THE PRICE OF STANDING FOR THE TRUTH.

HOMILY OF FRIDAY 5TH FEBRUARY, 2021
FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR
ST AGATHA, V.M (MEMORIAL)

R1:- Hebrew 13:1-8
PS:- 27:1.3.5.8c-9abc
Accl:- Luke 8:15
Gospel:- Mark 6:14-29

( _Agatha, a Christian from Sicily( Italy), was martyred during the persecution of Decius in 251. She is one of the earliest Christian martyrs. According to a sixth century legend, her tortures included the removal of her breasts and so she is now the patron of women with breast diseases. Her name was inserted into the Roman Canon as a sign of the devotion of the Christian people_ .) Daily Missal

THEME: THE PRICE OF STANDING FOR THE TRUTH.

The price of standing for the truth can be brutal. And the cost of holding firm unto what we believe can be too high that, if we do not have a strong faith in God, we can easily succumb to pressures.

Agatha suffered in the hands of the governor for refusing his sexual advances. She would prefer to die than rejecting her Christians values. She remained resolute in the face of trials. She wanted to keep her virginity. She desired greatly to keep herself pure.

More so, in today’s gospel narrative, we read how John suffered martyrdom for speaking against the adulterous life style of king Herod. Though Herod knew that John the baptist spoke the truth to him, his unreadiness to change led him to imprison him(John). More so, Herodia’s daughter, following her malicious mother’s advice, requested for the head of John.

While we give those who sin out of ignorance benefit of doubt, we should fear those who know the truth but have allergic intolerance for it. They can be brutal and wicked. They don’t want to know who you are. As long as they have given vent to their unruly passions, they can eliminate whoever stands on their way.

Jesus popularity and the mighty works he was performing pricked Herod’s conscience that he began to remember the evil he did to John the Baptist. Likewise, the gospel values and the mention of the name Jesus, should expose us to the reality of our life so that we can order or reorder our life style.

John the baptist, and Agatha were both witnesses to the truth of the gospel. By words and deed, they spoke for purity without counting the cost.

May the Lord cloth us with courage that we may always stand for the kingdom values. Amen.

Prayer:
Saint Agatha, you suffered sexual assault and indignity because of your faith and purity. Help heal all those who are survivors of sexual assault and protect those women who are in danger. Amen