Perpetua and Felicitas, Martyrs
At the beginning of the third century, the Roman emperor Septimus Severus forbade conversions to Christianity. Among those disobeying that edict were Perpetua, a young noblewoman, and her maidservant Felicitas. Both were jailed at Carthage in North Africa along with three fellow Christians. During their imprisonment, Perpetua and Felicitas witnessed to their faith with such conviction that the officer in charge became a follower of Jesus. After making arrangements for the well-being of their children, Perpetua and Felicitas were executed on 7 March 203. Tradition holds that Perpetua showed mercy to her captors by falling on a sword because they could not bear to put her to death. The story of this martyrdom has been told ever since as an encouragement to persecuted Christians. [From "Commemorations Biographies," Lutheran Service Book, LCMS Commission on Worship]
¶ 3/07/2007 08:00:00 AM 0 Comments
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud
voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks.
And he was a Samaritan. (Lk. 17:15-16)
There He is, on His way to Jerusalem and His cross. He's passing along the
border between Galilee and Samaria.
Along the way, ten lepers have banded together, for there are few worse
living fates. The lepers have an incurable disease that is slowly disintegrating
their bodies; it's a slow, agonizing death, but that's only part of the agony.
Because the illness is so contagious, the law requires them to leave family and
home behind and live where nobody else does. In fact, the law requires them to
shout warnings at passersby, lest they get too close and risk catching leprosy
themselves. Between the hideous course of the disease and the ostracizing that
it brings, leprosy is a horrible analogy of death and hell.
When Jesus draws near, the shouting starts—but it's not the warning to stay
away as prescribed by law. Instead, the lepers shout, “Jesus, Master, have
mercy upon us!” (Lk. 17:13) Though isolated, they've still heard the Word
about the Savior; and having heard the Word, they believe He can cure them.
And now, Immanuel is God-with-them. The Lord is present with these lepers,
and He can heal them with a Word. It sounds silly, but it's important to note that
the lepers are shouting “have mercy” because Jesus is there. They're not
shouting it when He's not around.
Jesus has mercy upon them, and tells them to go and show themselves to the
priests; this is required by law before they can return their homes and families.
Ten start running away, but one returns and falls at Jesus' feet to worship: the
priests will be there later, but better for now is the present Son of God. This is
Christian worship, the presence of God for mercy.
Each time I read through this story, I marvel at the generous mercy of the
Lord. He gives healing to all ten , no strings attached; in fact, when nine don't
even express thanks, He doesn't take the gift of healing back. He doesn't
demand their worship, but seeks to give them all good.
So it is today. Jesus desires to give all good gifts to all people. He gives
food and shelter, and no one refuses. Most fail to say thanks, and many will
even give thanks to other gods, instead; but the Lord keeps giving. Likewise,
He offers grace and salvation to all people; but while everyone snatches up the
temporary gifts for this life, so many want nothing to do with His gifts for
eternal life. Some have claimed that Jesus is an exclusive sort of Savior, that He
only died for some. Not so: He died for all, and desires that all be saved. The
difference between a believer and unbeliever is that the unbeliever runs away
before Jesus is done giving!
But you know better. There He is, present to heal the lepers. There He is on
the cross for the sins of the world. There He is, in His means of grace, to have
mercy upon you now and forever. ¶ 3/07/2007 07:49:00 AM 0 Comments
