Dear Family and Friends,

Let’s continue to prepare our hearts for Christmas by examining an event which took place several weeks after Jesus’ birth – the encounter between Mary and Joseph and Simeon, a devout and righteous man, who longingly waited at the temple to see Jesus.

When Simeon finally met and held baby Jesus, he praised God and proclaimed these words over the child. These verses, by the way, are called the Nunc Dimittis (Latin for Now You Dismiss).

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
Luke 2:29-32 NIV

Then Simeon blessed Mary and Joseph, and prepared Mary’s heart for what was to come for her Son and herself.

He prophesied that the child would be the stone that causes many to stumble and fall (See Isaiah 8:14). And that many will speak against the child, thus revealing the thoughts of their hearts.

“The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’”  Luke 2:33-35 NIV

In reading this passage, do you sense that the falling of many hasn’t stopped? And that many are still speaking against Him? I do.

In the centuries that followed, many continued to persecute Jesus – by persecuting His followers. We see this happening even today in the world’s two most populated countries. Why?

For the same reason the leaders in Jerusalem wanted Jesus crucified – He is perceived as a threat to their authority.

It’s just as Jesus said in John 15:18-19 NIV.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

With this is mind, let’s briefly look at one of history’s cruelest persecutions of Christians.

On February 5, 1597, twenty-six Christians (six foreign missionaries and twenty Japanese Christians) were rounded up from as far away as Kyoto and brought to Nishizaka Hill in Nagasaki, Japan. On this hill, in the center of modern day Nagasaki, the twenty-six were crucified solely because of their faith in Jesus.

It had been only 50 years since the first missionaries arrived in Japan. But the growth of Christianity to over a half million followers was seen as a threat by the Shogunate.

Thus began Japan’s two and a half centuries of isolation from the rest of the world and the persecution of Christians. It’s estimated that over 300,000 Christians were martyred.

Yes, this was a dark period in Japan’s history. But let’s not forget that Simeon prophesied that Jesus would also cause many to rise.

Today, a memorial and museum sit on that hill in Nagasaki. On February 26, 1981, Pope St. John Paul II visited that memorial. The following are excerpts from his prayer that day.

“Today, I come to the Martyrs’ Hill here in Nagasaki, to the place where Christians sealed their fidelity to Christ with the sacrifice of their lives. They triumphed over death in one unsurpassable act of praise to the Lord.

Like Christ, they were brought close to a place where common criminals were executed. Like Christ, they gave their lives so that we might all believe in the love of the Father, in the saving mission of the Son, in the never-failing guidance of the Holy Spirit.”

The accounts of witnesses revealed that the martyrs were joyously singing hymns while they hung on their crosses.

One of the martyrs, Saint Paul Miki, preached from the cross.

“All of you who are here, please, listen to me… I have committed no crime, and the only reason why I am put to death is that I have been teaching the doctrine of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I am very happy to die for such a cause, and see my death as a great blessing from the Lord.

The Christian religion tells us to forgive our enemies and those who do harm us, and so I say that I forgive the emperor and those responsible for my death. I have no hatred for the emperor; indeed, I wish that he and all the Japanese would become Christians.”

What do the words of Simeon and the martyr Paul Miki have in common? Simeon: You may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation. Paul Miki: I see my death as a great blessing from the Lord.

The fear of death is satan’s most powerful, terrifying weapon against mankind, subjecting man to lifelong slavery.

Simeon and Paul Miki were set free of the bondage of slavery – from the fear of death – because Jesus came.

And so are we.

Let’s close with what this means for the Church – the bride of Christ.

When followers of Christ live with no fear of death, with boldness knowing there will always be a tomorrow, we leave satan with no way of stopping the Church.

Japan’s rulers tried to eliminate the Church. This is what Pope St. John Paul II said happened instead.

“Christians died in Nagasaki, but the Church in Nagasaki did not die. She had to go underground, and the Christian message was passed from parents to children until the Church came back into the open.

Rooted in this Martyrs’ Hill, the Church in Nagasaki would grow and bloom, to become an example of faith and fidelity for Christians everywhere, an expression of hope founded in the Risen Christ.”

My friends, we are the Church. Let us be like the Church in Nagasaki and go forth with boldness as well.

In love always,