Forgive us our debts, as we have also forgiven our debtors.
Matthew 6:12
Matthew 6:12
In Communist Romania, churches were closed and pastors arrested as part of a seven year drive to "eliminate the nation of all superstition." so when Brother Vasile and his wife began holding more church meetings in their little home, they knew it would not escape the attention of the government forever. Every evening Vasile prayed, " God if you know of some prisoner who needs my help, please send me back to jail." His wife shuddered as she mumbled a reluctant "amen."
Then they learned that one of the church member's homes had been raided and copies of Vasile's sermons had been confiscated. They also learned that the assistant pastor their friend and coworker, became an informant and had denounced Vasile. It was 1:00 a.m. when the police raided the little apartment and placed Vasile under arrest. As they handcuffed him, Vasile said, "I won't leave here peacefully unless you allow me five minutes to embrace my wife." The police reluctantly agreed. They would have their way soon enough.
The couple held each other, prayed and sang with such emotion that even the captain was moved. Finally they escorted him out to a police van with Vasile's wife tearfully running after them. Vasile turned and called out his last words before disappearing for many years, "Give all my love to our son and the pastor who denounced me."
Then they learned that one of the church member's homes had been raided and copies of Vasile's sermons had been confiscated. They also learned that the assistant pastor their friend and coworker, became an informant and had denounced Vasile. It was 1:00 a.m. when the police raided the little apartment and placed Vasile under arrest. As they handcuffed him, Vasile said, "I won't leave here peacefully unless you allow me five minutes to embrace my wife." The police reluctantly agreed. They would have their way soon enough.
The couple held each other, prayed and sang with such emotion that even the captain was moved. Finally they escorted him out to a police van with Vasile's wife tearfully running after them. Vasile turned and called out his last words before disappearing for many years, "Give all my love to our son and the pastor who denounced me."
2 comments:
Ange - I hear and I can post on this because I know The Voice of the Martyrs. It was like when I told the man on the phone last night how I wanted to kill the man down in Brazil who took my purity away from me, statutory rape at the age of 17, and the man on the phone said "What about forgiveness?" It stopped me dead in my tracks. I think I can relate to the extremeness of your post.
That's what its all about Olympiada.
Post a Comment