Gordian brought Nicholas through the gathering crowds to a circle of men, explaining, “With most of the overseers and servers dead, we are praying for the Lord to bring us new leaders.” He introduced Nicholas to these men and when they recognized his story they said, “Brother Nicholas, would you share a word from the writings for us today?”
“Yes, of course,” said Nicholas. He knew it as an invitation to join in leadership. He felt keenly aware of the eyes of the authorities. At the road he could still spot the man who had trailed him there. In any future assault on the Christiani, the leaders would again be the first to face death. Yet after seven years of being silenced, he would be silenced no longer.
Some of the brothers had brought some loaves of bread and an urn of wine mixed with water, and one of the overseers led them all in the Eucharist, the “giving thanks” by sharing the bread and wine in remembrance of Iesus Christus. After a few hymns, Nicholas stepped forward. Of all the writings of the apostles he had recited from memory over the years, one in particular had become his favorite. The words of Iesus rolled off his lips, “Blessed are those who are mistreated because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men insult you and mistreat you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad because your reward in heaven is great, for in the same way they mistreated the prophets before you...”
“Yes, of course,” said Nicholas. He knew it as an invitation to join in leadership. He felt keenly aware of the eyes of the authorities. At the road he could still spot the man who had trailed him there. In any future assault on the Christiani, the leaders would again be the first to face death. Yet after seven years of being silenced, he would be silenced no longer.
Some of the brothers had brought some loaves of bread and an urn of wine mixed with water, and one of the overseers led them all in the Eucharist, the “giving thanks” by sharing the bread and wine in remembrance of Iesus Christus. After a few hymns, Nicholas stepped forward. Of all the writings of the apostles he had recited from memory over the years, one in particular had become his favorite. The words of Iesus rolled off his lips, “Blessed are those who are mistreated because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men insult you and mistreat you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be glad because your reward in heaven is great, for in the same way they mistreated the prophets before you...”
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