‘Whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.’
In the Gospels, we hear how the mother of two of the disciples petitions Jesus for a higher place for her two sons, apparently at the encouragement of those sons – or else the other disciples might not have been so incensed!
Contrast that self-interested scheming with the saints Perpetua and Felicity whom the church honors today. They are not only examples of extraordinary faith and courage, but of utter selflessness as well. The well-educated Perpetua is martyred alongside the slave Felicity, both of them devout Christians.
An interesting side note: It was against Roman law to execute a pregnant woman because it would be taking an innocent life. Only after Felicity gave birth was she permitted to be martyred alongside her friends. Her newborn daughter was adopted and raised by a Christian family.
These young people were so compelled by the message of Jesus, that they were willing to face torture and death in order to be part of the Christian community!
May our Lenten practices serve to strengthen our resolve to follow Jesus at all cost, and through the intercession of SS Perpetua and Felicity and all the holy martyrs, be strengthened to persevere in living our faith today and every day. For it will be in so doing that we will draw ever closer to joining with them one day in the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.
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