When is enough...enough?

[BenRosa]

I was reading last night (Triumph: The History & Glory of the Catholic Church; Crocker) about how an early Cesar allowed early Christians to be openly degraded, mocked, and disgriminated against because, as he correctly understood, “they accept pain and suffering with joy, so pain and suffering they shall have”.

Are we always supposed to allow others to “walk” on us because both parties know the Christian response?

 

[elizabeth4truth]

BenRosa:

I was reading last night (Triumph: The History & Glory of the Catholic Church; Crocker) about how an early Cesar allowed early Christians to be openly degraded, mocked, and disgriminated against because, as he correctly understood, “they accept pain and suffering with joy, so pain and suffering they shall have”.

Are we always supposed to allow others to “walk” on us because both parties know the Christian response?

Dear BenRosa,

I haven’t read what you refer to. Nero was the Caesar in power who allowed the early Christians to be martyred for his crime of burning Rome. Have you ever watched Quo Vadis? It’s one of my favorite movies. It depicts the early Christians as described above.

What one endures, for the sake of the Kingdom, is treasure stored in heaven. The question becomes what is your perception of what God wants you to suffer, and what does God really want you to endure? They may be entirely different because free will enters into the equation. Regardless I trust God honors our efforts to be self-effacing, when our intention is to honor God.

Clinging close to God, reaching out to The Holy Spirit and repeating “Jesus I trust in You!” or “Lord have mercy.” over and over again, in times of trial, frustration and triumph help me endure, by God’s grace alone. Of course these times are few and far between. Lord have mercy on this stubborn soul.

Peace to you,
Elizabeth

 

[BenRosa]

Elizabeth…

Yes, I suppose I’ve always known that…and would be scared to have to “really” be tested, as I’m not sure how I’d respond. I really admire the early Christians…they had nothing like our resources (books, internet forums, etc) to help them to understand and realize that they were not alone.

May His peace rain on all of you…