We stand at a crossroads in America. The government seems to be proposing that all citizens basically lose their faith in capitalism and liberty. Let the government take over the wealth and make it fairer and easier for everyone. Hmmm, sounds familiar. Weren’t the liberal press in the Fifties urging us to follow the example of that benign paragon, the “agrarian reformers” of Communist China and the Soviet Union? Well, in my opinion, we need a hero – or two – or more! We need a lot of good people to step forward. We also need good examples to follow. A very proper patron for this pickle comes to mind: St. Laurence (or Lawrence).
Laurence was an archdeacon of the city of Rome during a time of great persecution for the Church. The original martyrology was lost early on, but his story captured the imagination of many great early reporters. [There is some dispute about certain details of his ordeal, but the reality and effect of his sacrifice are indisputable. He, along with Nicholas, in the view of some, became the paradigm saint of the early Church.] In short, the way he opposed the government and his ultimate triumph point to a pattern we can imitate.
The year was 258, we are told. Pope Sixtus had barely attained the Chair of St. Peter, and, in view of the longevity of Popes at that time, he could barely hope to survive for long under the fierce persecution of Emperors Decius and Valerian, when he called upon his good friend Laurence to take charge of the duties of record-keeping and organizing charity to the poor.
Predictably, Sixtus was captured and condemned. As he was being led away, Laurence came to be with him. Sixtus comforted the weeping deacon by reassuring Laurence that he would very soon follow his friend to eternal happiness. Sure enough, four days later, Laurence was captured and, in view of his role in the Roman Church, confronted with an ultimatum: bring the famous “hidden riches” of the Church within two days or he would die a terrible death. Laurence agreed. He came back with a crowd of beggars, widows, cripples and the poor. “This is the riches of the Church!” he declared.
Now, let’s just take a look at that action! His was not the resistance of bitter, pessimistic antagonism. This showed the good humor that always results when one’s faith is girt under with a peaceful, brimming confidence. Show those who are in error where they err with gentle irony. (The response of McAuliffe at Bastogne to the German ultimatum comes to mind: “Nuts.” This is the very same sort of thing.) Cut through all the hot air and pretension with something that exposes the truth of a situation for all to see.
The government propaganda was that the Christian Church was a weird group of incestuous cannibals who, though they seemed to love in a new, almost attractive sort of way, were actually greedy hoarders of wealth. (This was almost entirely either gross exaggeration or deliberate misrepresentation.) Further, they were way too preachy about what was wrong with the culture of death and sexual excess.
What did Laurence succeed in doing in this one public action? He showed what the Church was really about. It cared about individual people! The poor were not the faceless, exploited mob that the government saw. The ruling culture’s attitude was exposed! For the Church, every person had value and influence! ‘We will not directly oppose the master-mob ethic but we will show it for what it is and we will continue working beneath the surface for a new civilization of selfless agape love, of freedom and responsibility, respecting families and persons and standing in solidarity for what is right.’ Perhaps you recognize this ethic. It is the same basic approach that inspired our own Founding Fathers.
After the temerity of Laurence’s wordless lesson, he was condemned to a painful death. Ambrose among others says he was grilled to death on a gridiron. It is said that he told his torturers, “This side is done; turn me over and have a bite.” What a true sense of humor! ‘All you have is force and bluster’, he seems to be saying, ‘I have sublime, peaceful truth and I know it’. As Isaiah prophesied the Suffering Messiah will say in the midst of being tortured and beaten, “I have set my face like flint KNOWING I shall NOT be put to shame!” [This reminds me of Reagan’s remark to the doctor when he was shot: “I hope you’re a Republican!”]
Shouldn’t the conservative movement recapture this basic confidence of Reagan? Where did he get it? He got it, from the very principles displayed in Laurence’s actions. Will any of you out there stand up and show some confidence and humor in leadership? I think I see some of this in Jindal or Palin and I’m sure there are many others on every level and in many communities. {The good bloggers at Flopping Aces have got this attitude, I think.} How many of you will go through the hardship of running and governing or doing other things for the sake of the nation? You might get grilled over the coals, sure enough. Just smile and tell them: ‘You want a piece of me? Go ahead! Take a bite! But rest assured, I’m not done yet!’
Great read, mlajoie2. What forgiveness it must have taken those you speak of to have such wits about them even in the face of death. My bitterness towards the left for the Bush/America bashing the past 8 years, the hatred I have for the turn they have taken this country in with their lying propaganda, and the anger I have looking ahead at the inevitable slippery slopes we face because of them, those things make it hard for me to be witty and kind, even in this post. Where did they get such resolve to forgive and not hate? If we asked Sarah Palin, I bet she’d say, “From Jesus.”
Elektra,
And Sarah Palin sure had a LOT to forgive! It seems like she did. ‘What I’ve got to do is too important to get bogged down in the mud’ is what she seemed to be saying. And I bet you’re right. The power she had seemed to be way above the natural; maybe it’s the power-Gift of the Holy Spirit: FORTITUDE or STRENGTH!!!!