THE VIEW FROM RIZAL

When news of the bombing incident which took place at the gymnasium of the Mindanao State University last Dec. 3 became viral in news and social media, a friend remarked:

“How sad it is that people should get hurt and die while exercising their faith.”
My friend’s remark made me realize that our lives as believers who are living outside of so-called “conflict areas” are not only safe – they are convenient and comfortable. Yet, despite the comfort and convenience of our lives, we tend to find excuses not to attend Sunday church services. There are times that when we do attend them, it would be a mere fulfillment of an obligation. For other Christian churches, believers attend the Sunday mass because failure to do so is considered a “sin.”
Here are some of our usual excuses.
“I am not feeling well.”
“The church is too far.”
“I have to catch up on work or studies.”
“I hate sermons.”
“I have other previous commitments.”
“I do not like the pastor/priest at our Church.”
“I just don’t feel like going.”

We may have to admit that we sometimes use these excuses. 

We also have to admit that the latest incident of violence in Marawi has reminded us that there still are Christians who face the risk of injury and death when they decide to practice their faith. Their death should put to shame our lukewarm attitude towards the Sunday service in our respective churches.
This is also a reminder to the world that the persecution of Christians in various parts of the world still exists. Pope Francis, himself, called the world’s attention to this when he created the Vatican-based Commission for New Martyrs.

In a statement he issued announcing the creation of the Commission this year, Pope Francis said, “Martyrs are more numerous in our time than in the first centuries: they are bishops, priests, consecrated men and women, lay people and families, who in different countries of the world, with the gift of their lives, have offered the supreme proof of charity.”

The Commission will document not just the contemporary martyrdom of Catholic religious and lay people, but of Christians who belong to other denominations.

A Jesuit publication reported recently that Pope Francis is not alone in the bid to spotlight the persecution of Christians in various parts of the globe. A Netherlands-based organization called “Open Doors International” is exerting similar efforts. The latter had earlier reported that the year 2022 saw “intensifying levels of violence, discrimination and exclusion” against Christians. An analyst of Open Doors wrote:

“In the last 30 years, the number of countries where Christians suffer high and extreme levels of persecution doubled to 76 countries.”

More than 360 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith, the organization reported.

It is interesting that despite the rise in the incidence of the persecution of Christians, the number of Christians worldwide continues to grow. In 2022, the reported rate of growth is 1.17 percent. Last year, the total count of Christians worldwide was 2.56 billion. The projection is that by 2050, there will be some 3.33 billion people worldwide who will identify themselves as Christians.

The growth rate is the fastest in Africa. That is also where the biggest number of cases of mass murder of Christians are taking place. In many countries on that continent, they face the risk of being imprisoned or killed just by being present and taking part in Christian service or ceremony – just like the fate of the Christians killed by a bomb in Marawi while publicly professing their faith.

In a few days, several Christian churches in our country will begin the tradition of the Simbang Gabi.

We will flock to our respective churches and worship, free from worries of facing imprisonment or persecution. We will sing hymns, listen to the Word of God, and receive communion in an atmosphere of festivity. For many of us, Christmas is truly “merry.”

As we enter into this festive season, let us include in our prayers the 360 million other Christians who will mark the birth of the Savior while facing the risk of death and persecution for their religious beliefs.

May the thought that there are modern martyrs of faith help us to be grateful that we can practice our faith in an atmosphere of comfort and convenience.

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