Example to Inspire: Agnes, Martyr at Rome (304)

In the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus calls a child, puts him among the disciples, and says to them, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:3 NRSV).

A scant few centuries later, a twelve-year-old girl, Agnes, lived in the Roman Empire during the age of the Great Persecution, the final and most severe persecution of Christians. A time of great bloodshed and martyrdom, it occurred during the reign of Diocletian.

The fact that Agnes embraced Christianity at all was remarkable. This new religion was considered treasonous and highly suspicious; no one of her class and status would have associated themselves with it.

“I Belong to Jesus”

In that day, as a twelve-year old, Agnes was eligible for betrothal. Because of her connection to Christianity, a potential suitor bore the double responsibility of enticing her into a marital union and away from her faith.

As a woman of privilege, Agnes had plenty of suitors and every reason to say yes to marriage. She was expected to continue the family line and manage the wealth of the household. But whenever she received a proposal, she said no – every single time. Instead, she boldly proclaimed, “I belong to Jesus.”

The suitors, angered by her scandalous reply, reported her to the Empire. In this season of persecution, Agnes’s courage, commitment, and passion led to her execution.

Our honor of Agnes, however, reaches beyond her martyrdom to her motivation, her willingness to die a martyr’s death. She belonged to Christ. And thus, when we commemorate Agnes in the church year, we pray that as “Agnes was strengthened to bear witness in her living and her dying to the true love of her redeemer; grant us the power to understand with all your saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love that surpasses all understanding.”

Agnes knew her first suitor was Jesus Christ. And because she was wed to Him, she said no to all others.

Becoming as a Child

The blood of the martyrs shows a passionate commitment, the kind that says yes to Christ regardless of cost. The love of the true Redeemer is what transforms our hearts, and it is this love—not courage—that motivated the actions of the martyrs of the early church. Love had won them, a love that (as we hear echoed in the Acts of the Apostles) has the power to turn the world upside down. Becoming as a child, entering into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3-4) means knowing this love.

Matthew tells us, “Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:4 NRSV). A child is willing to be led. A child has absolute trust in the overwhelmingly protective, all-consuming, never-failing love of a parent.

Of course, the only parent who never fails in love is the One who died and rose again for us. Childlikeness is not becoming like a child in behavior and deeds – acting out of ignorance, self-centeredness, or other childish characteristics.

True childlikeness is being willing to be held in the arms of the One who loves you and will never harm you. It’s being carried. It’s being held by the hand and led, perhaps into dangerous places. And it’s knowing that because you have the hand of the One who loves you, all will be well.

Invitation

The biblical invitation to “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away” (Song 2:20 NRSV) comes from our Lord and Redeemer. He invites us to enter so fully into His presence that, at last, we are ushered into glory. The Song of Solomon presents a vision of heaven, a place where there is no pain nor grief, where God wipes away every tear from every eye.

Today, God invites us to say yes to this invitation, to tell Him, “Yes, come after me and fill those places in my heart where I’m still afraid. Transform my heart, still tight with the desire to control myself. Lead me to learn more of what it means to yield. Teach me the love that surpasses mere knowledge, the love that will not let me go.”

Will you say yes to the love that never fails, the love that prompted Agnes’s passionate commitment? Perhaps you already have. Perhaps you’re still waiting. If so, what holds you back? Let me know through your comments here, on Facebook, or on Twitter.

The Savior and I urge you to consider the love that will not let you go, the love that allows you to say with Agnes, “I belong to Jesus.”

This post is an adaptation of Bishop Brewer’s sermon on Thursday, January 21, 2016 at the Bishop’s Oratory, Commemoration of Agnes, Martyr at Rome (304).

Readings: Song of Solomon 2:10-13, 2 Corinthians 6:16-18, Matthew 18:1-6.