Maybe the world has to be overcome also in another manner, for there is sometimes a certain amount of good-natured or ill-natured sarcasm and ridicule, together with, perhaps, some unkindness, to be endured by the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. The best way, however, to overcome all this is to bear it not only patiently, but cheerfully, and to take every opportunity of showing kindness, in a gentle but manly way, to those from whom it comes. Such evil is best overcome with good.
In another way, the influence of this wicked world has to be guarded against. For the companions by whom one is surrounded will sometimes, if they are wicked enough, do their best to corrupt his mind, and to lead him to forsake what they will probably call his “outdated” notions. He may adopt their more extravagant and, perhaps, more sinful ways. If they fail such will most likely become persecutors, and with sullen dislike will affect to regard as beneath their contempt the lad whom they know they cannot bend to their own purposes. Such companions must of course be avoided as much as possible; and if they cannot be avoided altogether, the evil influences which they will necessarily exert must be very carefully and continually guarded against.
This, then, is, or may at any time be, part of my conflict. It is, of course, disagreeable not to do as others do, to make myself appear singular, or to use and follow religious privileges and observances which I know those about me despise and neglect. If I have thus to endure that I may keep my heart pure and my conscience clear, such endurance is at any rate less hard than basely yielding to temptation would be. For the result of this would be loss of self-respect, and the loss, for a time at any rate, of the grace and blessing of God also.
Prayer
O God, I beseech Thee so to strengthen me that, willingly enduring shame, if need be, I may keep the straight and safe path of obedience to Thy will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Each year when I celebrate the Feast of the Circumcision, I am asked some variant of, “What’s up with this feast day? Isn’t that kind of gross?” For some reason, the modern mind, which is saturated with some pretty “earthy” images (and that’s just on awards programs), recoils at the mere mention of the circumcision of Christ. I suppose I don’t understand the squeamishness, unless it is part of a general unease with a Christ Jesus who is too human, too real. Many would prefer a less vivid way to begin the year like commemorating the Holy Name, and avoiding all of that messy blood spilling stuff.
The Cathedral Close 