“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
James 2:12 (NIV)
I was reading about someone who once stood the test, as this scripture describes. He is known as John of Avila, born in Spain in 1499. His ancestors were Jewish but had converted to Christianity a few generations earlier. It was during a time when Spain was just liberated from 800 years of Muslim rule, and then faced the judgements of the Inquisition. Christianity was going through changes and some clergy were not setting the best example. John, by contrast, was a breath of fresh air, for his culture and time.
At 18, he was studying to become a lawyer, when he had a deep conversion experience and decided to leave law school. After taking time off for prayer and discernment, he switched his studies from law to theology and was ordained in 1526. Being the only child of wealthy parents, when his parents died, he sold their house and gave all the money to the poor. He never wanted to live lavishly as some clergymen were doing at the time.
During his ministry, those clergymen were offended by John’s preaching, and reported false accusations against him to the Spanish Inquisition. He was arrested and imprisoned, accused of teaching that wealthy people will not go to heaven, when he merely taught not to store up perishable treasures on earth, but to seek the treasures that last forever in heaven.
The Inquisition was quick to hear the complaint against him, and rushed to judgement. So John was sent to prison but his time in prison was devoted to prayer, study, and writing. A year later, since the Inquisition couldn’t prove the pathetic, weak charges made against him, John was released. His ministry touched all who came to hear his sermons.
He preached and wrote about persevering under trial, forgiving our enemies, the power of gratitude and the hidden treasures that can be found in our trials, saying,
“I pray God may open your eyes and let you see what hidden treasures He bestows on us in the trials from which the world thinks only to flee.”
He inspired the faithful who suffered while waiting for answers to prayers, telling them to keep crying out to the Lord, who commands the sea to be at peace and turns our mourning into joy.
What a positive spirit he had for a man so misunderstood by his fellow clergy, then falsely accused and incarcerated. God did a beautiful work in his soul during that year in prison, more than all the years of his higher education. He stood the test, persevered under trial, and clung to Christ, as his greatest treasure. He chose gratitude, forgave his enemies, and was blessed with a heart big enough to receive even more of God’s love.
Lord, thank you for John of Avila and may we always follow his example of finding the treasures hidden in our trials, and always give thanks in all situations, as you calm the storms and restore our joy. Amen
