My Grace is sufficient for you…

One thing that is certain in the Christian life is that we are given grace to grow closer to our Lord and Saviour. We, in ourselves, are limited through the reality of our human existence. However, through the grace of the All-Holy Trinity, we are given the graces that we need to grow in Christ.

Sometimes, it can feel as though God seems distant, yet it is we who, through our actions, often distance ourselves from God. However, if we truly believe in the Gospel of Christ, we know that if we approach our Lord and Saviour and ask Him with a contrite heart for His forgiveness, it will be granted. St John Chrysostom puts it in this way:

“If you sin, repent. And if you sin a second time, repent a second time.… Even if you are in extreme old age and sin, come in and repent; for here is a hospital, not a courtroom. It does not demand punishment for sins, but grants forgiveness of sins.”

St John Chrysostom, Homilies on Repentance, Almsgiving 3.4.19.

This is why it is important that you do not ruminate on your past sins and failures in life, for God is a God who loves mankind. He is merciful, and His mercy endures forever. What a wondrous gift we have in the knowledge that we have a loving God.

Unfortunately, there are many who paint the All-Holy Trinity as vengeful, waiting to punish every wrong step. Yes, if one is unrepentant, there will be consequences in the afterlife. Yet, if one is humble and asks for forgiveness, then one will receive it.

This is why it is vital that the Christian makes the Holy Mysteries of the Holy Church the centre of their Christian life, for it is through the worthy reception of these that one is conformed and moulded into the image of Christ. Through the Holy Mysteries of the Church, one is joined to Christ, especially through the Holy Mysteries of Baptism, Chrismation, Penance, and the Holy Mystery of the Eucharist.

Therefore, put all your trust in our God, for He truly loves you and wills the best for you. Do not let despair and the machinations of the evil one distract you from this reality of the love of God. God is love, and this Love gave His life upon the Cross and rose from the tomb, healing and restoring our fallen human nature, uniting us to God, and leading us towards theosis.

One such saint who persevered and fought the good fight was Saint Maximus of Aveia in the Abruzzi. He was born around AD 228 into a Christian family. He was born at a time when one could face great dangers for being identified as a Christian. Yet this did not deter our Saint, and eventually he was ordained to the order of deacon.

However, he could not deny his faith, even if it could cost him everything, for the Emperor Decius had issued a decree that all Romans must offer sacrifices to the Roman gods. If they refused, they were to be stripped of any wealth or honour they held in this life, possibly even losing their very lives.

Eventually, the governor of Aquila arrived in Aveia and read the wicked emperor’s decree, which brought great joy to those who worshipped the Roman gods. They did not hesitate to tell the governor of one pious deacon, Maximus, who, by his preaching, was winning many for Christ. On hearing this, the governor requested that the people bring the deacon Maximus before him.

Maximus’s enemies ran into the surrounding countryside, rejoicing that they could finally get rid of the troublesome deacon. Maximus, being the man of faith that he was, did not fear the reproach of the governor and presented himself voluntarily to his enemies, who proceeded to arrest him. They then presented him to the governor for questioning.

Here is part of an account of what happened between the two men:

When the governor saw him, he began by questioning him in a measured manner.

“Tell me who you are,” he said, “and by what name you are called.”

The servant of God answered:

“I am the servant of my Lord Jesus Christ. My own name is Maximus.”

The governor said:

“Of what family are you?”

Saint Maximus answered:

“I am freeborn, as the whole lineage of my ancestors demonstrates.”

The governor said:

“Since you are of noble birth, why do you not worship the immortal gods whom the Roman

emperor worships with reverence?”

Saint Maximus answered:

“Because I know that your gods are empty and deaf images not gods.”

The governor said:

“Maximus, what office do you hold?”

Saint Maximus answered:

“I belong to the order of deacons. I care for the Christian people, and this is my sole occupation.”

What is striking here is the faith our saint had in God. He was not afraid of the consequences of showing that he was a Christian. As the story continues:

“The governor said:

“Then you are a Christian?”

