Jesus said, "But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict."
In 1936 a priest of God stood up for God. This Priest was not concerned with the trappings of his office. This priest was not concerned with the public’s opinion of him, what type of car he drove, or whether his vestments were from some primer English tailor.
This priest did not argue about predestination, liberation, consubstantiation, tran-substantiation, or the incarnation. What this priest did, though, was to listen to God. He listened and he was brought up to glory for doing what God told him to do.
The Priest’s name was Charles Raymond Barnes. During the reign of the dictator Trujillo this priest listened to God, which could be very dangerous. You see, Fr. Barnes learned of the horrible happenings on the border that the Dominican Republic shares with Haiti. Fr Barnes learned of a genocide. Fr Barnes listened to God and did something about that genocide. When Fr Barnes sent letters to officials in the American Government pleading for help for the people of Haiti, he was living the Gospel. Fr Barnes was arrested and persecuted, he was handed over to the governor because of the name of God. He used the wisdom of God in his actions and his soul with stood the blows of torture and murder. Fr Barnes testified to the truth, the truth of the heinous crimes, and to the truth of Christ. Fr Barnes stood up for the oppressed and the meek. Fr Barnes was brought before the governor. Fr Barnes was beaten and broken. Fr Barnes soul went to glory for his witness. This all happened less than 50 meters away.
In the church tonight, we will celebrate the Eucharist. We will all take communion over the broken body that lays entombed under the altar at Iglesia de la Epifania this evening, God willing. This joining with Christ, and each other, will fortify us to tell the truth, to be be brought before whomever and wherever God requires. This will give us an opportunity to testify. So we will make up our minds not to prepare our defense in advance; for God will give us words and a wisdom that none of our opponents will be able to withstand or contradict." Let us remember the witness of the Reverend Father Charles Barnes. Let us pray that we are strong enough to live out the Gospel. Let us pray that we are strong enough to live the truth, no matter what occurs.
