Am I the Naked Boy?

Now a young man followed him

wearing nothing but a linen cloth about his body.

They seized him,

but he left the cloth behind and ran off naked.

Do you remember this line from today's account of the Passion of Christ at Mass?  It is such a throwaway line, the sad young man doesn't even merit a name and is never mentioned again in scripture.  What is God trying to teach us in these two short sentences about the "streaking boy" as my daughter calls him?

He is only wearing a linen garment, which we can infer as the garment that symbolizes our Baptism.  When confronted by the guards he doesn't stand and proclaim his faith in the One True Son of God, he flees.  If we place ourselves in his position,  how often when our faith is attacked do we choose to run away, or stay under the radar rather than stand up for what we believe?  Especially in this time, when one is more than likely going to be derided for a belief in God, natural law, fundamental truths such as the sacredness of all life, and the belief that marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman.  


If we stand up for these beliefs in today's society we are more often than not going to feel exactly like the poor young man in the scripture today; stripped of our defenses and left naked in front of our enemies.  But we have to remember, that we must stand up for our beliefs.  It is not only our right to do so, but it is our duty given to us at our Baptism and sealed upon us at our Confirmation, to not only live the truth of our faith, but to proclaim the truth, even if we are the only ones who believe it to be true.


So, my goal for this Holy Week is to become a bold proclaimer of the truth, even when I am stripped naked by my enemies.  Who's with me?


PAX