Saint Maximus answered:

“Although I am a sinner, I am nevertheless a Christian. I never cease continually to preach, praise and venerate the holy name of Christ.”

The governor said:

“Have you learned of the decrees recently issued by our invincible emperor?”

Maximus said:

“What decrees?”

The governor answered:

“That all Christians must abandon Christ the Lord, recognise the emptiness of their false superstition and reverently worship our most holy gods, to whom all things are subject, following no other god. Whoever is found to despise his command is to be worn down by various and most bitter torments and put to death.”

Maximus, the deacon of Christ, answered steadfastly:

“I recognise the wickedness of your emperor’s sentence. That is why I presented myself openly before you: so that, through the loss of this temporal life and the endurance of suffering, I may become worthy to receive the reward of eternal life.”

To the Romans, to be a Christian was to be seen as a fool; to them, the Crucified Christ was but a stupidity. How could a God empty Himself to die on the Holy Cross?

Yet Christ, the eternal Son of God, truly died according to His human nature and rose again, conquering death and raising our fallen humanity to new life in Him. Even in death, His divine and human natures remained united in His one person: without confusion, change, division, or separation, so that He never ceased to be the God-man.

Yet the governor was determined to win the saintly deacon over to their ways, even to the point of offering his daughter’s hand in marriage. Yet our saint persisted and refused this offer, for he said:

“I will certainly not accept your advice. I neither adore your gods of gold and stone nor offer sacrifice to them, because they are not gods. Instead, I sacrifice to the one true Lord.

“Nor will your daughter enter into marriage with me, for I have sworn my life to Christ and His bride the Holy Church of God.”

Still listening patiently, the governor said:

“Maximus, sacrifice to the almighty gods and enjoy the friendship of our emperor.”

Maximus answered:

“I have already told you that I sacrifice to none but my God, the living and true God. With the assistance of the Holy Spirit, I rejoice to offer myself to him each day as a living sacrifice.

“I do not desire your friendship, because you are trying to separate me from the love of my eternal King.”

Eventually, the governor lost patience and had Saint Maximus hung on a rack, threatening to have a fire lit underneath it.

But Saint Maximus persevered in his faith and refused to give in to the offers of the governor.

Finally, the governor lost patience and ordered that Saint Maximus be thrown from Monte Circolo to his death. Here is the account of his martyrdom:

“The people at once seized Maximus, the athlete of Christ, and dragged him to the appointed place, eager to execute the command of the cruel governor.

When Saint Maximus had been brought there, he asked those leading him for permission to pray. They granted it.

After praying, he gave thanks to almighty God, to Jesus Christ his Son and to the Holy Spirit, who had judged him worthy to be numbered among his holy martyrs.

Then he said:

“Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.”

As he spoke these words, the servants immediately cast him down from the height, and he gave up his spirit.”

What can we learn from the life and death of Saint Maximus? Well, firstly, he did not compromise his faith, even to save his life. He was adamant that he wanted to cling to Christ, his Lord and Saviour. Also, he knew that he had all things needed in the All-Holy Trinity to attain eternal life.

Therefore, this week, pray to the All-Holy Trinity that He may help you to forgive those who have done you wrong and, like all the great saints, pray for those who hate you or cause you trouble.

Also, he took to heart the words of our Lord and Saviour: if someone attacks you, offer them the other cheek. He did not try to resist violently because he knew that to do so would make him no better than his enemies.

Although it is missing from the account of his martyrdom, I can guarantee you that he would have forgiven his enemies, for that is the Christian way. We, as Christians, are called to forgive those who do us wrong. We are called to be respectful towards those who hate us and not treat them badly, for to do so would be wrong.

Rather, we are called to pray for them, that they may do what is right and come to the truth of the faith. This is why our Lord and Saviour commands us to pray for our enemies. This is the countercultural message of the Holy Gospel: to love those who hate us and to pray for them.

Saint Maximus of Aveia, pray for us.