Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Today is the feast day of Blessed Franz Jägerstätter, an Austrian farmer, spouse and father, conscientious objector and martyr because of his opposition to the Nazis and refusal to serve in the German army during World War II. If you have not yet seen the Terrence Malick film, “A Hidden Life”(2019), inspired by Franz’s writings and letters (especially to and from his wife) while in prison, I highly recommend it. Although today’s readings are simply for “Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter,” they seem to validate the life of Franz and his wife who exemplify Jesus’ instruction to “Follow me” no matter the cost.
In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (25:13b-21), the story of Paul being accused, charged and “in chains” for his beliefs and preaching about Jesus’ resurrection continues. And in the gospel passage from John (21:15-19) we hear the familiar exchange between Jesus and Peter in which Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him; and, if so, then “feed my lambs...tend my sheep...feed my sheep.” But the somewhat odd verses following that conversation refer to the kind of death Peter will die as a result of living this life of discipleship (tradition tells us he was crucified upside down). The passage ends with Jesus’ words, “Follow me.”
What I’m hearing in all of this is that if we, too, love Jesus and choose to follow him, we will have to make some difficult, unpopular decisions that require sacrifices on our part, and suffering, and in some cases even result in our bodily death. I find this not easy to acknowledge and accept. And it brings the questions to mind: If I’m going with the mainstream and status quo, am I really loving and following Jesus? Or am I avoiding the challenges that true Christian discipleship calls me to? How am I being called to follow Jesus here and now in 2021?
The words of Blessed Franz remind me that we are never asked to do this alone. As he wrote from his own experience, “Neither prison nor chains nor sentence of death can rob a man of the Faith and his own free will. God gives so much strength that it is possible to bear any suffering, a strength far stronger than all the might of the world. The power of God cannot be overcome.”
Blessed Franz, Saints Peter and Paul, pray for us.
~Eileen Miller