I send this message to the Copts of Egypt who face at the moment the same prosecution experienced by our fathers the saints of the first church.
Dear brothers, you have been baptized which means you have died with Christ, buried, and resurrected with him. “Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12). Therefore, we can’t fear death since we already died with Christ and shall live with him forever. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
In Matthew 10:28 Jesus said “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” He also promised that our names are already written in heaven “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20)
Let’s pray for those who persecute us, yet keep our peace and joy with every new martyr. Those martyrs should strengthen our faith with his grace. The martyrdom of St. Paul and St. Peter in the great Roman Empire has always been bliss to the whole world and will be forever. Let’s rejoice that God has chosen you to witness and martyr.
