Japan, a place where St. France Xavier had held so closely to his chest. "The country in the Orient most suited to Christianity." This remark had caused more and more missionaries flushed in to this land, despite the seemingly never ended persecutions. We once thought the missions had borne fruits while the missionary schools were permitted, and the churches were built. We once witnessed the most glorious sacrifice for Christ in the believers' endurance in suffering. 26 matyrs in Nagasaki, followed by thousands and thousands of death of the devoted.
Some went because of their devotions towards God, some went because of the reports from many missionaries who went, some went because they knew, they needed to see God.
Some people get drunk when they try to forget haunting memories, some people prefer to run away from it. Seldom, there will be people who dedicately work on it. What does Japan means to you? In her long suffering of flock without shepherd? Was it a pain failure, or was this a wasted land? Or maybe simply God just abandoned this land, this people, this nation?
Does the Hidden Christian (Kakure Kirishitan 隠れ切支丹) mean anything to you? Or it was simply a joke?
Do you believe that God had preserved this place? Do you see the efforts of the flock risking thier lives to pursue the truth, to seek dignity of humanity? Do you see a flock of sheep without shepherd? Do you see a field thirst for water?
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?
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