During a disaster at sea a Captain goes down with his ship/

During a disaster at sea a Captain goes down with his ship.

As we reflect on the many disasters at sea we usually note that the captain will be the last to leave, and if needed will plunge to his death, ensuring all others have safely exited.  Within the Church can also be seen many captains standing as Bishops and the clergy who’ve stood at the altar of execution.

St. Stephen, one of the first deacons, who became the first Christian Martyr, followed when he stood against the high priest and others as he was stoned for the truth he pronounced to them.  Surely the first but not the last standing as a person of integrity for Christ.  “Look, he said, I see an opening in the sky, and the Son of Man standing at God’s right hand.  The onlookers were shouting and holding their hands over their ears, rushing as one person dragging him out of the city and stoning him to death.”  (see Acts 7:54 ff).  

Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More both martyred for their dedication to the Church; Thomas More stood for the right of marriage and was beheaded.  Bishop Fisher for his role as a bishop and again going down with his ship.  

St. Paul, taken from a homily regarding his Conversion, by St. John Chrysostym, “to be separated from the love of God, in his eyes, was the greatest and most extraordinary of torments; the pain of that loss would alone have been hell, the endless, unbearable torture.”  “Death itself and pain and whatever torments might come were but child’s play to him, provided that hereby he might bear some burden for the sake of Christ.”  

Through these above illustrations are we expected to follow their willingness to become martyrs?  The question could very well be answered yes, but not in an extreme manner as theirs’.  Each one of them became a captain of their ship, setting an example of how to stand before God making safety a priority for those who would follow.  

There always will be martyrs in our church, some through murder and others who suffer from  ignominious scrutiny.  If you remember the Passion of Jesus, as he was continually accused of blasphemy and being possessed as Beelzebul the prince of demons.  In some way we may be asked to take the role of a captain staying the course and emulating the very path that Jesus walked to his cross.  We see it every day as some politicians demand rejection of their constituents and certainly promote objection to the word of God.  Others just exist with no positive reactions to what is right.  

None of those who took the place of hero’s standing for Christ or the morals we all fight for were any different than each of us unless our choice is to follow the majority who are too weak to stand for righteousness.  Does that mean we must take a stand becoming martyrs?  Yes!   

Ralph B. Hathaway, Following those who gave their lives.