Lest we Forget..

Statue of Jesus on the Sea Floor, Malta

Never could the Christians of the Middle Ages fathom that this world would forget Christ. For the Medieval man or woman, Christianity was part of daily life. One was expected to attend mass, to give alms, and to do penance. Piety was prevalent in the society. From the prince to the peasant, practicing prayer and acts of religious devotion were as common as purchasing bread and breathing oxygen. How the times have changed. Nations where once great Christian kingdoms stood now are falling away one by one. The advent of convenient immorality in the form of atheism, nihilism, and humanism has corroded  the very places where churches once stood.

There was a time when people crossed themselves (genuflected) and mentioned the name of Jesus frequently on daily basis. Not only priests or monks had the Lord's name on their tongue, but monarchs and merchants as well. Now to invoke the name of Jesus is to silence a room or stir it up in fury. Never since Nero has Christ's name caused such disdain and persecution. Even for the scholar and theologian who can explain the ways of God or at least stand for them finds no ground upon which to engage in debate. Even with logic and reason as allies, a Christian is more likely to be crucified than be communicated with in cordial and congenial way.

There was a time when warriors where marked as Milites Christi, Soldiers of Christ. Once upon a time crusaders rode into battle to confess their sins before God and receive penance. There was a time when devoting our life to Jesus as monk or priest was taken seriously and even encouraged by society. Now the holy warrior is gone and the monks and nuns are considered old fashioned people following a dead convention.

It may seem preposterous and even extravagant to say that Jesus could be forgotten. How could the single most world changing figure, the Son of God be forgotten? By the Remnant, God's faithful Church, He shall never be forgotten. But it is reasonable that the world will choose to remember Christ no more. What will that look like? Crucifixes taken down from Catholic Schools that haven gone under because they can no longer afford to sustain themselves. Statues of the Lord painted over or taken down or in the least rusted and corroding. Perhaps even bold haters of the Jesus will tare down the icons and symbols that remind the Faithful of what Christ did. I know, it sounds surreal, like something from Fahrenheit 451. But it is not beyond the realm of possibility.

At the rate that hate for our Lord Jesus Christ is growing, anything could happen. People are no longer content to disagree with us on the matters of our faith, they seek bully and belittle us into submission. It is this ordeal of Faith that is going to test who really stand with Christ and those who have just been comfy when Christianity was popular and accepted. We shall as believers fall into one of two camps: those that left Jesus when he told them to "eat his flesh, and drink his blood," and the Disciples who stayed devoted. The very image of the Communion or Eucharist is suffering. We are expected as the Body and Bride of Christ to undergo the same trials as our Lord. If the Shepherd suffered, so shall the sheep suffer.

The hour grows late and the Day of Judgment approaches. Let us be found with faith and clinging to Christ's cross upon his return and not with those who lied about our Lord. Hold fast to your faith in Jesus Christ. The Birth pains have but begun and the agony has yet to begin. Steel yourself in the Savior and do not concede! No matter the trials and tribulations that you face, stay true to The Truth! Fight the good fight of faith and in the end we shall find more than consolation, we shall find salvation and rest for our souls.