Fear nothing: the Lord is with you, Church Fathers: Day 353

Fear nothing: the Lord is with you

In his life of St. Martin, Sulpitius Severus tells the story of Martin’s encounter with a gang of robbers. The example of his courage is so persuasive that one of the robbers is converted.

The robber, having led him to a private place apart from the rest, began to ask him who he was. To this Martin replied that he was a Christian.

Next the robber asked him whether he was afraid.

At this point Martin very courageously replied that he had never before felt so safe, because he knew that the mercy of the Lord would be present with him especially in the midst of trials. He added that he felt sorry instead for the man who held him captive, because, by living a life of robbery, he was showing himself unworthy of the mercy of Christ. And then beginning to explain the Gospel truth, he preached the word of God to the robber.

Why should I delay telling you what happened? The robber believed. After expressing his respect for Martin, he put him back on the road, begging him to pray to the Lord for him.

That same robber was later seen living a religious life, and in fact the story I have told here is based on the account he himself gave of it.

–Sulpitius Severus, Life of St. Martin, 5

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

Do times of trouble bring me closer to Christ, or do I let them drive me away?

CLOSING PRAYER

Father, drive all fear and temptation away from me; deliver me from my sin, and protect and defend me all the time.

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