Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr
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 around age 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. What Agnes is remembered for is standing up for her belief in Christ and being martyred for this purity and her steadfast faith. Her life was a lesson in defending the faith.
In the letter to the Hebrews, St. Paul is using an apologetics approach to defend the faith. 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.” God raised up another priest in the same “line of Melchizedek.” Jesus our “priest forever” became so 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. When Jesus asks, “is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Their response was silence. What is our response when Jesus asks us to choose sides? Are we silent? When good happens right in front of us, our hearts hardened or do we participate and celebrate the good?
Although our choices may not be life and death, we are faced with decisions that reveal our character daily. We may follow all the laws, but if our hearts are hard to loving our neighbor, then we are still in need of conversion. As we go about our day today, let us pray that the Lord will give us opportunities to serve one another with joyful hearts.
Lord, help us to be like St. Agnes, and remain steadfast in doing what is right, because it is our response to Your love. Amen.
-Michael Montgomery