Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and martyr

Today's Mass Readings

This memorial of St. Agnes reminds us that sometimes there is a need to give our whole self to do the right thing. Popular belief has it that at an age around twelve, Agnes was placed in a brothel by Roman authorities. There she remained unharmed as those who desired her were said to have been blinded. Whether true or not, what Agnes is remembered for is standing up for her belief in Christ and being martyred for this purity and her steadfast faith. In the letter to the Hebrews, St. Paul is using an Apologetics 101 technique. Paul uses an analogy that would be familiar to his Jewish brothers and sisters. Melchizedek, king of Salem (eventually know as Jerusalem) was a high priest without mother or father, without a beginning or an end. Thus for Paul, Melchizedek was “made to resemble the Son of God”. ( Hebrews 7:3) God raised up another priest in the same “line of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110: 4 b) Jesus our “priest forever” became so not because of a law but because of the power of life and its need to once and for all triumph over darkness.

The Gospel of Mark paints a scene somewhat like yesterday’s Gospel reading where Jesus is being watched on the Sabbath to catch him doing something against the law. Without a word being spoken, Jesus sums up the whole situation and acts accordingly. A man with a withered hand is asked by Jesus to come forward while the Pharisees are watching. Jesus asks, what seems from Marks perspective, a rhetorical question. “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” (Mark 3:4) Jesus sensed their hardness of heart and then healed the man for all to see. The Pharisees left and began to use this event to plot Jesus’ death.

Although our choices may not be life and death, we are faced with decisions that reveal our character daily. Even if we follow all the laws and our hearts are hard to loving one another, then we are still in need of conversion. As we go about our day today, let us pray that the Lord will give us many opportunities to serve one another with joyful hearts. Lord, help us to be like St. Agnes, doing what is right, because it comes from our love for You. Amen.

-Michael Montgomery