I have found him who my soul loves that: I held him and I will not him go.-St. Agnes
Hebrews 9:2-3,11-14
Mark 3:20-21
Have you ever heard the expression; you are out of your mind? Has someone told you that you are out of your mind before or do you think that someone else is he out of his mind? Today’s gospel on this feast of St. Agnes affirms those, like St. Agnes, who are willing to stand up for what they believe.
Often, Christ in his public ministry was so busy that it was difficult to eat and some think he has gone too far beyond their imagination, they think he is insane but for Jesus and his disciples, there is a lot of work to be done. The ministry of Christ sometimes demands that we spend all our lives in service to God. We are called to things that may not be easy and can come with a very high price as demanding as laying down one’s life for the sake of Christ.
In our first reading, from the letter to the Hebrews, The tabernacle was present in the camp of the Israelites and it was moveable so that the Holy One journeyed with them. In our Catholic churches we have tabernacles but they are stationary and when we receive him the Holy One moves along with us throughout our lives. The challenge is to remember this wondrous Presence daily. This would suggest that we think positively and respond compassionately to those courageous people like St Agnes, who is a shining example for those many people today who have forgotten that to trust and keep faith in following Jesus is the ultimate friendship with the Lord.
Fr Joseph Osho
