Twenty-second Sunday after Trinity AD 2025

An old Lithuanian priest once said, recalling the ten years he spent in a Stalinist prison camp, that in a sense it was a good time: he had never before or since been in the company of so many intelligent, talented, and good people, because the Soviet regime feared such people and tried to imprison them whenever possible. Of course, this was said with bitter humor, as in reality, those ten years working in the forest in the Far North were extremely difficult for this priest and left a lasting mark on his health.

Saint Paul’s situation seemed to be somewhat different, probably much milder. Yes, he spent years in prison, but those who had imprisoned him – the Roman authorities – knew that he had committed no crime and would have gladly released him if he had not demanded that he be brought before Caesar. Since Paul was a Roman citizen, it seems that no attempt was made to torture or humiliate him.

The book of Acts describes Paul’s two years of imprisonment in the city of Rome as follows: “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” True, it ultimately ended in martyrdom.

Saint Paul wrote several of his letters while in prison. But he never complained about it – on the contrary, he was happy because it gave him the opportunity to suffer with Christ and, by remaining faithful to the gospel even in trials, he knew that he was thereby able to convince his readers of his sincerity and the truthfulness of his message. He knew that his work would not be in vain, and that God would complete it in His grace, granting eternal life in Jesus Christ to all who believe in Him and remain faithful.