Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul…The image in our Newsletter this weekend is the famous painting of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. The times in which they lived required them to make the ultimate sacrifice of their lives. This week we celebrate Saints John Fisher and Thomas More (not depicted in the canvass) who suffered martyrdom in June 1535: Saint John Fisher as Bishop of Rochester and Saint Thomas More as Chancellor of England; both refused to take the Oath of Succession which ultimately was to proclaim Henry VIII as Head of the Church in England. They, and the many others martyred in the land and throughout the history of the Church, were given the courage and fortitude to give their lives motivated by the words of Jesus in the Gospel of this Sunday. These martyrs were not afraid to speak the truth, to defend their Catholic Faith, and stand firm against the tides of change. Nowadays we will also be met with opposition to the Truth, in matters of Catholic doctrine and ethics. Jesus assures us that we should never be concerned about slander or criticism when it comes to proclaiming, with clarity and charity, what we believe. Jesus encourages us to be afraid of nothing, except sin, which destroys our friendship with God and can lead to the loss of eternal life. A good fear of God is a gift of the Holy Spirit given in Confirmation. It helps us to struggle against sin, against everything that separates us from God. It prompts us to avoid the occasions of sin, not to trust ourselves, remembering always that we are fragile vessels of the grace of God. Bodily evils, even death itself, are nothing compared to the evils of the soul, the evil of sin. God always gives us the grace to ensure we grow in our interior life. He told Saint Paul: My grace is sufficient for you. God says this to us also. As we think on the sacrifice of the Martyrs this week, let us thank God for the freedom of religion that we enjoy, by which we can serve God in holiness of life.
God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale