Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday Mass Readings

On my trip to France last year, I stayed at my friends house which overlooked the amphitheatre where Blandina was put to death in 177 AD. Blandina, was a slave and a Christian who had been taken into custody along with her master, also a Christian. She was bodily frail and her friends feared that she might not remain steadfast under torture. But in spite of her terrible torture, torture that even her executioners became exhausted of, she remained faithful and repeated to every question "I am a Christian and we commit no wrongdoing." She was bound to a stake and wild beasts were set on her. They did not, however touch her. After this for a number of days she was led into the arena to see the sufferings of her companions. Finally, as the last of the martyrs, she was scourged, placed on a red-hot grate, enclosed in a net and thrown before a wild steer who tossed her into the air with his horns, and at last killed with a dagger. We certainly know that her faith was strong. We look at Blandina’s faith and we admire her courage, faith and conviction.

How strong is our faith? How can we know that our faith is strong? Since we do not face persecution how can we know if we are convinced Christians or not? What is the meaning of passages like the first reading where Jeremiah is called by God to be a prophet and then suddenly finds himself being plotted against? We have no information about what happened to Jeremiah in the end. Scholars conclude that he probably faced a violent death. What is the meaning of the words of Jesus that suggests that we should not be afraid of those who kill the body? We believe in a God who died a violent death. The history of the Church is filled with stories of martyrs like Blandina who died a violent death. What does all this mean? What lessons should we be drawing from these readings?

1. The first thing these readings teach us is that our real destiny is in the hands of God. It is the most difficult thing to believe especially when we are used to living a life time making decisions for ourselves. The last thing we want is for our lives to be in the hands of someone else. But there comes a time when we are no longer in control. Death does come to all of us. We may not face persecution today but death will come to us someday. Our destiny is really not in our hands. It is in the hands of God. He is the God who as Jeremiah says “probes heart and mind” He is the God who rescues the life of the poor…” He is the God who as Jesus says in today’s gospel reading, “Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid.” I know people in this parish who at this point are facing terminal illnesses. And some of them are so brave and so much in peace that it amazes me. They know that their life will never be destroyed. Their life is in the hands of God. But there are also those who do not believe that. It is then that we have fear and anxiety and uncertainty. Our destiny is with God no matter what.

2. The lives of the Jeremiah and Jesus and the martyrs have a second meaning. When we look at the lives of these people who did not fear death when faced with it, we see a perspective on life that is different. Here are people whose lives were secondary to a larger purpose and cause. The larger cause could be being a prophet and communicating God’s message courageously even though there was opposition. Or it could be being faithful instead of denying God. Or the cause could be giving up ones life to save others. These people teach us that there is more to life than working and paying bills and partying and having a good time. These things are not bad. But there is a way of living our lives that keeps our larger calling in mind. Life is also about doing good in spite of the pain it may bring. Life is also about sharing unconditional love when it is humiliating to do so. Life is also about making our lives pleasing to God when it is in conflict with the culture around us. Life is also about sacrificing our comforts for the cause of justice and peace. Life is also about giving ourselves to the service of God. In fact the readings challenge us to live our lives by this larger purpose of life. For us Christians that means to live like Jesus.

3. Thirdly in the lives of Jeremiah and Jesus and the martyrs we see the real meaning of faith. How can we describe this faith? Faith is praising God, like Jeremiah, who in today’s reading says, “Sing to the Lord, Praise the Lord…” even though he sees terror on every side. Faith is not being afraid of death even when we know it is imminent. Faith is not being afraid of those who kill the body. Faith is knowing for sure that even the hair of our head is counted. Faith is believing that our real destiny is in the hands of God. Faith is knowing that even though everything and everybody around us may be unreasonable, but ultimately our lives are in the hands of God.

Here we are to celebrate this Eucharist. Jesus gave his life up for us, He believed that his destiny was with God. He sacrificed his life for a larger cause – our salvation. He believed that even in the midst of the most violent death his life was in God’s hand. If it worked for Jesus, it will work for us. As we worship Jesus in this Eucharist, let us pray that our lives can be like him.

- Fr. Satish Joseph