Witness Me, Leonard Sweet, Premiered 18 April 2021, Lectionary LenTalk #57

About this sermon

You will never forget the story of one lone monk named Telemachus who brought the entire Roman Empire to its knees and ended the gladiatorial games at the Roman Coliseum. In the earliest known Irish homily called the Cambrai homily, dating from the end of the 7th century, there is this distinction made between a red, white and blue (or sometimes green) martyrdom: “Now there are three kinds of martyrdom that are counted as a cross to us, namely, white, blue and red martyrdom. [It is white martyrdom for a man when he separates from everything that he loves for God, although he does not endure fasting and labor thereby. The blue martyrdom is when through fasting and hard work they control their desires or struggle in penance and repentance. The red martyrdom is when they endure a cross or destruction for Christ’s sake, as happened to the Apostles when they were persecuted the wicked and taught the law of God. These three kinds of martyrdom take place in those people who repent well [blue], who control their desires [white], and who shed their blood [red] in fasting and labor for Christ’s sake.” (Celtic Spirituality, ed. by O. Davis, T. O’Loughlin [Paulist Press, 1999, 370]). Cyprian of Carthage lived during terrible persecution. This prayer was answered after he died as a martyr in 258, beheaded by the sword to the cheers of the crowd. We believe and trust, Lord, that at the time of terrible persecution, You will hear and answer our prayers with the utmost urgency. We pray with all our hearts that You will give us courage to remain true to the gospel, and proclaim Your name right up till the moment of death. Then may we emerge from the snares of this world with our souls unscathed, and rise from the darkness of the world into Your glorious light. As we have been linked together by love and peace, and together we have endured persecution, may we rejoice together in the kingdom of heaven. Lectionary Passages Acts 3:12-19 Psalm 4 1 John 3:1-7 Luke 24:36b-48 It would bless us tremendously for you to hit the "subscribe" button for these LenTalks. Don't forget to Hit the Notification Bell so that you never miss our most recent video. Support Len’s Ministry through his 510-c-3 “SpiritVenture Ministires” (SVM) https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted...​ Become a SpiritVenture Ministries (SVM) Supporter at $9/month or a Tribe of Issachar Member at $49/month https://preachthestory.com/cart/​ Follow Leonard Sweet on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leonard.sweet​ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lensweet​ (Sweet’s daily micro-blogs) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lensweet​ (Sweet’s daily blogs) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/preachthestory​ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/preac...​ (Specifically for preachers and others who love those who preach) Access sermons, conferences, and more Leonard Sweet activities: https://preachthestory.com/​ (hundreds of written sermons) https://www.facebook.com/thesalishsea...​ (Sweet’s newest publications) https://salishsea.press/​ https://the-salish.com​ (Orcas Island getaway cottages for board, staff and church advances (aka “retreats”) #LeonardSweet #martyr #Telemachus

Topics

• Evangelism
• Encouragement