SAINTS JOHN AND PAUL (362 A.D.) Martyrs and what they can tell us about going along to get ahead . . .

They lost their heads over Jesus. In their own back yard.

They were brothers and officers of the Roman army in the days of Constantine the Great, and life was good. But their preferments and rewards for loyal service were about to go away.

The new man in charge, Emperor Julian the Apostate was raised a Christian but dabbled in the day’s modernism. Decided to restore paganism to its former glory, requiring it of his staff, as a stabilizing factor for the body politic.

The brothers were highly placed models of patriot service; but clinging to their Christianity, they said no to this and resigned their positions in the palace, taking a pass on the prosperity in store for them if they went along.

Julian couldn’t let that go. He gave them ten days to think it over, then sent a key aide with a Jupiter statue. If they would pray to it, they could go on with their lives and he could go on with remaking the political framework.

The emperor’s man found them in prayer. They declined to worship the little statue and in the middle of that night were decapitated in their garden — secretly because Julian wanted it kept quiet.

He put the word out that they’d been sent away, keeping their martyr status quiet. It got out anyway.

Meanwhile, the aide’s small boy was possessed by a devil, and only after the father prayed at the brothers’ tomb was the boy was set free. Thereupon, the father and his family became Christians.

The brothers? By their renouncement of apostasy they purchased never-fading glory, more than the emperor and his ilk could provide in a million years.

There’s a basilica with their names on it,

atop one of the seven hills of ancient Rome, and since the fifth century, their names have been included in the Roman Canon of the Mass. Their feast day is celebrated on June 26, the date of their martyrdom.

Such a little thing the officer asked of the brothers, just worship this little idol and we’re outa here. Nothing would have happened here. Was that too much to ask? Turns out it was, and we 21st-century worshipers can pray these days,

O Almighty God, let our joy be doubled on this feast of the victory of blessed John and Paul, for they were made true brothers by sharing the same faith and the same martyrdom.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with God the Father almighty and the Holy Spirit, world without end.

Amen to that, brother.