Thomas Becket

One

Today, the Church Celebrates St. Thomas Becket, Martyr.

Thomas Becket lived in 12th-century England and did not begin as a holy man. Born into a prosperous merchant family, he rose quickly through talent, charm, and ambition. His intelligence and administrative skill caught the attention of Theobald of Bec, Archbishop of Canterbury, who eventually recommended him to King Henry II.

At just 36th, Becket became Chancellor of England, the second most powerful man in the kingdom. He lived lavishly and enjoyed a close friendship with the king. They hunted together, feasted together, drank together, and shared the life of power and privilege. By every worldly standard, Becket had arrived.

Everything changed in 1162 when he was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury. After his consecration, Becket underwent a real conversion. He embraced prayer, penance, and the full responsibility of guarding the Church. His life was reordered. That conversion put him directly in conflict with King Henry, especially over the Constitutions of Clarendon, by which the king sought control over the Church. Becket spoke up and defended the freedom of the Church. For this, he lost royal favor and spent six years in exile in France.

When he returned to England in 1170, tensions exploded. In a moment of rage, the king uttered words wishing Becket gone. Four knights, eager to please, rode to Canterbury and murdered Becket in his own cathedral on December 29th, 1170.

As he was struck down, Becket said, “For the name of Jesus and the protection of the Church, I am ready to embrace death.”

Two

The Need for Courage

St. Thomas Becket had courage. Courage is the virtue that enables us to do the right thing even when we are afraid. It is the willingness to sacrifice lesser goods in order to preserve greater ones. Why are we afraid to do the right thing? Because we fear losing something we love.

We should love good things. We should fear losing good things. But there must be an order. God first. Then goods like health, marriage, children, family, friendships, reputation, and meaningful work, in proper proportion.

Courage depends on knowing the difference between what is greater and what is lesser. Becket was willing to sacrifice everything else in order to preserve his relationship with God. That is courage.

Three

Reckless

Virtue always lies between two vices. Courage stands on a mountain top, with recklessness on one side and timidity on the other. Recklessness is not courage. The reckless man rushes into conflict unnecessarily. He enjoys confrontation for its own sake. He mistakes loudness for strength and aggression for conviction. He is eager to die on every hill. But not every hill is worth dying on.

We can be overly opinionated. We can feel compelled to state our views on everything, all the time. That is like swinging a sword in a crowded room without care for who gets hurt. True courage is smarter. It listens. It asks questions. It seeks to understand another person’s position, sometimes better than they understand it themselves. Then, with humility, it helps them reflect on their own answers or presents a truth they may not have considered.

That kind of courage is harder, and far more effective.

Four

Timidity

The other sinful extreme is timidity. Timidity is failing to speak or act when we should because we fear losing a relationship, our reputation, or our comfort. In trying to preserve peace at all costs, we sacrifice fidelity to God for something lesser.

Timidity is the refusal to engage when engagement is necessary. It is fear disguised as prudence. Slowly, the world stops appearing as an opportunity for goodness and becomes a collection of threats to be avoided. Such a person is not free. He is trapped.

We can’t die on every hill, but if there is not some specific hill you will die on then you are coward.

At the same time, do not swing to the opposite extreme. Listen. Ask questions. Repeat a person’s position back to them and ask if it matches what Christ and the Church teach. When the opportunity arises, be willing to share how God has worked in your life, and to speak the truth when the other person is ready to receive it. Most importantly, be ready to invite another person to meet Jesus in prayer, in Scripture, or in the Church. If no one ever invites, how will they ever meet Jesus? 

Five

Clean Up Your Own House

St. Gregory once said of St. Basil that his words were like thunder because his life was like lightning. Mother Teresa could speak hard truths to anyone because her life was one of visible, sacrificial love. We, however, often damage our credibility. Gossip. Anger. Judgmentalism. Pride. Poor listening. These habits undermine our witness.

It is not enough to be right if our lives do not reflect virtue. When our words and actions do not match, we are labeled hypocrites, and no one listens. So be humble. Examine your own behavior. Be deliberate and relentless in rooting out bad habits and taking on good ones. When your life becomes a witness, your words will carry weight. There are millions, perhaps billions, of people who sense that the atheistic secularism of our age is empty and unstable. They are not waiting for arguments. They are waiting for witnesses.

Discouragement is overcome by the example of the brave. So be among the brave. Not reckless. Not cowardly. But courageous, like Thomas Becket.