown, for love, a man will give up all that he has in the world, and think nothing of his loss” (Song 8:7). Christianity is not for the feeble-minded but for brave hearts, the reason God told Gideon, “Let the cowards go home!” (Jg. 7:7).
Deep thoughts from a spiritual master!!! Thank you Fr!!!