Resurrection, The Glory Of Martyrdom

 

  Resurrection is the glory of martyrdom.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Wednesday of 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, and the Memorial of St. Cecilia, November 22nd, 2023
Texts: 2 Maccabees 7:1.20-31; Psalm 17:1,5-6,8,15; Luke 19:11-28 

                              Resurrection, the glory of martyrdom

We celebrate, today, the memorial of St. Cecilia who poured out her blood for Jesus Christ. She loved Jesus and consecrated herself to Him as virgin and Martyr.  She is a patron saint of choir. The writing about her passion relates that she was sang to God in her heart as musicians were playing on her wedding day. As a virgin she reminds us that virginity is possible. She teaches us as a martyr that pouring one’s blood for Jesus is noble and welcomed. 

We see in today’s first reading that martyrdom is not alien to devotion to God. Many people in history died for being faithful to God. The first reading is a story of seven brothers who chose to die rather than being unfaithful to the law of God. We read, “While she was still speaking, the young man said, "What are you waiting for? I will not obey the king's command, but I obey the command of the law that was given to our fathers through Moses.”  

  Resurrection is the glory of martyrdom

The first reading assures us of resurrection for those who give their lives in faithfulness to God. In the words of their mother: “Therefore the Creator of the world, who shaped the beginning of man and devised the origin of all things, will in his mercy give life and breath back to you again, since you now forget yourselves for the sake of his laws." 

Their mother teaches us that we are to love God above all things. She reminds us of the words of our Lord: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it" (Matthew 10:37-39).  

We do not lack what it takes to do His will as we await Him

Jesus Christ reminds us, today, that God has given us what we need to be useful to ourselves and humanity. This is clear in the parable of today’s gospel. It is a parable about a nobleman who gave ten pounds to his servants as he went to get kingly power. As we await the return of the Lord, we are to keep ourselves busy serving Him. We do not lack what it takes to do His will as we await Him. The parable shows that we flourish in doing His will, using the gifts he has given us.  

We also learn that it is by faithfulness we will reign with Him when He comes. We read, “And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.'” This teaches us to be faithful to the gospel of our Lord, so as to reign with Him when He returns.  

Prayer  

O God, who gladden us each year with the feast day of your handmaid Saint Cecilia, grant, we pray, that what has been devoutly handed down concerning her may offer us examples to imitate and proclaim the wonders worked in his servants by Christ your Son. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke