Do you consider yourself a true disciple and follower of Jesus Christ? I do and, most likely, you do, too. Why shouldn't we? We believe Jesus Christ is God. We attend Mass on a fairly regular basis. We partake of the other sacraments; although, too infrequently. We pray when we need God's help. And if someone were taking a survey on our religious preference, we would tell them to check the box marked Christian. Since we profess and do these things, don't you agree that we can answer yes to my original question: do you consider yourself a true disciple and follower of Jesus Christ?

I wonder whether or not Jesus would agree with our answer? Let's turn to the Bible. We'll let Jesus, in His plain, straight talking way, speak for Himself on what it takes to be one of His disciples, one of His followers. In all three synoptic gospels¹ Jesus challenges his disciples and followers to deny their very self, take up their cross each day, and follow in His steps.

Keep what we've discussed so far in the back of your mind as we go in a slightly different direction.

What is a martyr? Here's my definition. A martyr is a man or woman, young or old, who demonstrates the courage to stand firm in his or her faith and to challenge things that are wrong. I purposely did not include the words "suffer" and "death" in my definition. Instead, I choose to leave that task to two follow-up definitions.

Our Sunday Visitor Catholic Encyclopedia says that "martyr" is derived from the Greek word martyria, or witness, and refers to one who stands firm, giving a testimony or witness to his faith. A martyr willingly testifies even in the face of suffering or death. During the Apostolic and post-Apostolic Ages², the term "martyr" was reserved for one who actual died for his faith. The vast majority of popes up to the time of the Emperor Constantine were martyred. During this period, thousands of bishops, priests, deacons, lay men, women, and children willingly gave up their earthly lives rather than deny their faith in Christ.

Our Sunday Visitor Catholic Dictionary states: "A martyr gives up his or her life rather than deny Christ and the Gospel. A martyr strives for conformity to Christ and is willing to part with his or her earthly life rather than reject God."

I obviously cannot speak for you, but this last definition is extremely challenging for me. I truly believe I love Jesus more than anything else in the world. I think the idea of willingly giving up my earthly life for my faith would be extremely courageous, heroic, and rewarding. But I am not convinced that I have the courage and unwavering faith to suffer and die a martyr's death.

Let's now combine my thoughts on being a disciple and follower of Jesus with my thoughts on being a martyr. How close is the connection between being a disciple/follower and being a martyr? Definitely in the early centuries of the Church the two were nearly interchangeable. Tens of thousands of men and women---disciples and followers of Jesus Christ---willingly gave their lives rather than deny their Christian faith.

Do you think God still expects His disciples and followers to willingly give up their life rather than deny Him?

Jesus said to all, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself? Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels."³

Nearly two thousand years have passed since God first spoke these words to the Apostles. A lot of things have changed. Christianity is now the world's largest religion. The majority of Christians are not being persecuted for their faith. Health, diet, and medical advances have lengthened man's life expectancy into the eighties. Prescription and over-the-counter drugs have greatly reduced the pain one has to endure. So, as disciples and followers of Jesus, are we still called to deny ourselves, carry our cross daily, and follow in His steps?

You and I both know that the answer to this question is a resounding yes. We must be willing to give up everything, including our last breath, for our belief in Jesus Christ.

From the first century into the twenty-first, men, women, and children have willingly died for their faith. What was true two thousand years ago is just as true day. Yes, we have more earthly possessions to lose than did our ancestors and the first Christians. This fact is not important. Here's what is important. The identity of the vast majority of martyrs is known only to God. All martyrs are not put to death. Some die quietly doing God's work. Some die quietly after uniting many years of pain and suffering with the pain and suffering of our Lord on Calvary. Others die of old age after spending most of their life praying for family, friends, and the poor souls in purgatory.

God does not want all His children to die a gruesome martyr's death; but He does want us to serve Him completely in this life and, if necessary, be willingly to give up our earthly life for His gospel.

¹Synoptic Gospels: Since the last quarter of the 18th century, the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke have been called the Synoptic Gospels. Their verbal and sequential content is similar. Because of this similarity, their content can be easily arranged and compared in parallel columns. This ordering of content is known as a "synopsis."
²The Apostolic and Post Apostolic Ages run from the time of the Apostles into the seventh century of the Church.
³Lk 9:23-26

For more insight read CCC paragraphs 678-79, 682, 957, 1173, 1258, 2113, 2473-74. Also, pull out your "Catholic" Bible and reference Zech 14:1-5; Mt 10:32-33; 37-38; 16:24-27; Mk 8:34-38; Lk 9:23-26; 10 :16; 14:26-27; Jn 5:22; 12:24-36; Rom 1:16; Eph 5:1-2; 2 Tim 2:11-13.