Saint Agatha, Virgin, Martyr
Readings
1 Kgs 2:1-4, 10-12
k 6:7-13
Reflection
In today’s Gospel, Jesus sends out his disciples for the mission of taking the Good News to the towns and villages. His instructions indicate that, while he conferred upon them authority over unclean spirits, as far as the people they would encounter were concerned, they were to be vulnerable to welcome or rejection. Jesus himself, with the power and authority of his divinity, also came amongst us vulnerable to be either welcomed or rejected.
Today, many who practice their faith do so because they are hoping it will confer on them some survival advantage in life – that in God they will find a suffering free zone. They don’t consider themselves part of the Church’s mission – that is for the priests and religious. As such, when things don’t go their way, they become desperate in their prayer and upset that God is not protecting them. We only need look at today’s Gospel to see the truth – that until the Kingdom comes in its fulness, there is no suffering free zone – not even in God. We are sent on mission, along side our brothers and sisters in countries where Christians are in the minority and often experience persecution.
Today on the feast of St. Agatha, herself a martyr in Sicily during a persecution in the 3rd century, and remembered for her faith and remaining resolute under torture, let us ask the Lord to give us the courage and strength to take up the mission of being the Good News to those around us, vulnerable as He was to welcome or rejection.
Fr. Ray Sanchez CP is the leader of the Oxley community and is responsible for Parish Missions and Retreats throughout Australia and NZ.Â