DIVINE WHISPER with Fr. PiusRalph

WEDNESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR (II)

Mystery of the day: Glorious 

Celebration: St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr (+304).

 St. Agnes came from a noble Roman family. She was about thirteen years old when she suffered martyrdom. She was tortured and beheaded. Her name is included in the Roman Canon. Pope Damasus wrote a celebrated epitaph about her.

📖 Table of the Word

First Reading: 1 Samuel 17:32–33, 37, 40–51

Gospel: Mark 3:1–6

Theme: Courageous Fidelity: Love Stronger Than Death.

Reflection

Beloved in Christ Jesus, today's table of the Word opens with the battle between David and Goliath, who appears without armour, armed only with trust in God; whereas Goliath with all his armour and expertise lost out (cf.1 Samuel 17:32–33, 37, 40–51).

What appears reckless is actually radical faith. David’s confidence is not in himself but in the Lord who has been faithful before:

“The Lord who delivered me… will deliver me again.”

God delights in overturning false measures of power. Victory flows not from size or force but from confidence anchored in God.

This passage therefore exhorts us to holiness and not heroism born of pride, but courage born of reliance on grace.

However, the gospel pericope taken from Evangelist Mark 3:1–6 beautifully presents before us an account of Jesus' healing of the man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. In the course of this He posited a mind-pierced question:

“Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to kill?”

Silence answers Him. Hardness of heart resists mercy. Jesus chooses life and this choice provokes hostility. Here we see that goodness can be costly, and mercy can invite opposition.

On account of this, the Mother Church teaches that moral law finds its fulfilment in love. Whenever rules eclipse compassion, the Gospel calls us back to the primacy of life.

Finally, Beloved in Christ Jesus as we join the universal Church to joyfully celebrate the martyrdom of St. Agnes whose piety and trust in God as David paved way for her beatific vision. Let our day-to-day living experience points to God whose abiding presence never fail us. Then let us be courageous in every situation no matter what for love stronger than death.

+ Peace of Christ be with you!

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