July 27th - Seven Sleepers of Ephesus

I do not know about you, but I really believe the saying that I don't have to go looking for trouble it just finds me. I think that is true also for Christians, if we are living right.
The Seven Sleepers (Constantinus, Dionysius, Joannes, Malchus, Martinianus, Maximianus and Serapion by some traditions) took refuge in at cave to avoid the persecution of Decius but it found them anyway and they were tried, probably tortured, and executed, being buried (possibly alive) in the very cave in which they took refuge. They are known as "the sleepers" because of a story that they emerged from the cave 300 years later and walked around Ephesus, though that was probably a story connected with the finding and transferal of their bones. As an interesting note, the site is revered by Muslims as well as Christians.
We can try to hide away to try to make our own perfect Christian community, but that is not the way that it works. Even in cloistered monasteries they are not shut away from the world but immerse themselves deeply in the needs of the world. Even in death the Seven proclaim their Faith; their hiding exposed their Faith and their adherence to it after being discovered showed that fear did not necessarily drive them, but if it did at first, it was not what truly drove them them in the end but a love of Christ and his Church.
That cave, symbolic of fear, becomes the place of holy glory. We cannot hide from God or from the world; we must live Christ to the fullest. If we do then we too will “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead."

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So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. So do not be associated with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says:
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”

-- Ephesians 5