Rejoice in that day

I am blessed to be living in the Caribbean where there is little, if any, persecution of Christians for their religious beliefs. This is not so throughout the world. Today Christians face persecution and discrimination around the world, including killings, attacks on churches, and restrictions on worship.

• Around 365 million Christians are subject to “high levels of persecution and discrimination”. This compared to 340 million in 2021

• 1 in 7 Christians are persecuted worldwide. This compared to 1 in 8 worldwide in 2021

• 4,998 Christians were killed for faith-related reasons. Attacks on Christians have become more common since 2020 as part of a wider rise in political violence against civilians. Open Doors estimates the number of Christians killed for faith-related reasons worldwide was 5,621 in 2023, 5,898 in 2022, and 4,761 in 2021.

• 14,766 Churches and Christian properties were attacked.

Jesus speaks to this in this week’s Gospel Luke 6: 17-26 ‘Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.’

These sobering statistics remind us that persecution is not just a distant reality of the early Church but an ongoing struggle for many of our brothers and sisters in Christ. While we may worship freely, we are called to stand in solidarity with those who suffer for their faith, offering our prayers, support, and advocacy.

Jesus' words in Luke 6:17-26 offer both comfort and challenge—assuring the persecuted of their heavenly reward while reminding us that discipleship often comes at a cost. As we reflect on these realities, may we be inspired to deepen our own commitment to Christ and to work for a world where all can worship without fear.

While we may not be subject to violence because of our Christian beliefs, we may still face ridicule. I regret that in my former career in Corporate Management and Consultancy, I have not always been forthright in my beliefs, choosing instead to stay silent, at times, in occasions of structures of sin.

I think about times when I prioritized business outcomes over ethical considerations, justifying decisions that placed profits above people. I recall moments when I witnessed colleagues belittling others—whether due to race, gender, or faith—and, instead of speaking up, chose the path of least resistance.

There were times when company policies subtly encouraged a culture of greed, dishonesty, or exploitation, and though my conscience stirred, I remained silent rather than risk conflict or professional repercussions. In hindsight, I recognize that silence in the face of wrongdoing is a form of complicity.

As Christians, we are called not only to believe but to act—to be light in the darkness and to stand for truth, even when it is uncomfortable. I pray for the courage to live my faith more fully, not just in private devotion but in every aspect of life, especially where it challenges authority and power.

Friend, I encourage you to visit my pastoral website where you may find community and resources to support your development in your Christian faith. Pastoral Website LINK

I also encourage you to become a patron to this online Ministry of the Word.