Anchor yourself

“So when God wanted to give the heirs of his promise an even clearer demonstration of the immutability of his purpose, he intervened with an oath,so that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to hold fast to the hope that lies before us. This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil, where Jesus has entered on our behalf as forerunner, becoming high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 6:17-20

In my prayer of late, the Anchor keeps coming to me. Now, I have always known that the anchor is a symbol of hope. But what I didn’t know was that the anchor was often used as a symbol in early Christianity. An Anchor represents safety. As I pray, I know our safety lies with the Barque of Peter, Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Mother. Anchor yourself there.

As I began to read more, I found out Pope St. Clement, the 4th Pope, who was ordained a Bishop by Peter himself, was also associated with the Anchor. He lived at a time of great persecution of the church. He was martyred under Emperor Trajan, and it is said that an anchor was tied around him and he was thrown into the sea for not renouncing Christianity.

He was recorded as teaching, “We must, look upon all the things of this world, as none of ours, and not desire them. This world and that to come are two enemies. We cannot, therefore, be friends to both; but we must resolve which we would forsake, and which we would enjoy. And we think, that it is better to hate the present things, as little, short-lived, and corruptible; and to love those which are to come, which are truly good and incorruptible. Let us contend with all earnestness, knowing that we are now called to the combat. Let us run in the straight road, the race that is incorruptible. This is what Christ saith: keep your bodies pure and your souls without spot, that ye may receive eternal life.” (Taken from Vol. III of “The Lives or the Fathers, Martyrs and Other Principal Saints” by the Rev. Alban Butler.)

In this time of persecution, where sisters are murdered caring for the elderly, we must remember as Clement did to Anchor ourselves to Christ and His church. The Anchor of the church is where hope and safe harbor lay.