Wednesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
It is difficult in the light of the events in Paris and today’s readings not to think about the violent imagery described. Yet this powerful language speaks of giving each of us the tools we need for building the Kingdom of God. The story from Maccabees shares the image of a faith-filled family. The narrative has the family being tortured for their beliefs. As each brother refuses to obey the command of the king, they are executed, all this while their mother watches. The mother waxes poetically about how the creator of the universe gave each child life and to Him they will return. Her statement is not defeatist though, as she encourages her sons to accept their fate with hope that a merciful God will reunite them all again someday.
Like the people in Paris, those killed in the first reading are innocent. Like the King in Maccabees, the terrorists carried out these executions, not so much for religion as they claim, but for power. The king, like ISIS, kills the innocent in order to break the will of the people. In Maccabees, it is the Jews, with ISIS all things other than ISIS need to be destroyed. Their actions suggest they intend to convert the world to their beliefs and destroy what is left. This wanton destruction is driving some in our political arena to call for the complete annihilation of ISIS. It does seem ironic that it is important pro-life figures that are calling for this wanton destruction.
While there is no easy answer to this conundrum one must ask: why does ISIS have so much strength and why do they seemingly have ease finding converts and warriors for their movement? The answer is certainly multifaceted, but in one way ISIS echoes the strength and growth of the believers in the early Church. Through their violent movement members of ISIS are unequivocally willing to they lay down their lives for what they believe. This contrasts early Christians whose bold non-violence propagated the faith by martyrdom.
In the gospel, Christians, the servants, are challenged to each take the gifts they were given and use them with boldness for the good of the Kingdom. Imagine what might happen to Christianity and our world today if we all courageously worked to grow the Kingdom of God here on earth.
Reflect and about the gifts with which you have been blessed; be it time, talent or treasure. If one gift keeps coming to mind, commit to using that gift more boldly for the benefit of the Kingdom.
“God of all creation, You have blessed each of us with abundant gifts. Enlighten us so that we might recognize that all we have comes from You. Guide us to use these gifts so that we might boldly and mercifully proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord! Amen!"
- Michael Montgomery