During his General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis held up the figure of St. Paul as a model for Christians saying suffering, persecution and martyrdom are a sign that they are walking in the footsteps of the Lord.
By Robin Gomes
Even today Christians are being persecuted and marginalized, Pope Francis said in his catechesis, adding, it is a blessing to be a witness of martyrdom.
The Pope reflected on the “seal of suffering” that increasingly marked the life of St. Paul as recounted in the Acts of the Apostles. The intrepid missionary is not only an ardent evangelizer among the pagans but he is also the suffering witness of the Risen One.
Passion of Christ and Paul
Upon his arrival in Jerusalem, Paul is met with “ferocious hatred” with people saying he was a persecutor who is not to be trusted. As it was for Jesus, Jerusalem also becomes hostile to Paul. He was led out of the temple to be lynched but was saved by the Roman soldiers. Accused of teaching against the law and the temple, he was arrested and began his journey as a prisoner to various authorities of the region.
The Pope drew attention to similarities between Paul and Jesus. Both were hated by their adversaries; accused publicly, both were found innocent by the Roman authority; Paul is associated with the passion of his Master and his passion becomes a living Gospel.
Today’s martyrs of faith
The Pope noted that Christians continue to suffer for the sake of Christ even today. Just before the General Audience, he said, he met a group of Ukrainian pilgrims, who suffered for the Gospel without negotiating their faith.
