Memorial of Saint
Agatha, virgin and martyr
(II Samuel 24:2.9-17; Mark 6:1-6)
It is said that in during the first few centuries the
churches of Rome and Sicily bragged about their saints. The Romans would claim St. Agnes as the worthiest
virgin-martyr. The Sicilians would counter
that the distinction belongs to Agatha, today’s celebrated saint. The friendly rivalry indicates how faith penetrated
the everyday life of the people. Today, in
contrast, people brag about their city’s professional basketball team. Both readings that we just heard concern the
lack of faith.
David’s census indicates his belief that numbers of soldiers
and not trust in God are his priority. In
the gospel the people refuse to believe in Jesus as God’s emissary despite his
cures and his wisdom.
With science making life so comfortable we have a hard
time trusting in God. We rationalize
that God works through human ingenuity, but we forget to pray. God seems hard to fit in our everyday
lives. But we abandon God to our peril. Faith in God provides a blueprint for stability
in life. We will go far if we keep God’s
commandments. It also assures us of bliss
beyond the travail of death. Also important,
faith promises fulfilment. We know that the
world does not center around us. Still, by
faith in God we are drawn into its true center where we find purpose, meaning,
and peace.
