Today in our reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the apostles rejoice in that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor at the hands of man for the sake of the Gospel and the name of Jesus. The disciples left the Temple area after they had been flogged and ordered by the Sanhedrin to stop preaching the Gospel. However, Peter and the other apostles continued to preach with great enthusiasm. Their witness and their zeal is an example of faith for all of us modern day disciples of Christ. The apostles rejoice at the dishonor they endured because they had suffered for the honor they were giving Jesus. Often, many of us think that we should not endure any sufferings or sacrifices at all for our faith. Some of us may say that we are too busy to fit mass into our busy schedules, even when we have three or four or five different choices to go to mass throughout the weekend. Some of us get mad if we don’t get our way or when we have to compromise or accommodate the needs of others. We sometimes would rather criticize and complain instead of offering to help. So many of us in the modern world don't want to be inconvenienced or to make a sacrifice.
We hear this reading today on the feast day of St Bernadette, the humble 14 year old to whom Our Lady of Lourdes appeared in the mountainous region of France in the year 1858. Appearing as a beautiful lady to Bernadette, Mary eventually revealed her identity in these word: “I am the Immaculate Conception." She told Bernadette that a chapel should be built on the grounds of the apparition and also revealed a spring of healing water. Bernadette steadfastly defended the genuineness of these visions despite strong opposition from her parents, the local clergy, and civil authorities, and she faithfully transmitted Mary’s messages. Today, Our Lady of Lourdes is an officially recognized apparition of Mary by the Catholic Church. The village of Lourdes is one of the most important sites of pilgrimage in the world. Having been to Lourdes and having been immersed in the spring waters, I can attest to the profound spiritual experience of visiting this shrine. Having suffered her whole life in fragile health, she died in 1879 at the age of 35. St Bernadette was canonized a saint in 1933 by Pope Pius XI. Bernadette’s journey of faith was not an easy one, but she is a great example of faith and holiness for us during the Easter season.
No comments:
Post a Comment