“…it has never been easier to earn Heaven as now.” (Saint José Sánchez del Río).
I have recently read a story about a young Mexican saint, Saint José Sánchez del Río.
During the 1920s in Mexico, many Christians were martyred for their faith. One such martyr was Saint José Sánchez del Río. When Saint José was only thirteen years old, his mother tried to convince him not to put his life at risk by publicly proclaiming his Christian faith. Saint José replied, “Mamá, it has never been easier to earn Heaven as now.”
And that child did earn heaven when he was only 14 years old, having been killed for his faith in Mexico.
And I have been reflecting on that child today as I have been reflecting on the words of Christ in the Gospel…
“And as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, Jesus said, ‘As for these things which you see, the days will come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down… Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once... Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. This will be a time for you to bear testimony... You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.” (Luke 21:5-19).
And it is upon the final words of this somewhat lengthy text, that my mind has focused today. You see, Christ says, “You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.” (Luke 21:18-19).
And I have been reflecting on the irony of this statement that despite being delivered up to death even by those who we trust the most, “…not a hair of your head will perish…”
And when I think about the example of the Saints, like Saint José, I can feel such calmness – such peace… Because I have come to understand that no matter what happens to me – no matter if I die by the MOST TERRIBLE means and in the MOST TERRIBLE way, “…not a hair of … (my) head will perish…”.
And when I think of it in that way, I WELCOME the suffering and I am filled with conviction, because as Saint Jose said to his mother before he became a saint, “…it has never been easier to earn Heaven as now.”
For my Beloved loves me beyond my comprehension, and I know this because He told me “…not a hair of your head will perish…” – and I in this, I know that I have been given the means to achieve eternal life…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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