Mark 6:14-29 Martrydom of John the Baptist

for today's reading (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020516.cfm)

“The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christianity.”  ~Tertullian

What is it that the saints knew that gave them such a peace of mind in the midst of their tribulations?   Today is the feast of St. Agatha, born into a distinguished family, who was tortured and eventually martyred (to be venerated as a virgin martyr since Christian antiquity) for her steadfast faith which contributed to her refusal of the illicit invitation of a suitor. We also learn today about John the Baptist who professed our faith too, and was held captive, probably tortured, and likewise martyred.  What caused them to remain calm amidst the tumult?  St. Ambrose helps us to understand, “The Lord is very near, there is no need to worry: the Lord is always near to anyone who calls on him in truth, with right faith, with firm hope, with perfect love. He himself knows what you need before you ask it of him: he is always ready to give his faithful servants whatever help they need. When bad things happen to us we should not be greatly worried, because we should know that we have God close to us as our defender. The Lord is close to those with contrite hearts; those with a broken spirit he will save. Many are the tribulations of the just; the Lord will free them of all their troubles. If we fight to fulfil and keep his precepts, he will not be slow to give us the aid he has promised.”

Martyrdom was a fulfillment of a life lived in love and service to the Lord. From the moment he leapt in his mother’s womb, to the point of his death, John the Baptist’s whole life pointed to Christ.  It was in Christ that he found perfect happiness. Perhaps we have been persecuted ourselves for our Christian way of life. Sometimes extraordinary witnesses are called to offer a greater witness to this Way of life.    Our communion antiphon today reminds us, “Blessed are they who have kept the Word with a generous heart, and yield a harvest through perseverance.” (Lk 8:15)  Let us join St. Agatha and John the Baptist in shaping our lives to point to Christ. 

Luke 2:22-40 Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

for today's readings (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020216.cfm)

Today's readings speak of the messenger(s) that come before the Lord proclaiming him to the people. Who instructs Simeon to act out as the prophet?  Or even Anna to know and announce that here is the Christ child?  It is the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit animates both of them.  Simeon, who is promised that he would behold the virgin with the Christ Child before he dies, utters a prayer, in Latin called the Nunc Dimittis.  (This is the prayer used at the end of compline, or the evening prayer for the Liturgy of the Hours.)

Simeon is like Elizabeth and Zachary, the family of the Virgin Mary.  He is pious, aged, and looking for the fulfillment of God's promises to the people of Israel.  It is through the grace of God that Simeon comes to know and welcome the Lord to the temple and acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, the Comforter of the people, the king chosen by God to reign over his people.  The Holy Spirit is offering hope as well as a light into the divine mystery of God made manifest as our Savior.  Through Simeon gives a more complete picture of the Old Testament predictions of the Messiah.  Anna too through her charisms of the Holy Spirit us the same idea, that here indeed is the Messiah come to fulfill the prophesies of the Old Testament.  She praises God and proclaims the infant to those who longed for the redemption of Jerusalem.  Anna and Simeon are witnesses to the Truth, prophets of God proclaiming, exhorting, and comforting the people awaiting the Messiah.   They represent the link between the Old Covenant and the celebration of the New Covenant made through Christ.

Mark 3:7-12 In God We Trust

Taken from my journal:

When was the last time that you looked at your money?  It says, “In God we trust.”  We hear in our Psalm today we hear the message more completely, “In God I trust, I shall not fear.”  This is the same sentiment that St. Agnes had as she resolutely held fast to her faith in Christ desiring to remain chaste and pure for the Lord despite the suitors who threatened to expose her as a Christian during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian.  There are many legends of St. Agnes and how this young girl of noble blood was dragged through the streets by the Roman prefect and that the Lord prevented her from being raped.  Other legends about Agnes tell of how her attackers were blinded because the Lord so loved her and wanted to preserve her. There are those legends about Agnes that say she was tied to a stake, but the wood just wouldn’t burn.  Still there are those that tell of how she was beheaded, or stabbed in the throat.  St. Ambrose leaves aside the legends to give us one of the earliest accounts of St. Agnes’s martyrdom and stresses Agnes’ young age: she was twelve.  He also found noteworthy her steadfastness in faith and her virginity.  Agnes had no fear of death because she knew that her salvation lay in the Lord Jesus Christ.  She loved the Lord.  In him was her trust. 

We hear that echoed in the Gospel today as well.  The crowds came from all over.  They trusted that Jesus could cure every ill that they had.  Imagine that much faith, and not fully knowing that this was the Son of God. Yet, the unclean spirits knew.  We are told, “And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.” He warned them sternly not to make him known.”  His time was not yet come.  They acknowledged him as Lord of all and bowed down before him.

Sometimes people find it hard to trust in the Lord.  My sister-in-law, Tanya, died of cancer eight and a half years ago.  In the last months of her life we used to discuss God.  Tanya had doubts that God was with her.  She had taken care of her mother who had Alzheimer’s.  Her mom had just died when she was diagnosed with the cancer.  She had just been reunited with her first child whom she’d given up for adoption.  She was searching for God in the shambles that she saw her life.  In some ways, perhaps this isn’t too unlike the crowds who watched Jesus climb into the boat and withdraw.  Why does he withdraw when in other places in the Bible Jesus tells us that he will never leave us?  God never leaves us.  He has many forms and we believe that he is everywhere and in everything and everybody.  God loves us.  Repeatedly he tells us that he loves us.  He also repeatedly tells us that he will never leave us.  Sometimes though we get a sense of the Lord withdrawing.  It is normal.  The saints felt that too.  It allows us to know the sweetness of the presence of the Lord.  But it also encourages us to fly to him, to have that desperate need for him that draws us to him on the cross where we hear again as often as we need, that promise of the new and everlasting covenant borne of his love and mercy.

He is with us, just as he was with St. Agnes, just as he worked within the crowds.  Let us continue in faith to turn to him and say, “Jesus, I trust in you.”