On Wednesday within the Octave of Easter our Church invites us to first read and reflect on a passage from the beginning of the first letter of Saint Peter (2:11-25) entitled "Christians are strangers in this world". Our treasure, which follows, is from an Easter homily by an ancient author.
Some scholars believe that this homily was composed by Saint Melito of Sardis, who died around 180 A.D., because it is similar to Saint Melito's renowned "Homily on the Passover." But, in fact, we don't know who the author is.
The first letter of Saint Peter begins with an address by to Christian communities located in five provinces of Asia Minor, including areas evangelized by Paul. Christians there are encouraged to remain faithful to their standards of belief and conduct despite threats of persecution. Numerous allusions in the letter suggest that the churches addressed were largely of Gentile composition, though considerable use is made of the Old Testament.
The contents following the address both inspire and admonish these "chosen sojourners" who, in seeking to live as God's people, feel an alienation from their previous religious roots and the society around them. Appeal is made to Christ's resurrection and the future hope it provides and to the experience of baptism as new birth. The suffering and death of Christ serve as both source of salvation and example. What Christians are in Christ, as a people who have received mercy and are to proclaim and live according to God's call, is repeatedly spelled out for all sorts of situations in society, work (even as slaves, the home, and general conduct. But overall hangs the possibility of suffering as a Christian. Persecution is later described as already occurring, so that some have supposed the letter was addressed both to places where such a "trial by fire" was already present and to places where it might break out.
