In today's beautiful readings, the Lord our God once again would like to assure us that he is always attentive to our every step as we make our way towards him in this journey we call faith. In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, we are reminded that the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. How important it is to live a life of honesty, seeking truth and goodness as we see it in our Lord Jesus Christ. How important it is that throughout this life we cling to him, and to him alone, who can save our souls from the one who can destroy both our soul and body in hell.
In today's Gospel, Jesus reminds us: Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Saint Paul tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We need to discipline ourselves, make the daily journey, and allow the Lord to give us the grace to spend time with him—time that will transform our hearts and our minds.
As we celebrate the memorial of Saints Cosmas and Damian today, we recall these two martyrs who, despite being tortured during the reign of the emperor Diocletian, refused to renounce Christ. Such was their love for Jesus, and with a swift swing of the sword, they were ultimately beheaded around the year 303. They closed their eyes in this life, but they opened them in the next.
My dear brothers and sisters, these two early saints of the Church were able to heal those around them with extraordinary gifts of healing, but also with medical care. They were known as the Anargyroi—“those who took no money”—offering their medical services free of charge. Like Saint Francis, who centuries later lived and preached radical poverty, refusing to own or cling to possessions, relying totally on God's providence as he generously gave himself in service to others.
May the Lord, through these marvellous examples of faith, grant to us a spirit of wisdom to know what matters most in this life, before we head off in our call to the next, to appear before the one who will say to us: I was hungry, you gave me food; I was thirsty, you gave me to drink; I was in prison, you visited me. They will ask, When, Lord, did we ever see you in these situations? Whatever you did for the least of my brethren, you did unto me. Come, enter the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world, my good and faithful servant.
And may God bless you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Amen.
Add comment
Comments