Memorial of St.
Agnes, virgin and martyr
(I Samuel 16:1-13; Mark 2:23-28)
St. Agnes was such a beautiful girl that many young men
wanted to marry her, but she was determined to consecrate her virginity to
God. In the midst of the Diocletian
persecution at the beginning of the fourth century she was denounced to the
authorities and beheaded. There can be
little doubt that she considered herself wedded to Christ – the only one worthy
of such sacrifice.
In the struggle against hardness of heart Jesus demonstrates
his worthiness as today’s gospel shows. The
Pharisees want to criticize Jesus’ disciples for picking grain to eat on the
Sabbath. Evidently the latter were
hungry with no ready food available. If they
were to celebrate the Sabbath at all, they had to find something to eat. Jesus amply defends them by saying that the
Sabbath was made for people to enjoy.
Today people go to the opposite extreme. They often turn the Sabbath into a day of
total recreation. Although rest and renewal
are certainly integral to the celebration, we must not forget that it is the Lord’s
Day. Like St. Agnes we remember him foremost
by attending mass if at all possible. Then
we can recreate with family and friends.
